A riot originated at Brownsville, August 26, 1874, when two negroes were killed while sneaking round the home of one of the two planters who were threatened with death. Next evening a ball was held at Coushatta, but in the midst of the dance reports from Brownsville came in, stating that the negroes were going to exterminate the whiles. Steps were taken to collect the whites for defense, while Sheriff Edgerton and Tax Collector DeWeese accompanied a number of citizens to Brownsville (Edgerton sent a courier in advance to have the negroes disperse), but on their arrival there were no negroes to be seen. The white garrison at Coushatta placed pickets along the roads. While passing the house of Tax Collector Homer J. Twitchell, fire was opened on the squad and Joseph Dixon was wounded. Suspicion pointed to Twitchell and he, with Sheriff Edgerton, tax collector of DeSoto, DeWeese, Parish Attorney Howell, Justice of the Peace Willis and Registrar Holland were arrested. Twitchell made confessions which led to the arrest of several negroes. The latter were held to be tried by a committee of twelve.
While these proceedings were taken place, exasperated people marched toward Coushatta, to aid the citizens, and the scared officer were driven to propose resignation, which they did on August 29. They wished to leave the State at once, but were told to be careful, as the people might attack them. They were too anxious to leave, and selecting a guard of twenty-five young men, under John Carr, set out for Shreveport, and carried out the first forty-five-mile race successfully. At that point the "Texans" under "Capt. Jack" came up with the guarded fugitives, and after a short parley, shot them down. The negroes, who were making ready for war in the Bayou Pierre Swamp, were dispersed, their leaders arrested, tried, condemned and executed and peace restored. The men killed deserved their end richly, but the methods of rendering them justice were not so entirely honorable as they might be.
Prior to November 13, 1874, thirteen arrests were made at Coushatta, and on that day four more citizens were arrested by Merrill's United States Police. The thirteen original prisoners were released on $5,000 bail each, and were ultimately cleared of participation in the punishment of those political ragamuffins. The police carried matters so far as to preface those wholesale arrests with the arrest of Editor Cosgrove. In 1875 G. A. King (ex-sheriff) was serving as president. M. H. Twitchell (later president), J. W. Watts and Benjamin Perrow, members; D. H. Hayes, clerk; W. P. Peck, recorder; J. P. Hyams, district clerk; and Lieut. P. H. Moroney, superintendent of registration; John D. Collins, Printer. In 1876 J. W. Watts presided with Ben Perrow and W. S. Mudgett. Madison (Howard) Wells and James Grant (both colored) were also members of the jury about this time. J. W. Harrison, who in 1875 was postmaster at Coushatta, and tax-collector, will killed September 14, 1878, at Starling plantation, four miles up the river. The whole year was one of Civil War.
The oppressor and the oppressed were in the field daily, and the latter would have succeeded, undoubtedly, in the unequal contest with the former, had not the power of the Freedman's bureau been so overwhelming in the adjoining parishes of Caddo, Bienville and Natchitoches.
The shooting of Capt. M. H. Twitchell, and the murder of King, took place May 2, 1876. A stranger who knew their whereabouts, waited for them on the Coushatta bank of the river. Twitchell and King, on arriving on the west bank jumped into a skiff unsuspectingly, and when near the eastern landing the avenger fired. Twitchell got into the water, holding on to the boat, leaving King to be shot dead by the second fire. Twitchell luimeme, had both arms broken and the ferryman, who went to his rescue, was wounded in the hand. Twitchell was taken to Springville, where his are was amputated, while the desperate avenger defied arrest and rode off.
The death of Capt. Twitchell gave the tax payer at least time to breathe, H. S. Bosley, G. W. Robinson, B. S. Lee, and W. S. Williams, president, were jurors in February, 1877. They estimated the expenditures at $8,070 for the fiscal year ending in 1878. {The records of the police jury for this and preceding years could not be found at the court-house.}
In 1878, W. S. Williams was president with B. S. Lee, H. S. Bosley, James Grant, and B. G. Kenny, members, and D. H. Hayes, clerk. An ad valorem tax of 4 mills, a road and bridge tax of 1 mill, a public building tax of 1 mill, an election tax of 1 mill, a judgement tax of 2 mills, and an incidental tax of 1 mill were authorized in April, and $224 granted to George H. Russell for repairing court-house. In August the quarantine ordinance was adopted, and in September, the ordinance, establishing the boundaries of the five wards was carried. In January, 1879, T. L. Terry, of Ward 1, was elected president, J. M. T. Elliott, Ward 2; T. G. McGraw, Ward 3; S. F. Spencer, Ward 4, and F. Roubien, Ward 5. J. P Clarkson was parish printer, and Dr. Guthrie, physician. The tax levy for 1879 was similar to that for 1878, but the estimate of expenditures was only a little over $7,000. Julius Lisso, treasurer, was succeeded by W. F Eames.
In October, 1879, the 4-mill tax for jail building purposes was defeated by ninety-three votes against fifty-three. In March, 1880, J. J. Sprawls was clerk, succeeding Hayes. S. B. Harris, qualified as representative of Ward 2, in June. In February, 1882, the jail building was completed, and the iron cells constructed by Pauley Bros. were also completed and the building accepted from the contractor. The sale of the old building and lot was authorized. In November, 1882, the proposition of J. W. Pearce, principal of Coushatta Male and Female Academy, to educate two pupils, selected by the police jury, free of charge, was accepted. Laura McGraw and J. P. Kent were chosen pupils. The police jury of July 23, 1884, comprised T. L. Terry, president; F. Roubien, Sameul Harris, W. H. Treadwell, and J. H. Rich, J. C. Egan, Jr., was chosen clerk. Dr. W. A. Boylston, physician, and W. T. Eames, was re-elected treasurer. In September the vote for the sale of liquor was 510, and against such sale, 295. In 1885 John Crichton was a member of the jury vice Treadwell; Ben. Wolfson, clerk, vice Egan, and Dr. Guthrie, physician, vice Boylston. The clerk resigned in December, when Ed W. Lisso was elected to fill that position. The election on the liquor question held December 8, shows 307 votes for the sale of liquor, and 111 against such sale. In February, 1887, H. C. Stringfellow and J. Pugh C were appointed delegates to the Inter-State Agricultural Convention at St. Charles; W. S. Atkins and C. J. Conley, with Messrs. Terry Harris and Crichton formed the jury. In 1888 G. J. McGee and L. W. Stephens qualified as jurors; Robert Stothart as treasurer, and W. S. Atkins as president. The jury in January, 1890, comprised L. W. Stephens, president; G. J. McGee, Ward 2; c. J. Conly, Ward 3; J. Crichton, Ward 4; and T. R. Armstead, Ward 5, with Ed W. Lisso, clerk. In February the vault construction by the Diebold Safe & Lock Company was received by the police jury, and 6 per cent notes for $4,350 were given to that company. A 10-mill parish tax was authorized to meet the estimated expenditures ($10,000). In September, 1890, the ordinance regulating the sale of meat in a part of Ward 5 was adopted. This ordinance provided that the dealer of peddler in meats should expose the ears and hide the animal during sale with the object of preventing the sale of stolen meat. In October Louis Scheen was elected treasurer.
In 1876 the vote for governor shows 413 for Nicholls (D.) and 832 for Packard (R.). In 1879 Wiltz (D.) received 694, and the opposing Republican, Beattie, 79. In 1884 McEnery (D.) received 574, and Stevenson (R.), 552; while in 1888 Nicholls (D.) received 1,679, and Warmoth (R.), 78. The voters' register showed 1,938 names for April, 1888, 690 being Caucasians. Of the whites there were then 110 who could not write their names, while there were 1,062 Africans deficient in this manner.