Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-25
Political Outrages in Kentucky

Rufhanism in Kentucky has never been very
rare. Perhaps it is not now more frequent or
outrageous than in former years. 1t has, at
any rate, reached such height that newspa-
pers of either party no longer venture to ignore
or excuse it, but agree in publishing accounts of
recent atrocities, in denouncing the authors of
these deeds of violence in the strongest terms,
and in calling for relief by an energetic en-
forcement of the laws. At Frankfort, during
the recent election, a colored man named New
man was killed. 1t is sign of progress that in
Kentucky such an event is thought to demand
investigation by coroner's jury. In the course
of the inquest some facts appeared, tending to
show that not only notorious dcsperadoes have
a hand in these outrages.
At that election in Frankfort two voting
places were provided, one for the whites and the
other for the blacks, and they were separated by
a barrier. AS the election went on it became
evident that the republican candidates were get
ting more votes than their opponents, and UNI
less something was done, they were sare t. be
elected. The first thing that occurred to the
democrats was to destroy the barrier in the ex-
peetation that the colored voters would thus be
frightened away. While the effort TO throw
down the barrier was in progress, some one-a
white man, as the evidence before the coroner
plainly showed-drew and fired a pistol This
naturally created an intense excitement and
confusion, and during the tumult William New
man, very worthy and respectable colored
man, was shot and wounded so seriously that
he died soon after.
On his body an inquest was held, and the tes-
timony was fully reported in the local papers.
Witnesses testified that Mr.. Major, the mayor
Of Frankfort, had given instructions not to in
terfere TO keep the polls free and unobstructed,
although it was commonly reported and gener-
ally understood, that there would be bloodshed.
One Lieutenant Simmonds testified in regard to
a conversation between himself aud the attor-
ney general of the state as follows:
Mr.. Allison and walked from the court house
previous TO shooting. Met Attorney General
kodman near WelclIs saloon. Rodman said he
had spent hundred, OF hundreds of dollars.
aud had just made another draw. Mr. Allison
said there seemed a probability of a difficulty.
Mr.. ROdman said a row was just what they
wanted, and then they would get the polls He
(Simmonds) remarked, "Allison, do not like
10 hear that kind of talk in my presence" And
Allison told him | twas not of their political
faith" Mr. Rodman said he supposed was
gentleman. | replied that / thought was
That was about all that passed.
Besides this evidence tending to prove thu
completely of two official persons, CORE
spondent writing from Frankfort to Louisvill,
paper, indmates that other officials were at leas
as guilty Of the murder as the man who free
the fatal shot A judge of the election is re
ported to have said, "they must beat Swigert o.
have fight" sworn state official, whose nam
fff7ea ora- 49,
Come on boys, we must take those polls: tn
niggeIs nave had them all the morning, and W
must nave them now" The coroner said sine
the murder that the matter "must be hushes
up" These facts are not taken from republican
newspapers, but from those Of the opposite DO
litical persuasion. Frankfort, the state eapital
seems to be the headquarters of those who Der
Tefr % these atrocities. # was within fev