Year: 1876

THE ASSASSINATION OF DIR. DINKGRAvE-THE DE-


CEAsEDs POLITICAL EFFORTS THE CAUsE-THE


WHITE RIFLE CLUBS ATTENDING MEETINGS OF


COLoRED MEN.


IRON REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUHE.1


PHILADELPHIA, Sept. "a number of prominent
Louisiana Republicans now in this city-among
them Centennial Commissioner Lynch and Con-
gresham MOrey-represent the condition of affairs
in that State as rather discouragng to the Repubh
cans. The recent assassination of DIR. Diukgrave,
sheriff of Ouachta PARISH they fear is the beginning
of a series of political murders Of leading white Re-
publican politicians who are active in organizing the
negro vote. Dr. Dinkgrave was native of the
State, and therefore not open to the odious
charge of being caTpet-bagger. He came of
an old Whig family, and was Repubil-
can by connection. He had been engaged
for a few days before his death in forming the
blacks into campaign cubsnot secret societies, but
open, political clubs, such as common in every
campaign throughout the North. Several times he
had received warning that his life was in danger If
he persisted in this work, but being man of per-
sonal courage he paid no attention to them. The
circumstances of his assassination were as follows:


Returning to his home one day, he noticed strange
man, armed and mounted, watching the house.
Fearing an attack, he called to man named Dobson,
who was unloading some lumber ut the river bank
q
together When they approached the stranger, he
called to Dobson to stand aside fired the sheriff.
and wheeling his horse, rode rapidly away The ball
broke Dr. Dinkgraves arm and entered his side, and
he died in few hours from the wound. His wife, who
is staying at Bethlehem in this State with her sister,
Mrs. Morey received the news of the shocking event
two DAYS ago. her friends having concealed IL from
her until she could be brought home from Cape
May where they at the time the first intelligence
came. She is completely prostrated with grief MI
Morey, who represents the district where tine
crime was committed, says it was undoubtedly per-
petrated by man sent from another parish under
the same system that prevailed in the days OF the
Knights of the White Cameha. That organization
is extinct but its work is being continued by the
numerous rite clubs forming all through the North
ern parishes for the purpose of intimidating the
blacks Men who were obliged to borrow money to
buy bread and meat TO subsst on while making n
crop" manage IN some way to get possession of
the best improved arms. The clubs are in the habit
of marching in body TO Republican meetings.
They have committed no violence as yet, but the
presence of military force of hostile white men
AZ the gatherings of the blacks has of course, the
intended effect of terrifying them. The Republican
politicians are making earnest effort to have de-
tachments of United States troops sent to the dis
trcts where these rifle clubs operating for the
sake of the moral effect upon the community, and
unless this is done they fear the State will be lost
They can have 20 per cent of them vote, they say,
and still carry the election, but they do not mean to
have the whole coored vote stampeded, after the
Mississippi fashion, if they can help it, The Demo-
Gratis of Louisiana are, they believe copying closely
the tactics of their brethren in the adjoining State
and by refusing to employ the negroes or to make
advances on their crops il they vote the Republican
ticket by show of armed force by the murder OF a
few prominent men, and by some coaxng and
great deal of intimidation they intend to overcome
the Republican majority and get possession OF the
State Government. They care very little for the
Presidential election if they can get control OF the
State Administration and Legislature These state
rnents are made by men who have been identified
with the conservative wing Of the Republican party
in Louisiana and are entitled to respect.