Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-10-16
ALABAMA.
A TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT
INVESTIGATING THE obs
ride r S."
HE EXPOSES THE r RADICAL
SLANDERERS AND. DENIES
THEIR ASSERTIONS.
TRIAL OF MEN CHARGED WITH
KILLING BILLINGS.
THE EVIDENCE VERY CON
FLICTING.
DECISION OF THE COMMIS-
SION T. R.

NEW YORK, Oct -Noon.-Rev.
Thos. NJ. Eddy is dead.
The Tribune has sent O correspond
ent to Alabama to investigate the re-
ports of outrages on Republicans III
that State, and his first letter, dated
Montgomery, October Sd, is published
this morning and contains TIE follow
ing: q know nothing personally of
the condition the disturbed coun-
ties, but / sha.4 go to them In a day
or two. AS far as 1 have been able TO
investigate, I have found that the Adj
ministration journals and Adnlinistra-
ton politicians have grossly slandered
the people Of this State. The party
press, on both sides, is very bitter in
political controversy, but the Repub-
lican papers are just as denunciatory
of their opponents as those published
in the interest of the Democratic party,
and it is not true that the latter have
advised or do now advise, their friends
to resort to Intimidation or violence.
The authors OF some OF these ISLANDERS
that are destroying the credit of TIE
State, and driving away immigrants,
live in this city, and I don't wonder
that they are treated with contempt.
They say they are '0atrac!sed, but
they pass through the streets without
molestation or Insult. | have the
word Of high Republican officials here
that socially auG i'll business relations,
honor able men, 10 matter what their
politics are, Will be treated alike eN-
cept by few worthless fellows whose
society nobody desires.
MOBILE, Oct. S-Night- testi-
mony III the Sumter county case closed
! yesterday. Robt. Il. Smith, one Of
the counsel for the defense, is nov
making Lis argument. The decision
Of the Commissioners will probably be
rendered to- morrow. The evidence is
very conflicting, that for the prosecu
! ton, except Henry J. Greattas, BIZ
! lings' law partner, is colorad; the evil
| der re for the defense is part white ana
part colored. The culored witnesses,
for the persecution, identified ReLfl o
| and Bullock, and swore positively tni.t
! they were present at. and assisted IL
the killing along with twenty or twen-
| ty Eve others. Witnesses swnre
they were in the road 1t the time and
! saw the killing. Hiiman was notitienti-
fed and Will probably be discharged
Tie evidence for Reufro and Bullock,
tSidbilSiliEIS utbDfS- 10 S"t PIi-S St-' III
parties swore positively tLsy Were at
, their respective homes, tie nearest
one being nine miles away from the
scene Of the killing at the time of the
murder.
There is a discrepancy about the
nome of EiIiman; he is called in the
affidavit and warrant Of arr st William
Hilirnau, h's trua name beng Phillip
, Hi,lmai..
The two main Witnesses for the
prosecution swore that Billings, who
was about thirtv-tive years of age, was
killed between sunset aud dusk ON
Saturday, August LIST, as he was riding
along the public road, about one hun
dred yards from his residence. in
Sumter co7loty, both man and horse
bling killed, and WIS found dead on
Sunday morning. They swrTe that
Renfro came Cut OF the woods and
said. with an oath. Hat. God IN
YOU when Others zoe and fired.
Nothing WAS proven by the prosecu-
ton as to The previous threats of
either Of the prisoners against Bill
liDgs The prisoners are quiet, re-
spectacle looking Young men a
farmers in Sumter County.
MOBILE, Oct. S-Nigiit After the
argument in the case to-day, and about
2:3O p. IN. the Commissioner rendered
his decision committing Renfro and
Bullock to jail without bail and dis
charging Hillman. The Commissioner
refused to enter into the constitu-
tlonality Of the law, and based his de-
cision upon the fact that while the evil
dence establishing an alibi in the cases
of Bullock and Renfro was strong,
there was testimony enough to Justify
the committal. After the decision and
before i was carried into effect, tie L.
S. District Attorney asked tho Com
missionev 10 hold Hilin3an until new
affidavit, charging him with the whip
ping Of Wilson Doyle, could be pre-
pared and warrant issued for his az
rest. This the Commissioner refused
to do; subsequently,, and while at per-
feet liberty, Hillman told the Z. S.
District Attorney that he would appear
at p. ~, and give bail TO answer this
new charge.
MONTGOMERY, Oct. 10.-Night.-
Gen. L. W. Healey, United States
Marshal for Alabama, has appointed
some dozen or two deputy marshals
upon tho recommendation and request
Of Chas. E. Mayer, Chairman of the
Republican Executive Committee of
this State. These deputies have been
appointed in the negro counties for
election purposes exclusively and are
all Republicans.