Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-02
Mississippi Banditti.

A REPUBLICAN MARTYR-SToRr OF HIS AssAs-
sINATIoN BY MISSISSIPPI DEMocRATs-IIIs
WIDOW TELLS THE SAD TALE.
A correspondent of the New York Times re-
ceived the following story of the brutality of the
"white liners" Of Mississippi from the lips of the
widow Of the martyr mentioned below. He pos
sesses her affidavit made in Mississippi, and has
heard the story at her own house in Philadelphia.
He Says
William p. llafia was a man of spotless charac-
ter. Of singularly mild and inoffensive manners,
he was beloved by the colored people and re-
spected by all the unprecedented whites. He was
not fighting man. He did not 90 to Mississippi
for office, but to raise cotton and corn.
Six years ago last February he leased planta-
ton near Auburn, in Kinds county. After Mr..
and Mrs. Haffa and their children had lived there,
quietly working, never interfering" in politics,
the owners of The land called ON them and asked
| them whether they were friends Of the white man
or the - Niger. He said Gas any honest North
ern man would have said to such question: that
be was friend to every one who was worthy Of
friendship, whether white or black.
1--WE understand you," they said, "you are a
friend of the - Niger"
After this interview he was threatened more
than once. The colored people soon afterward
nominated him for justice Of the peace. Gov.
Acorn made the appointment, and refused to eject
should be removed, on the ground that "no North
ern man should come down and rule them" The
majority of the people-the blacks-desired his
appointment, and no one of either color could
complain of his character. lie served out his
term of two years. He was renominated, and
again elected. The local democratic leaders then
waited" on him, took him out of the house and
lashed him without mercy with cowhide; and
when his wife besought them for mercy and chung
to him, one of the rufans, who was joint owner
Of the Dlantati0n threw her oH GOV clpntIv hat
she was laid up for month from the injuries she
received She has to this day fully recovered
from the shock. Mr.. Haffa remained; he was
threatened again; his boy was shot at; his own
would-be assassin, member Of one of the fami-
lies in the district.
After these occurrences both Mr.. Hafa and his
wife taught colored schools. As the blacks trusted
them they had influence over their votes. This
was the head and front Of their offending. They
also taught the blacks in Sunday schools
The Kuklux were suppressed and there was
peace in Mississippi until last summer, when the
campaign of intimidation and assassination was
inaugurated. Bound to carry the State at any
fate of Mr.. Haifa was sealed. lie would not leave.
lie could not be driven off He must die.
And now l stand aside to let the widow speak.
1--WE were aroused by the barking of our dog
fnrionsly ON the morning of the 9th OF September.
hollered Who is therei and no answer. l re-
peated it, and there was no answer. And then
Mr.. Haffa got up and sad who is there 2 They
said, we will let you know who is there or some
thing to that effect. And l said, My God they
have the yard full of men,.
presume there were from fifty to seventy five
men barricading the whole of tine house, aud they
had not only armed themselves with one or two
weapons, but they had some Of them half dozen
They had them buckled around them, besides me
mnsket that they carried. They tried to uufasten
the door to get in, but put my foot between the
door and the sill and kept the door closed. My
in, they finally took one of the fence rails and
broke the door down, and part of the furniture.
And we were hollerng all the time, Murder
murderp
No one came TO our assistance. They could
hear me holler 'Murlerp for about two miles, as
the neighbors told me sfterward. Finally, Mosey,