Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-10-23

The whole party then started for the
village. While holding the &C nversa-
ton with DR.. Byrd the Kingstree
men got out of their wagon and came
up to where / and my six men were
standing, and seemed to be about to
draw their pistols. &. p. Nelson
walked up between myself and Bosom
Hanna, on my left, with his hand on
his pistol. About that time the col
umn started. Nothing occurred then
until we reached Academy street,
when the head of the column turned
up that street, with the intention, !
suppose Of marching around the vii.
lage.
"When reached the corner, instead
Of following, went straight down
the street to the courthouse. These
parties then surrounded me, using all
sorts of threats. The Rev. f. NJ. Pick
ney told me to get of my horse and
come into the courthouse. l tried to
do SO, but was seized by DR.. Byrd and
another of his men, who tried TO take
me by force. l was also seized by
my friends. the Rev. Mr.. Pickney and
Bosom Hanna, who succeeded in drag.
ging me from DR.. Byrd. At this mo.
ment two shots were fred, one said
to have been fired by DR.. Byrd and
the other by man named Davis.
My friends having succeeded in get
ting me into the court house passage,
in few moments Bosom Hanna came
to me and said that they had hit him
twice. Upon examination I found
this to be so, one shot having hit him
in the right breast, and the other in
the left thigh. Shortly after Sheriff
Jacobs came into the passage. then
claimed the protection of the law, and
he dispersed the crowd. At the time
the row commenced, Trial Justice
Steele was present, but refused to
command the peace"
The above is the story of the first
outrage committed, which, going I'M
punished and unnoticed by the State
authorities, seems to have inspiy ed
the second, which resulted in Mr..
Swails' virtual banishment from his
native State. The facts as related
above were written down by Mr..
Swails, together with an appeal for
protection and investig alton Of the
A0Seos auO SuCIVbcu W oONoAuOt
Hampton, through the President OF
the Republican State Executive Com
mittee.
The communication was delivered
promptly on the 9th inst, and ample
time has since elapsed for q reply to
have been made or some action taken
in the matter. The facts were also
laid before President Hayes yester-
day, and he WAS furnished with q
copy of the communication address
ed to Gov. Hampton. Mr.. Swails'
Story grows more interesting 10 II
proceeds.
ION the morning Of Tuesday, the
9Th inst" he says: "Iwent to Kings
tree to attend court. Soon after my
arrival was told that the red shirts
were assembling, and, upon going
out Of the court house, found them
there. Nothing was said ut that time,
and all things were apparently pleas
ant. After getting my mail / went
to my home and Immediately address
ed letter to Judge Wallace, stating
that it was bad to allow those men to
assemble, and referring to the excite
ment of the previous Saturday. He
sent word back by the Rev. Mr..
Pinckney, who delivered the letter,
that he would attend to it. While
Mr.. Pinckney was still at my house
the Democratic executive committee,
consisting of Mr.. Lawson, chairman,
Mr.. Kelly, secretary, Messrs. Lee,
Kinder and DIR. Sessions, walked into
my room and read me . copy of res.
olutions, which they said were passed
by the executive committee, and the
prominent men Of the county. The
Rev. Mr.. Pinckney made q note of
the resolutions at the time, which
were in substance as follows:
"Resolved, First. g.. A. Swails be
required to leave Williamsburg in ten
days.
Resolved, Second. That he is q high
handed robber.
Resolved, Third. That he and his
rioters be held responsible for all
the incendiarism which may hap
pen.
"Fourth. That unless the above
be complied with he must forfeit his
life.
"These men came into my house
unbidden, and read the threats in the
presence Of my wife. I Immediately
dispatched the Rev. Mr.. Pinckney
again to Judge Wallace, with copy
Of the resolutions. The Judge said
that he would attend to it. After.
ward Judge Wallace sent for me. I
went and had . talk with him. He
said that nothing could be done that
he had showed my letter to Maurice,
. prominent Democratic lawyer, and
Maurice had agreed that nothing
could be done.
ssNow, Maurice helped to frame the
resolutions, and it was ridiculous to
look TO him for IN opinion upon the
action to be taken. The upshot of
what he said was that / can't be pro-
that neither he nor Hampton
could protect me, unless / would re- |
my Republican principles.
He said that he had NO authority to
order the band of men out Of the viii
age. They had constitutional right
% bear arms. When by the beating |
II : drum they disturbed his court, |