The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-24

Abbcvillc Counties.
A correspondent Of the Columbia Phoenix
sends to that paper, by way of reply to some
structures which it had published on Governor
Scott's course in taking steps to carry into ef-
feet the act of the Legislature providing tor
an armed force to preserve the peace, the fol-
lowing remarkable deposition in the contested
election case OF the Third Congressional Dis
trict. We giyo the statement to our readers
for what it may be worth:
Deposition of William K. Tolbert, taken before
Hon. William Hutsou Wlgg. Judge ct the
Probate Court, February II 1863, III con-
tested election case between S. L. Hoge and
J. P. Reid. D. Pops, Esq, counsel for the
latter.
William Z. Tolbert, being of lawful age,
being duly sworn, says:
Question What is your name. where do you
reside, and what is your occupation? =.
Answer-I live at Greenwood, Abbeville
County. Farming.
o,-How long have you lived in Abbevilc
County?
All my life.
the months OF July, August. September. Octo-
Der and November. 1852
Al was.
parties during the last campaign!
Al did.
Q.-To which one?
A-Democrat.
Q.-How was tho Democratic party organ
ICED in Abbeville County,
A.-Into clubs. Democratic Clubs.
Odd yuu belong to one OF those clubs.
A Yes to Greenwood Club.
Q.-Wbere did your club hold its meetings? !?
A.-At the depot. Met once week.
Q.-Were your meetings public?
A.-Pub ic to Democrats, but not to Radi-
cals. No Radical allowed to come in.
Odd you take an oath as member OF
these clubs?
A.-Not when joined.
Q-Wefe there any secret organizations con-
nected with these clubs?
Ayes, sir. Committees were appointed,
which met in secret, and they appointed men
to patrol in each different neighborhood.
Q.--For what pdrpose were these men de-
tailed to patrol?
A.-To fiud out where the negroes were
holding Union Leagues.
Q.-What other instructions had they, If
any9
40 break them up, kill the leaders, fire
into them, and kill tho leaders il they could.
Q.-Were those the instructions given IN all
the clubs?
A.-CaI't say throughout the country, but
believe they were.
O.-Were those instructions given and ell
forced at any time, and put In executI IN
against any Of the Union Leagues in Abbe-
vile ?
A.-rhey patrolled for them, but could not
find where any were held.
O.-Were there any other instructions given
to dose committees by the Democratic clubs
in relation to the election to be held on the 81
of November?
A.-Yes, sir, the day before the election the
tickets were taken away from the Republican
party, from those who had charge Of them, by
these committees. The committees were rid
ing for them the night before the election, taxi
ing them wherever they could find them. l
was one of the gangs myself. Ten or eleven
were With me. was q member of the COM
mittee myself. Destroyed the tickets. all OF
US were armed.
Q.-What were your instructions. if the per
sons having the tickets i'll Charge refused to
give them up?
:A.-Shoot them, and take them Jy rorc,.
Q.-Have you tho means OF knowing, and do
YOU know what WAS tho political sentiments OF
the negro population IN Abberlle County, and
how they wou!d have voted If they had been
allowed to vote?
A.-There we're at least four colorod votes
to one white yoto IN the county. They would
have voted for the Republican candidate for
you (Judge Gogt at least ninoty-nin9 out OF
each hundred.
0.-Wnorc wcra you on tic day OF election,
November 8, 1858?
A-In tho Iore part of tho day NJ voting
precinct, Greenwood IN AbboTil!c County.
courier came in from White ii Ill precinct,
Abbevil!e County, saying they were Il i,hting
there (this was about QUO o'c!ock), and that
the Republicans were about waippng. a
SQUAD Of us, armed, about thirty in humber,
Beside besides myself. s were sent ihero. WLon we got
there tue Republicans were all gone, except
one, who Wits l,iug there dead. Heard that
others were wounded. There bad been some
shooting. DON'T know if the Republicans shot.
No white man was slot. Olly two colorcd
men were ailowol to vote before sho ting COM
menced. Four to five hundred coiored meu
usually voted at this precinct, who, it allowed
to vote, would have votod tao Republican
ticket.
Odd the Democrats como to tho White
Hall polling precinct armed on the Cay OF the
election?
A.-Every one, so far as I knew. II was
general understanding throughout the eoun-
ty, that all were to go armed.
Q.-Ssate what occurred at Greenwood pre-
ciuc5 up to the time you LETT to so 10 White
Hall?
A.-Well. the negroes, to the number of
about toar hundred voters, assembled about
one hundred and fifty yards from the polls; the
whito men, Democrats were ell around TIC
door; Captain j. G. Boozsr WAS sitting light
by tue door, to examine the tickets. Two Re-
they camo from the main body. He
said. sLet mo see your papers" They
pulled out the Republican ticket with
Hogo's narla for Congress. lie told item they
could hot vote them sort there; they would
have to 20 somewhere else to vote those pc
pers. ioz3r Wis armed. The negroes ;uru-
cd back to TIE main body, who saw tia; there
'fas 10 chance 10 VOC 50 til y disLalde1 aud
went home. There were about four huaGrcd
ofthe,n, AL voters III AbbovilLc Co,,:.f" AMI
who would haso voted inc Republican II, -:cl.
In o .air e.cctiou the Republican ticket would
havo Q Inajorit, of twelve 20 Gf;coa hundred IA
Abbevil.o Coanty. [ The cffitta! rc.,:n made
tic Dem cratic majority 1921 Tle;o wdsa
clear understanding lha' the Democrats Snuld
forco the r; pub;icans from tho polls If trey
undertook tc vo,e-iorce them oy arms. Wu
wore a.: armed, and ended. if tney .us.et! in,
no would rash them Ok shooting: in!o them.
IT was not saio for Republican speakers to
canvass The county. Tho general u:dorstand-
ing was that they Ncro to TO shot, -,i!c>.,
stopped. He knew of tour that we've shot; on"
got over IT; three were killed. Sevcra! otaers
were shot aud wounded. but he does no, know
the pcrsous. They wera killed because OF tho
influence they had in the Republican party.
Tho killed were James Martin member Ut
the Legislature from AbDevllle, Is. /. Ran
dolph. aud another man at Whitehall OH the
day Of election. Randolph vas XII led at Hodeos
Depot Oh the 1Gh OF Octobcr. about two
O'Clock in tho afternoon. He (rolbeft was
I 4 Do1t