New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-07
THE ALABAMA "OUTRAGES."
RIaPLY TO THE STATEMENTS OF CONGRESS-
MAN HAYS.

INsTANCHs-A MAN WHOM HE DECLARED HAD
BEEN MURDERED CERTIFIEs THAT HE Is STILL
ALIvE-AFFIDAvIrs AND STATEMENTS OF PARTIES
AND WITNESSES TO THE DISTURBANCES.
70 the Editor Of RE Tribune.
SIR: In The Hartford CoMrant there lately
appeared o letter frem Mr.. Charles Hays, member OF
Congress from this DISTRICT to Gen. J. r. Hawey dated
the Ih ins and giving the details of certain outrsees
which he charges to have been perpetraed In Alabama
He makes the single charge against this county tns'
A. Lpsc0mb was murdered In t about the LIST OF THIS
month Mr. Lpscomp at his residence on the 2'tn
inst and received from him written paper, copy vi
which, marked mo- L." is attached. The telegram re-
porting Lpscombs assassination published, thinA
about the LIST Of September believe 1t to have been
originated and used to influence Gen. Grant 10 send
troops here. Nothing happened to either Lpscomo or
any person to AFFORD tho slightest foundation io
the report Not violent act connected with poliucai
differences has been committed in this county this year.
and assert that In no other county in the Uni'eu
States does more entire freedom of speech and awlu
action prevail. the Prosecuting Attorney OF inc
county and know Of what write As to Cnocta"
County Mr. Hays says: $50 Q company Of whites am
pushed party Of negroes returning from church, kou
10 and wounded 49," Twas asounded at that
that been into that county to investigate anu
have just returned. submit TO you the results 10 tno
copies Of papers hereto appended, and marked
lively "No. O." mo. g." mo. T." and "No6" The dn'
Guilty described in them az having taken place at Butler
on the 18th Of August that referred to by Mr. Hays 40
having occurred about the LIST Of that month as IL Is inc
sole disturbance IN that county this year. 1t orgna'eu
in the beating OF Huff Cheney, negro under the Ior
lowing circumstances: meeting was held IN 'na.
county by some negroes, Hun among them,t appoint
delegates to the Republican State Convention Iney
adjourned to meet ut another time, and agreed tna'
their proceedings should be kept secret few days
after a party Of negroes came to Huffs gate anu
charged him with having told Of what they had done
which lie denied. Their leader replied that no wac
id liar, and ordered his men to take him. Hun ran
back into his house and seized his gum but they rusneo
in closely after him and wrested 1t from him before
he could use it, One OF them held his wife to prevent
her from following and the others carried him down
hill and stripped hun Of everything, even his socks one
held down bis head and leg and arm was secuieu
by a man. They then beat him cruelty, many "rS'ns
him at once and decorating him from head W hoeiS.
After finishing, they compelled him to ask each que -
them to forgive him and shake his hand He was una
BILE to leave his for week. and the SOLICITOR vi 'n
county hearing OF it, issued warrants for the arrest "
the parties 1t was stated by The state JOURNAL the
Republican organ Of this State that it was agreed
among the negroes at their first meeting that any one
of them dvulging what took place should be whppeo
and that HUFF party to that agreement oo no'
think to inquire to that. II 80, he certainty s're
ously resisted when they proceeded 10 e"ioioo '"0
agreement. have given you the substance OF DIS 'c'
tailed to me by gentlemen who heard it, had not time
to 90 to his home to get his amdaVt' Out VIII 'oo"
have it,
Jack Turner whose statement is attached was one Oh
that band leader Of the on the lstn
of August found him in Jail awaiting his trial lot
ynching Huff he does not deny that and wished 10 te
me all about it, but advised him to make no COMES
sions unless under the advice OF his lawyer TIC taAeu
freely to me seemed in wise depressed or con-
scions of having violated the law. He is represented by
those who know him being fearless man. OF violent
temper with some good traits.
Jack Finley is apparently thrifty and intelligent ne
gro, of prepossessng appearance visited MN aone
his house. and he his statement freely ana cneer
fully 1t is to- because there was no officer in
the neighborhood The following the letter referred
TO In Jack Turner's statement
Shall we colored Republicans be killed out again by
ten of our this day. 18th August We had to defend
ourselves. The Democrats say that not hadicaI snail
Please do come down and Investigate the matter as
United States officer. We coored people are not AFRAID
ner's to have q peaceful political meeting; had no IDEA
Of any disturbance until pistols were fred at lis by the
Your friends, Bengay Wood, Joe Turner Ben Skies,
Jack Turner, WIN. Skies Ned Bush
w. b. Jones, u. s. Commissioner Demopois
1t was published in The State Journal about the 23d OF
August, and is unquestonably entire forgery. Now
cal any candid mind carefully consider the statements
OF Turner and Finley to what passed between them
and MI Hays at Montgomery about the goth OF August
without coming to the conclusion that when he wrote
on the It'll OF September he knew his charge against
ChOctaw County to be without foundationi
now propose to Mr.. Hays that each Of us shall de-
post with on sufficient to pay the expenses
of having reporter sent here to investigate these
matters that you shall select and send here Republic
can who shall make a thorough investigation and
candid report. II he shall substantiate Mr. Hayss re
port as to murder OF LpscOmb and the killing OF the
10 and weunding of the IS men in Choctaw County.
will pay the expenses incurred; II shall show those
statements to be entirely without foundation Mr. Hays
to pay such expenses. As evidence Of my sincerity
ncose 500 account of such deposit, and will SEND
YOU such further amount may require upon being
informed that Mr. Hays has accepted my proposition.
Iconfne myself to these two matters because have
not been able to investigate TO the Others the muir
ders of Billings and Ivey are unquestioned and ndeen
sibe they among the mysteries OF crime, ana IL Is
most unjust to attempt to fasten their odum upon the
Democratic party OF this State as matters proved
Mr. Hays's remaining charges believe to be without
foundation or grossly exaggerated think that it was
in your issue OF the 1s inst that there appeared state
ment from him that a body OF masked men had nreu
into an assembage OF negroes holding convention IN
house near his place, killed en-a favorte number with
lnm-and wounded many. He could not have referred
TO his Choctaw massacre their Details except as 10
number dfcr ana ne places thdt ~ mes iron HIS i'''
denee in Greene County. That horrible outrage occur
ring near his place. should have been Of the best
authenticated OF his list; why then does he entirely
omit II in his Hawley letteri He declares that ne
narrates no rumors," but Observation-Disclosures facts;
he seems to me then have staked his veracty upon
the truth of every statement Of his letter, aud
submit to the Northern peOpe-whom 1t Is
intended TO inhuence-whether 1t is entitled
to any weight whatever. III he shall iaii
TO accept my proposition and substantae his two state
ments which now declare to be wholly false will not
The Hartford Courant The Boston Daily Adeerhser and
other papers which have published his letter and In
dor.ed its accuracy now publish my proposition to hm