Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1885-06-13
A startling appointment.

Cuthbert Bullitt Jones as consul 10
CallaO, upon tie Recommendation of
one Unlteu States Senator. one ex-
Senator and one eX-Representative
IN Congress from tins State Thi,
appointment which has been credited
t" Louisiana, is objected 10 bv the
Suites on the ground that Mr.. Jones
was participant in the murder of
General Liddell and was shielded
from punishment by the Republican
party. who gave him a consulship in
Germauy and another at Trpoli,
which he was holding when the pres
ent administration came into power.
The following statement, made bv
gentleman fully acquainted with the
facts III the case, appears in the
( States.
Scarce fifteen years have rolled
away since the man whose name
heads this article played one of the
principal roles in IA tragedy and
crime that startled the whole coun-
try, and shocked the sensibilities of
men whenever the S: ory was told.
The people of Louisiana, particu-
larly of the Fifth Congressional Dis
trict, remember the details of the
assassination of Gen. st. John r.
Liddell, the brave and noble gentle
man, at the hands of Col. Charles
Jones and his two sons, one of whom
was Cuthbert Bullitt. A vendetta,
dating from away back in the eff
ties, existed between Gen. Liddell
and Col. Jones, who were neighbors,
living on Black river, in Catahoula
parish, in this State; which culmi-
mated in the cowardly assassination of
Gen. Liddell at the hands of Col.
Jones and his two Sons. and in the |
death of Col Jones and ore Of the |
sons, at the hands of an infuriated |
mob, in the spring of 1870, Cuthbert |
escaping the vengeance of the mob |
as by miracle.
The part played i'll this tragedy by I
Cuthbert Jones was that of princi-
pal. Gen. Liddell was on his way
to New Orleans on the Steamer ST.
Marys, accompanied by his friend
Col Charles H. Morrison, Of Mon
roe. As the boat made a landing at
Col. Jones plantation Jones and his
two sons walked down the guards of
of the boat to the 9anSwav, there en-
tered the cabin of the steamer and
walked up in single file to the table
where Liddell and Morrison were
eating their dinner. When oppo-
site Liddell, he faced about, the el-
der Jones drew his pistol and fired ,
at Liddell, the ball striking him in
tue breast aud infiicting mortal |
wound. As soon as he was struck
by The bullet, Liddell arose and ,
lrew his pistol. and raised it in de- ,
'ence of his person, but before lie
'ould discharge it, he fell back on =,
he floor a dead man, the pistol !
going off and striking the ceiling of =
lie boat. Jones ran for the shore. .
eaving his two sons behind, who de- :
iberatelv walked around the table =,
o where the dead General vas living,
md emdtied their two six-shooters
nto his body, and the as deliberately
walked ashore
This cowardlv V assassination arous-
d the vengeance of Gen. Lidders 4
riends, who went to Harrisonburg, c
vhere the Jonoses We're in jail, and S
hot Col. Jones and one of the Sons. C
he other, Cuthbert, escaping to C
lew Orleans. where he placed him Ii
elf under the protection of Gov. II
Farmoth. Col. Jones was leading q
republican in this State, and was in il
crested in the lease of the peniten- 81
lary at Baton Rouge. Young Jones o
'as welcomed as victim to political b
ersecutiOn, and at once sou ght the fe
ecognition Of the National Republi- d
an party and was rewarded by al
resident Grant with consulship in al
iermany. III
Cuthbert Jones was in the mean fs
me Indicted by the grand jury of 81
atahoula parish for murder, and a
as fugitive from justice. He WAS CT
eappointed by Hayes, Garfield and S
-rthur, the latter giving him q con- al
llship at Tripoli, Of which Office he G,
as the incumbent When the present Y,
administration came into power. a,
The people of the Fifth District, F
no are acquainted with the charac-
,r of Cuthbert Jones at his home.
ere surprised to see his name ga
stted bya Democratic administra-
on as consul to CallaO, and were IN
isgusted when it was asserted bv F.
lA nawsnaIrers that fhis co,ra.Il. 10