Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1897-11-04
ASKS FOR PROTECTION.
A COLoRED EXPORTER OF BRAZ0S
COUNTY RELATES TAIL OF WOE.
Tell lis Troubles to the Federal Grand
Jury Of the Island City and Calls
on Them for Remedy.

of the Houston Post sends the
following under date of Oct. 81:
Rev. W. NJ. Blanchard, pastor of
the African Methodist Episcopal
church at Millican, Brazos coun-
ty, came to town today with a
story of mistreatment at the
hands of white men. His batter
ed and bruised appearance went
far to corroborate the statement
he made to the deputy clerk of
the Federal court. 1t was evil
dent, even to a casual observer,
that he had been in trouble of
some kind, as there were ugly
scars on his neck and his back
Hooked as if it had been heavily
dashed. This is the story he told
to a Post reporter:
ga few weeks ago I induced a
colored woman to reform and
come into my church at Milli-
can. l did not make an especial
effort to do this, she having
about made up her mind to re-
form of her own accord. On De-
tober IS I visited at the home
of friend named Rensche, who
resides one mile north of Mill
can. I was preparing to leave
soon after for a visit in another
part of the county. My presence
at Rensche's house was discov-
cred by two of the men. They
rode up to the house and asked
me to come out, which l refused
to do. While one kept guard the
other rode off and got the third
man.
"When the two returned they
ordered me to walk toward a hol-
low about half a mile away. l
protested that I had done moth
ing wrong, but they said
they would show me wheth-
er l had. When the hol-
low was reached they made
me strip off all my clothing and
lie down on my stomach. Then
one of them placed his foot on
my neck, while the other two
whipped me with heavy straps
until they were satisfied. When
they had finished they made me
put on my clothes and promise to
get out of Millican without wait
ing for the railroad to carry me
out. One OF them followed me
on horseback and saw that I did
not delay. When he saw me
start up the track towards Nava-
sofa he got a brother, and the
two met me at the first crossing
and exacted a promise that l
would never again enter Brazos
county. They told me that if
they ever found me inside the
county they would surely kill me.
81 walked to Navasota, a dis
lance often miles, and there TOLD
my story to DR.. Smith and the
marshal. DR.. Smith got up a
subscription for me, and the mar
shall gave me a dollar. They
told me to come to Galveston and
lay my case before the Federal
grand jury, and that is what I
am going to do. Of course l
can't go back to Millican, but if
tnere is any Jusuce 10 De had, L
propose to get it,
1t is quite evident, granting
that the foregoing be true, that
Rev. Blanchard has been i'm:
posed upon in more ways than
one. His story was courteously
listened to here by the officials,
OF course, but they could do
nothing for him. The Federal
court has not original jurisdic-
ton in matters of this kind and
Blanchard was told that he would
have to seek legal redress in the
courts of his own county. He
went away from the building
disappointed, and is now the
guest of colored friends in the
city.
! CAPTAIN J. G. SLOAN, general