New-York tribune., 1875-10-12
THE FRIAR'S POINT WAR.

SHERIFF BROWN The AUTHOR OF ALL THE MISCHIEF
-THE STRUGGLES OF A CORRUPT RING FOR con-
TROL-A MAN WHO HOLDS THREE OFFICES AT
3 ONCE - BROWNS INCENDIARY HAEANGUEs-
PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHTING.
| To the Editor Of The Tribune.
| SIR: You ask me to give the facts touching the
troubles at Friar's Point. will do as briefly as
cam We have for Sheriff a colored man from
Oberlin Ohio, elected two years ago on the Ames
] ticket. His bond was made by Ames, who, year
ago surrendered him. on the plea that he had appro-
priaed to his own nearly $4,000 of the revenues
belonging to the State, and had demanded the CO.
operation of the Treasurer of the County, a white
Republican, in fraud upon the County Treasury for
nearly S6 900 more. A number of wealthy planters,
! all Conservatives, all of whom had opposed his
election ignorant of the facts touching his default,
became his bOndsmen. in the hope as they sad tbat
he might be controlled in the interests of peace The
State Senator from this district, elected four years
| ago was a colored man from Ohio, named Bolls.
| Two years ago. and while holding the office
! of Senator he was appointed Receiver of
| Public Money A year afterward he defauted
! with large sum and ran away. Smith, another
Ohio negro was sent from Jackson to this District
! 10 run for a Senatorial vacancy and was elected,
and now holds the Office. At the close OF the last
session of the Legislature Smith was appointed ke-
/ cclNer Of Bubl1c Money. SUBSEQUENTLY, hO "''o
appointed our County Superintendent of Education
at 5000 year. All these offices he now holds. Two
months ago, Sheriff Brown made known to the
negroes that Smith must be elected to both OF the
offices of Circuit and Chancery Clerk. This was not
satisfactory to the negroes. II alarmed the tax
| PAYERS. Among the powers of the Chancery Clerk
are those of approving official bonds and keeping the
records of the Board of Supervisors, the taxing
| power of the County These offices wonld make the
ring for the pluDder OF the county complete, Ill
Brown and Smith. The negroes of the county, urged
! by the tax-payers, made stubborn resistance to
/ Browns programme to control them.
( BROWNS WILD PRocLAMAIIoNs.
/ To sublue opposition Brown began harangung
! tie negroes six weeks ago touching declared ont
RACES his in other portions of the State lie
| stirred their blood by recitatlons of Clinton aud
Vicksbtlrg. He urged them to arm for defense. AZ
the whites were watching the opportunity for assault
| Citizens quietly protested that they medtatcd no
war on the cgro that the whites had held no pub
lie meetings; that they had no military organiza-
ticn; thai not single negro had been killed by a
white man in this county since the war; that the
whites are planters and not politicians that they
care not who holds the Offices if they but hold them
we'll: and that their fields were white with cotton,
! and ruin would come upon them should they fail to
gather the crops These protests, coming to the ears
of Brown, were denounced ae hypocriical. lie SAID
| he had orders from the Governor to carry out his
programme at all hazards that he could bring II
need be. 800 militia men TO each voting precinct;
that this country belonged of right to the colored
people, and they intended TO have If that the white
man had had his dag, and that the day of the col
| ored man was now at hand Brown supplied him.
| self with Winchester rifle, and was reported TO
have brought a large lot of ammunition to the
/ a -. tt.,. a1t pfIr
most respected citizens visited him. one of them his
| bond,man aud urged him, if he did not mean war,
| to send the ammunition away. This he refused
| 10 do.
THE NEGROES UNDER BROWNS CONTROL.
The whites now began to counsel for defense,
| but had made little progress when Browns ConVen-
| ton met. The negroes were completely under bis
| control. None were allowed to speak except by his
| permission. Brown was renominated for Sheriff,
| Smith for both Circuit and Chancery Clerks, and
| one white man and four ignorant negroes Tor the
Board of Supervisors. The result was proclaimed III
the streets of our village with the deaicnng noise of
many drums, on the evening of the I'd of October.
UNAvMIING EFFORTS Tor PEACE.
| The same day as that of Browns Convention a
meeting of citizens, white and colored, was called AT
the Court house. After others had spoken l, Icing
recognized in the audience, called ont i re-
,ponded in a sharp review of Browns outIages and
made the first public disclosure of his plunder of the
ax-payers rccitng the fact of his effort to stir his
people to violence. Brown i'll the audience and
denied some Of the assertions made. rcjoined with
point. Brown drew his pistol and held it exposed
until | had closed. This was on Saturday. Brown
announced TO the audience that he would make his
reply at the Courthouse Monday night.
Sunday IT became known that Brown was sending
runners over the county urging his leading negroes
TO marshal their commands and bring them i'll on
Monday night. under arms, To the Co'llt-h"use.
Citizens were alarmed. Some OF his bondsnen went
TO him aud urged him defer his meeting. lie per
sisted hut finally yielded to request Ia postpone
il fill TUESDAY aud then to have the people come
without arms.
On Tuesday rumors were rife that the negroes
were organizing for an armed raid on FriaIs Point.
Brown denied that il was but the town people,
with the few visitors present Were haSty III making
| preparations Brown read in this determination
that promised TO bring him 10 his senses. lie sent
! to know if he was regarded as Sheriff and if his
summons would be- Obeycd. The answer made
in writing that the community anxious for
| peace and that if he would summon posse OF %
whites and 90 colored men. all disorders could be
! suppressed. To this proposition he made no reply,
! except when appealed 10, and when assured that
! the negroes were marching, armed and with loud
curses on the town. He then replied that the ne
grocs had no arms. but if mistaken III this he would
| turn them back. Many believed him 10 be sincere,
hut the preparation for defense WAS not altogether
suspended
THE INSTRUCTION or TUESDAY.
! had gone To my home. A half hour elapsed, when
q message came that the front of the negro columns
was already in view. ran 10 the place of rendez-
vous about 200 yards distant. The negroes were in