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

the agent Of the Singer sewing machine, came up
to me and choked me, and held revolver close TO
my head Before he choked me l said
Il am not afraid, If you will choke me and spare
my husband-that is all
Mosely said to me, when called his name sew
eral times, 'Sh-shp
had a nursing baby then, aud it was lying on
the bed screaming. After was choked so that
could not boiler any longer, my daughter came,
and she left me and went over to her father.
The men outside broke a shutter off the window
and fred at Mr.. Haffa, and my little boy told me
yesterday-he said he would take oath any time
that it was Jimmy Whitehead who fired one of the
shots at Mr. Haha, and Sid. Whitehead, the owner
of the land that we rented. lie had threatened
Mr.. Hatfas life several times, which the children
knew of.
They fred twice, and went to him, and he
asked me to take him to the bed; so my daughter
and assisted him to the bed. We had no light.
1t was utter darkness there, and says he to me
Mamma, want water As soon as could get
a light gave him water, and laid him down and
ran out for assistance and sent my little boy over
to some eolored people, and they came rushing
over. Finally, Sid. Whitehead came along and
refused to let me have physician. He said 1t
was no use, that he would die anyhow.
Mr.. Hsifa said: Mamma, l am going to die,
and he asked God to have mercy his soul, and
he laid his head on my shoulder and expired.
After the colorea people had laid him away, |
said to Sid Whitehead: 'Moseley is the one that
choked me, and he had revolver at my head;
was not here l said, yes, Sir; he was Sid
Whitehead spoke out that had to recall those
words for the sake of my life.
They made me recall it and say il was not him.
They came there together, and sat up the first
night-Whitehead and two or three other gentle
men-and they did nothing but use profane
language all the time, and abuse the Northern
people. They said that they would show them
that they were fully armed now and ready for war
at any time, and that they could not rule over
them or do as they pleased with them.
They wonld not allow me to have coffin for
him at all. Col. Griffin, formerly United States
Senator here-at least so they told me-he came
and said: Mrs. Hatfa, regret this very much.
Says he, Il cannot get any coffin for you, for they
won't allow it,
"Do you want to know anything abou. The other
men that were assassnated the same day l.
She was told to go on with her sad story.
"Well this was the 9th of September, 1875.
After Mr.. Haffa was gone. the colored people who
were there said: I'VE have lost our best friend.
would like to see any one come to my house and
kill me in as brutal a manner as they did the
Square. The names of the people who said this
were Stevens. His wife said Il must 90 home.
He says to her. Yes, you had better go home, for
| will be the next one
Mr.. Whitehead said: Dole you better be
careful how you talk, or the men will be after you.
So about three O'Clock these men came back to
see if Mr.. Haffa was gone, and they were looking
like hungry wolyes-tne most hendlsh looking
men ever saw. They said:
ANY colored people secreted about your prem
Uses here ?"
Says l, NO, sir
There was nobody in the house then but my
children and Mr.. Haffa's corpse l said There
is nobody here but you are privileged to come in
and examine the premises and look up the
chimney.
Two of them alightcd and came in and looked
around, and they said that was all that they
wanted to know.
They went over to those colored peoples house:
and took the Stevenses-father and son-out and
them instantly.
They did not give them any warning, any more
than they did Mr.. IIaffa, when they came in the
house and took them out.
They said they had large days work on hand
and that they had to commence early, and during
that day they perpetrated number of murders
They were after Senator Caldwell, but l dom
know whether they got him at that time or not.
The Stevenses were Republican leaders, and so
was Caldwell, who was brutally murdered some
time afterward.
Mr. Whitehead then gave me ten days notice
to leave, and so the colored people harbored me.
Mr.. Haffa was buried in a rude box, and yet the
white people and my son went along. He wa:
just wrapped up in sheet--they would not allow
it in any other way.
Mr. Whitehead said must leave that we were
looked on as spies here. The colored people
harbored me until got conveyance to take mt
to the depot.
They disarmed all the colored people through
the county there-took their arms from them anC
would not allow them to have any; and before
left the depot they made the cOlored people break
up their fRepubcan clubs, and every one o
them joined the Democratic clnbs-they com
PEELED them to do so at peril of their lives.
had no money; was obliged to leave every
thing; had not even change Of clothing.
She said no more. j. r.