The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-10-15

and without any intent to disturb
the peace of the town.
| would respectfully call the at
tention the inclosed affidavits of w.
G. Pierce, John Murphy, N. f. Put
ney, and w. G. Pooer, the Sheriff
of Mitchell county, for a full under
standing of all that took place be-
tween the sheriff and the freedmen
at this time. From the affidavit il
will be seen that he considered the
attitude of the crowd approaching
the town of such a character as to
induce him to return to the town
and prepare the citizens against at
tack by directing them as posse to
have their arms ready in case he
should call upon them to assist him
in preserving the peace.
l have been unable to obtain any
evidence that these colored people
going to Camilla on that day were
either instructed or advised by any
one to carry arms with them, either
for purposes of defense or violence
or that they seriously expected in
Perception from holding their meet
ing although from some of the in
closed officers at1idavits it is alleg-
ed that one James Johns, n white
citizen of Camilla, had frequently
said that no Republican meetings
should be held at Camilla, and that
on this day this man Johns. armed
with a gun, met the crowd some
three miles from the town and told
them that they shorld hold no meet
ing or speaking at Camilla, and that
if they came into town they would
be hurt. Upon the crowd entering
the town, en- route to the court
house, they were met by this man
Johns, who was intoxicated and
armed with a gun He was bolster
Gus and angry in his manner, and
ordered the musicians in the wagon
to cease playing, but his orders were
not obeyed. In some ofthe inclos-
ed affidavits it is stated that he then
fired his gun at the people in the
wagon by others, that his gun was
discharged accidentally and in the
direction Of the wagon. However
this may be, the result of the dis
charge of this mans gun was follow
ed Immediately - by the fire
from both colored people and citi-
zens of the place. 1t is admitted by
all persons that this mans gun was
the first one fired and that it was
discharged without proyocation. !.
In conversation with the citizens
of Camilla, this man. Johns, was
described to me rs q drunken and
dangerous man, and frequently in
difficulties, and one whose acts they
deprecated, and on that day he was
intoxicated
Under these circumstances it can
not but be considered neglectful on
the part Of the sh eriff in not seeing
that this man Johns was kept out Of
the way on that day, particularly as
he was drunk and as he, the Sher-
if, appears. to have apprehended
trouble from the approaching crowd
and the excitement existing among
the citizens of the place.
For a full understanding of the
occurrence from the time the Sher-
if met the crowd advancing on the
road to town until the firing COM
menced, and its results, I respect
fully call attention to the inclosed
afidavits OF both citizens Of Camil
la and persons who went there to at
tend the meeting. So far as it was
possible to learn the causualities that
day, they were as follows:
Nine colored killed, and from
twenty five to thirty colored wound
ed. Several citizens of Camilla
were slightly wounded, but none
severely.
From the inclosed statements of
parties present it will be seen that
the firing on the town did not con
tinue mary minutes, but the colored
people fed to the adjoining woods,
and that they were pursued by the
citizens as posse of the Sheriff,
some of them mounted and some on
foot, and that the firing of guns
through the woods was heard dur
ing the balance of the day.
The Sheriff, in his affidavit, states
that three colored men were killed
one mile from the town. I have
been unable to find any proof that
the colored people who went that
day to Camilla were advised by any
of tie white men who accompanied
them, and who were to address them
either to go armed for defense or
but that, on the contrary,
the inclosed affidavits show that
Messrs, Murphy and Putney all adj
vised and impressed them that they
should be peaceable and law abiding
i'll all their acts, as they were meet
ing at Camilla in the exercise Of
their rights as citizens of the United
States; that the citizens of the town
cf Albany were III any implicated
or connected with the occurrence at
on the 10Th inst, in no way
IS proven.
tits explained in the affidavit Of
1he Sheriff of Mitchell county, that
notice of some colored people hav-
ing left Albany on the evening of
The 18th inst, for Camilla, was re
,eivea by him through person liv
ng in the adjoining town OF New
5on; this is in no way denied, as by
reference to the affidavit of Peter
Hines, the leader of the band, it will |
De seen that the musicians, with 9th
er freedmen, left Albany on the ev-
enlng of the 18th inst. I herewith |
transmit the proceedings of meet
ng Of the citizens Of Albany, Ca,
leld on the 26th inst. / will state
;hat information was freely tender
ed me by all parties.
| was accompanied by Brevet Ma
or o. Fl. Howard, Sub Assistant
Commissioner r r. r and A T,