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

AWmcVA1e COumGcS.
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 for
an armed force to preserve the peace, the fol-
lowing remarkable deposition in the contested
election case OF the Third Congressional Dis
trict. We give the statement to our readers
for what it may be worth:
Deposition Of William K Tolbert, taken before
Hon. William HutsOu Wlpp Judpe of tho
Probate Court, February IL 1869, in con-
tested election case between s. L. HOge and
J.. p. Reid. D. Pope, Esq, counsel for the
William K. Tolbert, being of lawful age
being duly sworn, says:
Question What is your name where do you
reside, and what ls your occupation?
Answer live at Greenwood, Abbeville
Q.-How long have you lived in Abbeville
County?
We're you in Abbeville County during
the mouths Of july August September, Octo-
ber and November, 1868?
Odd you belong to either of the political
parties during the last campaign?
Al did.
Q.-To which one?
A.-Democrat.
Q.-How was the Democratic party organ
ICED in Abbeville County2
A.-Into clubs. Democratic Clubs.
Q.-Dld you belong to one of those clubs.
A.-.Yes, to Greenwood Club.
Q.-Wbere did your club hold it's meetings
AT the depot. Met once week.
Q.-Were your meetings public
A.-Public to Democrats, but not to Radi
Gals. NO Radical allowed to come in.
these clubs?
-Not ;o;o
Q-Were there any secret organizations con-
nected with these clubs?
Ayes, sir. Committees were appointed,
which met il secret, and they appointed men
to patrol in each different neighborhood
Y.lFor what purpose were these men de-
tailed to patrol?
Ate find out where the negroes we're
holding Union Leagues.
Q.-What other instructions had they, if
A.-To break them up, kill the leaders, fire
Q.-Were those the instructions given in all
the clubs?
A.-Can't say throughout the country, but
believe they were.
Q.--Were those instructions given and en-
forced at any time, and put in execution
against any Of the Union Leagues. in Abbe-
vile
A.-They patrolIed for them. but could not
find where any were held.
Q.-Were there any other instructions given
to those comm ttees by the Democratic clubs
III T0luClOu 10 CQ0 6l0CGlOQ TO Dc held on the Sd
of November2
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 we're rid
ing for them the night before the election, TAX
ing them wherever they could find them I
was one OF the gangs myself, Ten or eleven
mittee myself. Destroyed the tickets Ali of
us were armed.
Q.-What were your instructions. if the per
sons having the tickets in charge refused to
give them up?
A.--Shoot them. and take them by force.
Q.-Have you the means of knowing, and do
you know, what was the political sentiments of
the negro population IN Abbevllle County and
how they would have voted if they had been
allowed to voter etE
A.-There we're at least four colored votes
to one white vote IN the county. They wonld
have voted for the Republican candidate-tor
you (Judge Hoge)-at least ninety-nlne out Of
each hundred.
9mWheee 1sas were you on the day of election
An the fore part Of the day at voting
precinct, Greenwood, in Abbeville County. A
courier came in from White Hall precnct,
Abbevlile County, saying they were fighting
there (this was about one o'clock), and that
the Republicans we're about whipping.
squad OF US, armed. about thirty in number,
besides myself. were sent there. When we cot
there, the Republicans were all gone, except
one, who was lying there dead. Heard that
others were wounded. There had been some
S4ootinR. Don'L know II the Republicans shot.
No white man was shot. Only two colored
men were allowed to vote before shooting COM
menced. -Four to five hundred cOlored men
usually voted at this preclnct, who, il allowed
10 vote, would have voted the Republican
ticket. s
Odd the Democrats como to the White
Hall polling precinct armed on the day Of the
A.-Every one, so far as knew. IT was q
general understanding throughout the coun-
ty, that all were to go armed.
Q.-State what occurred at Greenwood pre-
Hall ~ mo
,A.-Well, the. negroes, to the number OF
about four hundred voters, assembled about
white mon. Democrats, were all around the
door; Captain j. G. Boozer was sitting tight
yt1;s. Dy the door, to examine the tickets. Two Re-
they came eom men the came mae, up t. vote
said. "Let me see your papers," They
pulled out the Republican ticket with
Aoge's name for Congress. He told them they
could not vote them sort there; they would
nave to go somewhere else to vote those pa
pers. Boozer was armed. The negroes turn
ea saa PACK TO the main body. who saw that there
VAS was no chance nc to vote 50 they disbanded and
ofthem. all voters in Abbeville County. nnd
sMao ;' %Guid nave voted the Republican ticket.
In In lair election the Republlcan ticket would
nave majority OF twelveto fifteen hundred in
ADDevllle county, The official return made
the Democratic majority i920.] There was a
ciear understanding that the Democrats would
force the Republicans from the polls II thew
undertook TO vote--force them by arms, We
were all armed, and intended, il they rushed in
we would rush them back, shooting into them.
1t was not safe for Republican speakers to
canvass the county. The general understand
ing waa that they were to be shot, killed,
stopped. He knew OF four that were shot; one
got over 1t; three were killed. Several others
were shot and wounded, but he does not know
the persons. They were killed because Of the
influence they had in the Republican party.
The killed. were James Martin. member Of
the Legislature from Abbeville, b. #. RAN
dolph. and another man at Whitehall on the
Depot on the 10th OF October, about two
o'clock in the afternoon. He (Tolbert) was
present; was known and recognized by the citi-
zons living st Hodges Depot, and talked with
aa.sa ai a dozen q them m7-Fletch. Hodges, Lang