Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-09-02
SIXTH DAY.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, Aug. Q

WEDNESDAY MORNING, Aug "a.
The Court met pursuant to adjourn
ment.
F. A. Wiley, the accused, made the fol-
lowing statement
Arrived In Yanceyville on the 21st May,
1870, about 8 o'clock In the morning
drove up to the South end of the Court
House, near locust tree. While IN
hltching my horse was called to by Mr..
Stephens, who said he wished to have a
talk with me. After tying my horse /
stepped in at the south door into the pas
sage, and there found Mr.. Stephens and
Mr.. John HemphilI, spoke to them in a
few moments Mr.. Hemphill moved away
up the passage of the Court House, leaving
me and Mr.. Stephens alone. Mr.. Stephens
then remarked to me, 81 have been want
ing to see you for some time want yon,I
to aid me IN harmonizing political matters
in this county. I want you to yum for
Sheriff; look upon you as being a mod
crate man in politics [ cannot support
my present Sheriff, nor can my party!
Now. If you can get the Conservative nomi-
nation here to day, we Will make no nomi-
nation for Sheriff and my party will sup
port you" 1 replied that 1 had been
Sheriff once, quit it of my own accord,
and had no aspirations for it again that /
had an old mother to take care of, and my
wife was in bad health, and [ preferred 10
stay at home. Mr.. Stephens then said,
''dOn't make up your mind hastily, L want
to talk with you further on the matter"
and we then separated. / went in the
office Of Watt & Withers, and on going in
Mr.. Watt rather jeered me for having a
talk with Sfephens, or asked WhaS and
Stephens were so familiar about. [ then
stated to him what we had been talking
about, and L observed to Mr.. Watt that
MIR. Stephens had on one occasion obliged
me and L could not forget it, and if others
saw fit to crow at him I should always treat
him with respect.
L walked out few moments, but soon
returned and paid Mr.. Watt q fee 1 owed
him, and then Vent directly to the Court
room above, and participated in the Con
sentative meeting until it adjourned for
recess about IL o'clock. It was to meet
again at l. o'clock. but I think it did not
meet until about 2. After the re-assem-
bling, / heard the nominations read out,
| and the speech of Col. Livingston Brown,
which lasted considerable time then the
speech of Col. Wiohers, which was q short
| one. Then Mr.. Hodnett rose to make q
speech, and during the time he was speak
ing left the Court room. AS left saw
Mr.. Stephens sitting within few seats of
the end of the Court room and near the
end of the bench, who seemed to be taking
| notes. [ went out and won't over to Capt.
Mitchelfs Drug Store and took some re-
freshmen, and then returned to the Court
room. When I got back. Hon. Bedford
Brown was speaking. Mr.. Stephens was
still sitting where left him. AS passed
him, he took hold Of my pants and drew
me towards him, and said, 81 am busy
now, want to take some notes. in little
while 1 want to see you" L walked few
steps up the aisle towards the bar
| just then Mr.. Williamson Martin
drew me to him and We had some
conversation about the nominations.
While I was talking with Martin, saw
Mr.. Stephens beckoned to me; approach
ed and put my hand either on the back of
the bench OF his shoulder as I stopped
towards him. Mr.. Stephens then said Il
am ready, let's go down" I walked on
ahead and he followed when we reached
the steps we commenced u conversation by
his remarking, Il want to put you on my
ticket for Sheriff" When we reached the
vestibule. told him peremptorily that L
could not and would not be candidate.
then went out at the gate on the public
square, in the direction of the pump and
towards Mitchell's Drug Store. Mr. Thos.
Bigelow came up and we had some CONVEX
sation. In short time John H. Kerr came
up; he and myself went over to Mr..
Johns!on's store, where I loaned him $50,
according to previous promise, and took
his note for il. then returned Immediately
to the Court House and In the vestibule met
Mr.. John @. Wikerson, who seemed TO be
reading the advertisements on the wall !;
we talked awhile about the nominations,
and in the conversation I mentioned that
Stephens had endeavored to persuade me
to become a candidate for Sheriff. At that
moment, looking down the passage, saw
Stephens standing in the passage opposite
the Grand Jury room, where the tax lists
were taken, talking to colored man, and
poin ted Mr.. Wilkerson's attention to the
fact. Wilkerson and myself soon went
out on the square i'll the direction of the
pump, where we saw Jerry Smith and MIR.
Dismuke, who were on their horses to
start home, and asked me if was not
ready to 90. / told them I was; and re-
marked to Wilkerson had bought bot
tie of bitters.in the morning at Harr elson's
and proposed that we should go and get
a drink of il. We went and after drink.
ing, came out towards the pump, Wilker-
son said he had to go to Mitchel's for
some medicine for James Malone, and
then he would be ready. L told him I
would go and get my horse. L walked
Immediately through the passage of the
Court House to the south end where
hitch my horse, While he was doing SO,
was approached by Lee Hensley, who
said had him bound out while was
Sheriff, and wanted to know if he couldn't
get some pay, and how he could get it.
told him to go to Henry Brannon the
Clerk, and to employ counsel that
could tell him nothing about it.
About that time DIR. Richmond I
think came up and perhaps others,
and commenced joking Hamp
Johnston about a niece of his who lived at
my house. wished to see the Clerk Hen
~ Brannon, stepped to his Office, but find
ing it locked, I returned, went to my buoy
and drove round to the pump, went into
Mr.. Henderson's store opposite and asked
for bucket to water my horse. He had
no bucket, but let me have noggin, which
I took to the pump a colored man pump
ed the water for me, and having watered
my horse, / tolG him to return the noggin,
and I got in my buggy and left, in COM