Index :: 1877 Ku Klux Klan

Coldwater Semi-Weekly Republican May 25, 1877 Murder of a Colored Citizen by Ku-Klux.

New Orleans,  May 23—The Republican gives the following account of the assassination of Jas. Laws, colored, Of East Feliciana: Mr. Dula, of East Feliciana, has reached New Orleans, and brought with him the coffin that was placed at his door Saturday, and a bunch of Winchester rifle cartridges which were place with it.  He also states that the crowd of bull-dozers, after threatening him, went on with the information that they would return soon and put their threats into execution.  They proceeded to Jackson and rode up to the house of Jas. Laws, colored, and found him seated on his gallery with his mother.  The said "Halloo, Laws, have you got back?" He rose and answered them, and was instantly shot dead.  This was on Saturday night.  In reference to the assassination of Laws, ex-Governor Packard states that just before his return to East Feliciana, Laws wrote to him stating that on account of his presiding at the only Republican meeting held in East Feliciana during the late campaign, and his consequent enforced absence from the parish, his business as a merchant he feared had been destroyed, and begging Packard’s influence to get him a position in the custom house. Packard further says that Laws had told him his life was in danger, as he had testified before the Howe Senate committee, giving the names of prominent citizens who had threatened his life, and as he believed had caused his store to be fired.  Packard further asserts that Laws was one of the best and most conservative colored men in the whole Feliciana District, and had previously held several influential positions with the full acquiescence of the people, and was a tax-payer, owning $30,000 to $40,000 worth of property.  Packard has transmitted the original and also an unpublished letter from Sheriff Weber, killed in an adjoining parish, to Gen. B. F. Butler for campaign use.