The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-02-22

Improper 70 ask the question IL Is NOT the
Time 20 go Into an inquiry Of how these men
were killed Mr.. Coleman said he did NOT
want TO bring il ont now, unless the prose
cutiOn was to be permitted TO bring il out
Ia crossing it.
Did you hear much firing Of guns or pis-
tolls. just before the fire broke out, during
lt continuance or after il.
Not as witness remembers. Witness went
home from the fire, went 70 sleep and slept
all night.
Didn't you see men-white men-that
night lot the fire. standing around with
guns and guarding the goods? | did not
see any around white except as stated and
further said, after he heard Mr.. White say
what he did, he went to the man he was
working with and told them he was going
home, because he thought there was going
TO be trouble.
That there may be no misunderstanding
| about your testimony hereafter, do you say
there were no white men guarding goods
with guns, and did you not carry goods 10
pile where men were standing guard with
gunss
Might have done it, but don't remember.
Did you not talk 10 a man standing guard
with a gun over goods where you were car
rying them, about the negroes stealing
goods?
Said, positively, he did nos.
Have you been present where number
of colore3 witnesses were assembled and
talked over the circumstances of Meridian
kiot, since Wednesday!
BY the Court-Is il the purpose to iro-
Mr.. Coleman-I desire to be able to ac,
count to the jury for similarity of state
ments by number of witnesses
Mentioning Alb. jackson and Others.
witness was asked if he had not been at
certain place since then where the Meridian
Riot was talked over among witnesses!
said he had not.
When he met Mr.. Belk. he, Belk. asked
witness if he knew where Ellick Joseph and
Ike Radford were. He told about Elliek
Joseph as before stated, and said Belk said,
ii they had caught him, they would burnt
him. aud that he had more sense than he
thought he had. Witness told Belk he
didn't know where Ike Radford was.
Said, about complaints of white people
against negroes. that DIR. Curtis said. YOU
colored people have kicked up devil of a
row.
He. DIR. Curtis. said, old Bill Clopton had
got himself into it. and he is about done tor
now. Thai was Monday morning, just be-
fore or just after breakfast. And that is a
sample of the ''com plants" he alluded TO.
To question by District Attorney, if he
witness, had been about his. District Attor-
ney's room, since this trial began. answered.
he had, after celebrating. Did you see any
of the witnesses there? Mr.. Tyler was
examining witnesses and taking down the
evidence that they would give. Said. pos
itively, there was no comparing of the
Attorney was in his own room all the time.
Witness, to Mr.. jacobson, saw Alb. Jackson
put on a ku kluX uniform, and was show
ing il and was trying TO scare people. MIR.
jacobson did not come into that room du-
ring the ku KlnX performance.
John Bevin. col'd-Resides in Jackson
Lived in Meridian till 4th March. Was in
Meridian Saturday night of the fire. Saw
armed white men, to the number of 100. 1t
was Just about the time the fire was going
down + inst OnnnSifP RnEhfS livery
stable. They were all in one body. Could
see they had guns. All of them had guns.
They were standing still when first saw
them. Two of them came down near where
witness and some others were gathered near
his house. and fired over on US as well as
hey could, house being between them,
and finding they Witness and party, didn't
give way, broke and ran towards the stable.
Heard some of the men of the main party
call out to them, here are your men," Saw
at another time, about 80, near down back
of the Jones House, towards courthouse.
Still had their arms. Didn't see any more
OF them. Left them and went upon the hill
where a good many eolored people live.
Didn't come back again till late. Went up
on the hill, between 10 add IL O'Clock, saw
four or i've armed men come up towards
where they were on the hill. Colored peo-
pie had gathered up there to make COM
pany to keep white folks from running i'm
on them. Seeing the white men didn't
come upon them, the colored people dis
persed.
Turned over to defense.
From Sturges' corner witness, house was
about 400 yards. From v. 81 M. Railroad
about $50 yards. Is on the road to Melee
more's. Is $50 yards from Jones House.
1t is so yards from Jones House to Livery
Stable; they are on the same street. Court
House in rear of Jones House. Was in his
house when fire commenced. When in good
way of burning. went up to the fire. Don't
think he saw any armed men except some
guarding goods. Both black and white
armed guards were standing over Sturges'
goods. Saw Billy Clopton there. Didn't
see him have gun or pistol. Heard him
making oaths. Didn't hear him cursing
colored people and telling them to quit
carrying out goods. Was within 10 PAGES
OF him. Staid about two and half hours,
and went home. Thinks fire was about
half done burning when he left. Fire had
not yet got up to Harvey's corner. Went
home alone. Been home half an hour be-
fore some cOlored men came up and stopped
four or five OF them, but they did not all
come at sametime. Moon shining very
brightly. Been home about an hour when
he saw the $50 armed men. 1t was between
and O'Clock. Don't know it was after
9o'clock; wont say it was not don't think it
was quite nalf an hour before he saw the
body Of armed men. OF the five or six
men who were standing with him. mentions
the names Quay Hopkins and Allen Har-
vey What made you go away from the
fire when you did? They got to shooting
around about there so he thought il best TO
go home. Heard the shooting going on up
on Front street above where he was (about
Sturges' corner). Might have heard half
dozen shots. Alarmed HIM. Didn't know
of any difficulty at that time, excepting
what was commonly known of men going
about doing mischief. 1t might have been
colored and it might have been white men, |
Didn't know about body of 30 armed cob
ored men going to Col. Horns house one
.s.wl.% a.
men came from who fired over in upon them
They were about go yards Off west. towards
railroad. Sticks to where he located the $50
armed men by stable. They. two men. were
behind BOoker's house. Witness said he
didn't want to get tangled up Mr. Cole
man said, if he told the plain truth there
was no danger of getting tangled up. Wit
ness and two of the men with him had guns. !
What did you get guns for: Because we
thought if we had guns they wouldn't at
tack US. We had our guns before the two
men came up behind Booker's house and
fired over upon us. We then went home !
got guns. (Hesitating). Did hear of dan |
gers of what was going to be done that |
night, and that was what he armed himself /
about. mind. you are at your own house. |
you say" Said he didn't go away from |
there for some time. How long after YOU |
saw the $50 was it till you saw the so +? |
Witness greatly confused about the time
can't tell. Can't tell anything about it. |
Don't know anything about it; but |
does know he saw them. Witness |
thinks he had made the trip on
the hill first Where were you? Doubt !
ing and trying to remember at last said /
he was coming down back, but don't know |
particular" Gckere he was. Mr.. Coleman |
couldn't get him to locate himself wit /
ness had now got himself into such la /
byrinth of contradictions that he began TO l
grow stubborn. and it was hard to get him 1
to give straight explicit answer, or any /
at all but for the urging of the Court.
Was up there on the hill about IL. by the |
Methodist church, and didn't hear the bell /