Criminal Justice Matters: Hal Frazier, Jesse Robinson, 1868, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: Report of the General Assembly of La., Conduct of Late Elections,
Condition of Peace and Order in the State, 1868

Parish of Winn

D. M. White, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he was an Assistant Sub-
Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in the Parish of Winn.  About
the latter part of August, 1868, a party of armed white men went to the
house of Hal Frazier and his son, Brantly Allen, colored, the latter teacher
of the Freedmen's School, near Frazier's mill, and called them to come out; as
they did not answer, these men went to the window and fired several times into
the house, but fortunately without hitting them.  They were compelled to leave
the house and conceal themselves in the swamp in order to preserve their
lives.  The colored men are threatened with violence if they do not vote the
Democratic ticket.

Smithfield, December 12, 1868

W. B. Phillips, Esq.:

Dear Sir:

A most horrid murder was committed by two white men at Frazier's Mill, in
Winn, fifteen miles from here.  Two colored men by the name of Hal Frazier and
Robinson, were sent to their final resting place without a moment's warning. 
Hal Frazier was an honest colored man, and owned a saw mill, but was a strong
radical.  Captain White has been driven away from Winn Parish and they tried
to decoy me to Alexandria, for the purpose of assassinating me.  The fact is,
Phillips, if you were here I would not give two bits for your hide.

Yours truly, 

W. S. Calhoun

S. B. Shackleford states, on oath, that he is a resident and duly registered
voter of Rapides Parish, State of Louisiana; that previous to 1860, one Hal
Frazier, colored, was a slave of one John Frazier, Winn Parish, and that said
Hal Frazier bought and paid for himself and has since purchased a saw mill
with machinery attached and about 2000 acres of land, of said John Frazier,
his former owner.  That about the eighth of December, 1868, a double murder
was committed at said sawmill on the persons of said Hal Frazier and one Jesse
Robinson.  That (left blank in document), of Winn Parish, told witnesses that
in conversation with John Frazier, about fifteen days previous to the murder,
said John Frazier asked him (___________) to leave Frazier and come and work
for him.  He (____________) replied that he was working for Hal Frazier and
could not leave.  John Frazier then replied, " D__n you; you and Hal Frazier
will both smell bullet packing in less than (10) ten days; we will break up
that nest of radicalism."  Witness is of the opinion that said John Frazier
and one Doctor Cockrell, son in law of said John Frazier, were accessories to
the murder of said Hal Frazier and Jesse Robinson.

Calhoun's Plantation
Rapides Parish
December 10, 1868

General A. L. Lee, Editor
New Orleans Republican

Dear Sir:

I write to inform you of the latest rebel outrage in Winn Parish, perpetrated
on two colored men named Hal Frazier and Jesse Robinson.  On the morning of
the eighth instant, two strangers went to Hal Frazier's sawmill, as they said,
to buy a bill of lumber.  Not finding Hal at the mill, they left.  Yesterday,
at about twelve o'clock, they returned, and finding Hal there, engaged him in
conversation about prices of lumber, etc.  One of them took Hal from the mill
to measure some lumber, while the other remained near Robinson.  While Hal was
kneeling down, drawing a plan for the house the stranger wanted built, the man
pulled a pistol and when Hal raised his head, he was shot, the ball entering
under the right eye and coming out at the back of his head.  As soon as the
pistol was shot the man in the mill drew his pistol and shot Robinson
through the back and once through the head.  As soon as they found Hal was
dead, one of them took his pocket book, which contained some three or four
hundred dollars in money and valuable notes.  They then mounted their horses
and rode off.  Hal Frazier was a hard working man, and owned the saw mill and
considerable property in land, stock, etc.  No one had anything against him
except that he was a thorough radical; it was on that account he was murdered. 
I left the parish as I know that I will be murdered in the same manner as
Frazier was, as some parties have threatened to "fix" me the same way.

I am respectfully, etc., 

D. W. White
Late Supervisor of Winn Parish