Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1879 — THE SENATE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. [ARTICLE]

THE SENATE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

G. R. M. Newman (colored), Clerk of the District Court of St. Mary’s Parish, testified, on the 18th, concerning the destruction of bal-lot-boxes. and efforts made by the Democrats to get possession of the duplicate returns in his possession, an attack made on his house at night, etc. W. B. McNeall, of Caddo, Deputy-Sheriff, testified concerning the Caledonian affair, corroborating Mr. Norwood's testimony; when they started to Ream's house and were fired upon they were unarmed; witness found a dozen stand of arms at Ream's house; the published statement was to the effect that twenty negroes in all were killed, but witness could not say just where each negro was killed; witness served in the Federal army during the war. David Wise, of Tensas, testified that the election was peaceable and quiet; lives within one-fourth of a mile of Fairfax, but knew nothing until the affair was over ; witness’ gin was burned by the negroes the following day; don't know the reason; never gave them any cause; saw armed colored men marching through Waterproof the day before his gin was burned; consequently, when it was burning was afraid to go out to see about it; the next day another crowd of armed negroes came in town, made a great deal of fuss, and cried that they were going to burn the town; Fairfax was the leader of the negroes. H. Moss, of Tensas, testified that he gave the negroes the assurance that the Waterproof people had nothing to do with the Fairfax affair; that the interests of the negroes and white people were common; that he would protect them in their rights, provided they acted as they should; the negroes were all armed: don't think there, were more than twenty white men in Waterproof, and they were very much frightened; the negroes threatened murder, etc. Senator Thurman addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Committee, on the 13th, containing additional affidavits, etc., by which he proposed to prove his charges of intimidation and bribery, on the part of Republican officials and leaders, to prevent the Democrats carrying the election in the State of Florida.

Democratic members complained, on the 14th, that, owing to indictments against certain witnesses, the taking of testimony for their side would have to be postponed. Irwin Craighed, of the New Orleans Timet, and Nimes T. Gordy, Sheriff of St. Mary’s Parish, testified regarding the attack on Newman and the destraction of election returns; the testimony circumstantially goes to prove that the object of thedestruction of the returns was to render the exercise of the appointing power by the Governor necessary, T. S. Shaeffer, of St, Joseph, was recalled, and testified to the killing of an Irish laborer by a negro Constable, and the lynching and shooting of the Constable by a band er armed whites; no names were given. Gaspre de Cnir, of Pointe Conpe, a member of the Legislature, testified that he heard several negroes were whipped and beaten by whites; understood it was because the negroes had organized revolutionary bands endangering the lives and property of the whites. Charles Decenig. of Caddo, Deputy Marshal, saw two dead negroes at Caledonia, the day after election; understood the negroes were killed electlonday; witness noticed, at the Greenwood poll, some names not counfeu; the reason given was that the votes were in the wrong box. Clement L. Walker, an attornay t .of New Orleans, tes ified, on tiro 15th, concerning the election in that city, that ho believed the returns promulgated were not indicative of the true results, the vbtes polled, for the being counted for the Democrats; he charged genenerally that there were irregularities aud fraude in the conduct of the election, and said ho had sworn statements of parties who witnessed frauds; the Citizens party was denied representation at the polls on the ground that it was not a party, but a faction; to jndge from the class of men appointed Commis- ■ sioners by the Democratic party, a fair return of the vote was not expected; the votes at manv of the polls were counted in secret, or the count was made by men d'eteithined to elect the Democratic ticket; aside from the falsity of made-up returns. Illegal votes were cast, there being a great deal of repeating. ■■ - " C. W. SofaMbn, J. A. Johnson, David Toting, Charlqs Lincoln, M. 1). Randolph, (all colored), of oewtfcordip. t«M&ed‘te general of intimidation and fraud in th- late election. G. L. Walton, of Concordia, a mttfiber of the Legislature, denied in effect the charges made by the previous witnesses. E. Kennell (colored), a Coroner of Concordia, said there were seven men killed. alG&lorcd; held au inquest over six; five were hung and one shot; some were killed in November, the others,in October; one wus shot; he was in -the field picking cotton; some men. mounted; called him to the. deuce and shot him; those that were fating were

hung at night; don’t know the ni»n who aid tbe hanging; some al the outlaws were white, some blrck; all that w*a learned with regard to those killed wm learned from colored people of th* vk Unity. George Washington (colored). Coroner, sf Concordia lestlted that be saw a t>ody of shoot sixty five or seventy *nred men prowling through ib< parish; recognized one man ia th* crowd—Mr. Young; they were going toD»vid*on’« plantation; they captured *lx or seven men. also some burse* on* Im longing to witness Inchu.ed; a man named 11 Smith was hung In the graveyard. A. J. Bryant (colored), State Senator, of Tso***, lertifled, on ths 16th, that no Republican 'ticket wsr'womlnatsd becanas of threat* by th* whit**, who said they would consider such action a declaration of war; th* night betore the election rparty of white*. Incindlnf; Buckner and Handaboro. came td witness’hoaae. took him oct I* hla ulrlit-clothea. carried him • quarter of a mile, and th real e ned him. saying he bad sold out to the Bland party; witness denied thia, and rtsted be had only seen one us tbe leaders of th* Blsnd party; they let him C. after promising to come to the potia the next y and vote the regular Democratic ticket; he compiled with hla ptomlas; the party had a rope with them, and eald if thev were satisfied witness bad aold out to the Bland party they would put him through. \ William A. BelL a prominent merchant of New Orleans, terrified concerning the citizens' movement in tbe late election, corrotwratiug the testimony of C. L. Walker. Abram Thomas (colorad), oi the Bliss Plantation, Tensas Parish, testified, cm tbe 17th, that during tbe late election he met a body of armed whites, who chased him; that night tbe same men came and took Charley Bethel, a colored man, out of bi* bonne, shot him, and cut hla throat; witnesa don’t know th* partiea; wm frightened Sway. Rosv Stewart, a prominent colored politician of Teusa*, a member of tbe Legislature, testified that threat* of violence prevented -he Republican* from nominating • ticket; at ibe Democratic Convention Col. Reeves mnde * eperch, saying he would make* no threats, but the white men have determined to carry their ticket, all opposition would be quietly removed; the next day a committee of three came to witnesa' house and told Bryant Nealy and hlm-elf that ant opposition bn tbeff part would be looked on a* • declaration of war; in regard to the establishment of the color line by the negroes, witness explained that he got friends to support him fur the office of Sheriff; they signed a paper to that effect, but, instead of patting his name on the paper, they simply wrote, " a colored manthis waa the only fact upon which was based the report that witness had persuaded tbe negroes to promise to vote for none but colored men; instead of drawing * color line, witness and Fairfax norninated a ticket composed of white and colored people; afterward bad to drop the negro name* and nominate a full white ticket; witnesa heard that It was the intention of Peck snd Register, who had agreed to regulate tbe parish, to take the negroes to Catahoula and keep them there until after election ; witness asked protection of Judge Cordell, but wm told that the Judge did not considertrhqaelf safe in the parish: witnes* bad wartftngs that" bis life waa threatened, and left, and fled over the levee: after he left saw the Sheriff and twenty-five men at his door; they asked his wife for him; he fled over into Mississippi. Witness gave tbe names of fifteen negroes alleged to have been murdered.