The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-10-12
Grand jury called into court and
specially charged as follows:
Gentlemen of the Grand jury:

1t has been brought to my knowl-
edge that In the northern and central
portion Of your parish there have
been made threats To drive OF and
out a number of negro families from
their homes, and by threats force
them to leave the neighbOrhOOd in
which they live. l have been reQues-
ted to bring this to your attention
by a special charge, for the reason
that many Of these old negroes own
their homes and have peaceslbly lived
at them for years without disturbing
the peace o: interfering with the
rights of Others. l am sorry that
such spirit exists in any portion of
the parish. The law protects every
citizen In his rights OF life. liberty and
property. These negroes have not,
SO far rs l can ascertain, threatened
harm to any one, but are respectful
to the whits. and law-abiding. To
commence such a crusade against
them without cause IL wrong in NOR
ais and against the peace and dignity
of the State. There is no principle
Of white supremacy involved, and no
political reasons can now lie urged,
for these negroes do not vote nor at
tempt to exercise any of the political
rights conferred on them by law
Most Of these old slaves were reared
by their masters in that section, and
near their old homesteads they have
acquired property or are working on
farms for Others. To piteously drive
them from their homes would be
cruelty wrong, unless there were
grave reasons affecting the lives OF
Others. The courts are open to re-
dress any wrong they may do and
to punish for any crime committed.
i hope for the sake Of humanity
and the good name of the people OF
this parish that there has not nor
will there he any such attempts ON
the part of any class of the white
people. propose to enforce the law
II 1t IL done, and have the persons
who commit such lawless acts
brought before the courts and have
the same Investigated. The law on
the statute books Is as follows:
THAT, whatsoever shall cOnspire
with another person or persons to
commit the crime Of assault and bat
terry, or 10y violence or threats OF viO-
lence, to compel any person or per-
sons to leave any town. city or par
-ss..i,. ~. ~. -. son
may iawiuiiy De. on convlction tnere-
OF shall Ike fined or imprisoried, or
notn. AT the u'scretion Oh enc court,
Ine me not 20 exceed one tnousand
doilaIs ana the imprisonment not 10
exceeu one year
uensiemen' inquire INTO TINS, and'
snould you not ma sumcient evl-
aence 10 indicC any person. then re-
turn 70 your MONIES, exercise sucn
moran innuence as eacn one OF you
possess 20 prevent TINS wrong, anu
De prepared 70 prinS evidence before
tne next grand Jury II sucn Viola.
lion y attempred ana l nope al
Eoo1 citlsens VIII JOIN YOU IN seeing
the law enforced ana bringing 20 JUS
tlce sucn persons as may neediessiy
enter INTO sucn a conspiracy
Henry Duncan, violating labor con-
tract, not guilty.
Asa Bell, retailing liquor without
license, not guilty.
Caleb Norris. failure to work road,
not guilty.
J. B. Davis, plead guilty to selling
liquor without license I'm four cases,
fined $1O0 and costs In each case, and
In default Of payment to months In
jail In each case. NOlle prOss entered
In i've cases.
j. $. Robinson, plead guilty to sell
Ing liquor without license In two
cases, fined 500 and costs In each
case. and In default Of payment to 3
months in jail In each case. Nolle
prOss entered In three cases.
Mack Futrell. plead guilty to sell
ing liquor without license In two
cases, fined 800 and costs In each
case, and in default Of payment to
three months In jail In each case.
NOlle ptOss entered in three cases.
In the cases OF Davis, Robinson and
Futrell, the parties, in the a1terna-
two f,f 3rpnnrfoOu u,out iVvofoa6 ri nav