The weekly clarion., 1876-11-08
THE RADICAL RIOT
THAT SprOtl gOt up i'm Claiborne
County.
RIOT
The InVe>tiSatfOn-Rh COIOred
Witnesses Prove.

appeared III the OlUcinHaLl 0OIu Il6FCldl
and Jackson Times concerning the
troubles of the 2lst instant in this county,
render a prompt refutation necessary.
Ii Is the belief of every intelligent citizen
mere, that the outrage perpetrated that
day was deliberately Planned, and ad-
vised by the managers Of the Republican
canvass.
For several weeks past it was known
at Democratic headquarters that the ne
groes were purchasing unusual quant-
ties Of buckshot. w. ID. Sprott, also, a
white man notoriously obnoxious TO the
white people, and Of an intolerant, ma
lignant disposition, was suddenly and
without occasion, appointed Deputy
United States Marshal. The day pre-
ceding the disturbance he was closeted
for nearly an hour in a room adjoining
the writer's with two prominent Repnb-
licans. One OF these, that night, called
the writer into the same room and re-
marked: s'There is going to be a diff
Guilty tomorrow" To which he replied !;
Nonsense; the sheriff has issued his
proclamation and appointed number OF
special deputies sufficient to keep the
peace, if breach Of it is attempted.
Well, you will see" was answered.
"But, l wish you to know, l have moth
ing whatever to do with the meeting to
be held tomorrow: and DR.. Sprott in
forms me that he does not approve OF 1t,
and intends to stay at home" We shall
now see how consistent DR. Sprotts' de-
claration was with his actions, both be
fore and on the Dist Of October.
In card, purporting to be an answer
to certain dispatches sent to Cen ). H.
George, he says: +: did not start
towards Port Gibson with an armed
body Of negroes, summoned as posse
by virtue OF my office rs Deputy y. ,.
Marshal" In an examination recently
had, wherein Mr.. J. ID. Vertner and the
writer represented the prosecution, Vii.
liam johnson, Albert Scarce, Sam
Breckenridge, Isaac Wilson, Napoleon
Williams, and numerous other were ex-
amined on oath. All of those witnesses
are negroes, most of whom were captured
with guns in their hands. Their evl
dence discloses facts, that not only give
the lie to the above, but proves w. ID.
Sprott bold conspirator against the
public peace, and a dangerous malefdc-
tor Further, they confirm the belief
that the troubles Of the 2lst were Instl-
gated by him in pursuance Of plot pre-
arranged.
The above named witnesses state
g that, at the instance Of DIR. SprOtt,
two meetings were held at the residence
of James Page" the negro ex-County
Treasurer, where all the measures were
discussed and plans arranged. Both
meetings were held with closed DOORS
guards being placed at them to shut out
intruders. At the first meeting, which
was held about the Sth inst, James Page
told them he had been directed by DIR.
Sprott, who had been appointed Deputy
u. S. Marshal, to instruct them to bring
their guns to the barbecue. Companies
were organized, John Speilman, who is
now in jail, and Dallas jackson, being
elected captains; and Singleton's lane,
about two miles from town, was designa
ted the place of rendezvous, The second
meeting was held Thursday night, the
18th of October, when the same instruc-
tions were given, and letter from Sprott
was read authorizing them to bring their
arms" Phoebe, the wife of James Page,
told the writer, in the presence of several
witnesses, that she could and would pro
duce Sprott's note. And James Page,
himself said to Captain DeCourcy, the
officer in command of the United States
garrison stationed here, that g if Sprott
denies it he is damned liar.
The negroes, on the morning of the
were met by the sheriff about
TWO miles from town. They were
armed, end had been going through the |
manual. After consultation with Page, /
he latter agreed to disband his men, and
o conduct them, without their arms, to |
he speaking. 4" While we" say the |
lbove witness, ''were hiding our guns,
Dr.. Sprott, carrying his gun on his |
high, rode up and said: Boys, | am
Marshal, and if you do not carry your
runs to the grounds with you, | will not |
.ct' We then took our guns and |
tarted a second time towards town. DR..
Sprott picked twenty-six men, and sent
hem forward as an advance guard, with
to fire on any white man
Who intertered With them. About one
nile from town we met Ed. Jones, who
old us that if we carried our guns into
own we would be cut to pieces; Jim
'age advised us to lay aside our arms;
Without saying word, Sprott rode off
owards his house; we went on to the
arbecue grounds, where Lynch told US
e would not speak; Thomas Richardson
lade few remarks, advising us to reg
ster promptly, and then we started back
0 the place where We left cur guns. The
heriff was the only white man on the
rounds, and he told US he could and
'ould keep the peace we all had buck
hot, and our guns were loaded with the
anne; we took the buck-shot out of our
ockets and threw them away, as we
Tere going to Jail; we were not in the
1t now appears how much truth there
in DR.. Sprott's communication to the
'imes-''When they" says he, arrived
n the grounds Lynch was refused per-
lission to speak, unless under Democratic
irtction; was repeatedly called n liar,
e. Who was there 10 forbid his speak
lg? Who was there TO repeatedly call him
liar?
Surely Sprott does not pretend that he
.mained 10 hear either the enc or the
her. According tO witnesses more
Ipable of telling the truth than W. d. G
profit, ignorant though they are, no :
hite man except the sheriff was present. /
hence then, came these aggressive (
easures? :
With the same regard for veracity !
is vile slanderer says: ''Those taking ,
e direction ef Grand Gulf were ur !
ed at first BY some ten or fifteen red {
irted gentry, who amused themselves t
firing at them with their pistols, etc. " 5
he above is truly Mortonian. The
cts are as follows After the negroes
# the barbecue grounds they repaired d
the spot where their guns were hid a
n. Some of them went Immediately v
me, while the more tur bulent gathered S