The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-02
From the New York Herald, 30lh June.J
u. Eliza PfnkstOH.

THE TRUTH REGARDING STORY THAT STARTLED
THE cOUNTRY-HOw THE NORTHERN HEART
WAS FiRED-FlvE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A
FALSE OATH AND LITTLE DRAMA.
During the counting OF the presidential
vote of Louisiana, in New Orleans, before
the Returning Board and the visiting states
man, in November, 1876, the country was
startled and shocked by the introduction,
as the victim of and witness to savage Dem
cratic bulldozing, OF colOrcd woman
named Eliza Pnkston. She had been Sc
verely wounded, was apparently dying, was
brought in to give testimony lying on sofa
or settee, and gave remarkably sue
cinct and dramatic statement to the effect
that her husband. Henry Piukston, had
been dragged out Of his cabin by a gang Of
Democrats, and murdered before her eyes
because he was prominent Republican;
and that the same gang then brutaIly beat,
cut, and shot her.
She seemed still greatly deblItated when
testiYying. and her story and her appear
ance produced profound impression in
New Orleans and throughout the country.
Her present husband, Wayman Pritchard,
in an affidavit, confirms Ellza's story as be-
ing that which she hiss always told him
since be married her.
ELIzA's AFFIDAVIT.
State of M,ssiSsippi-C County Of Madison.
Personally appeared Eliza Prichard, woman
of color. residing ut Canton, Miss, who,
being duly sworn, deposes that her name
has been Eliza Pinkston, as wife OF Henry
Pinkston, deceased; that she has since mar
ried Wayman Pritchard. and is now residing
at Canton, Miss. that as Eliza Pinkston
she did appear rs witness before the Lou
isana Returning Board ut New Orleans,
La, in the month OF November. 1876, and
as such she gave testimony that her former
husband, Henry Pinkston, had been killed,
and she herself had been seriously injured
and wounded by certain Democrats Of the
parish Of Ouachita because of and on account
OF the Republican politics Of herself and hus-
band. Deponent further denoses that she was
induced TO give said testimony by certain Re-
Enthusiastically, O. ii. Brewster and
Dinkgrave-by promises Of reward, and she
was, in fact, paid therefor the sum of 5000,
as per said promise, which she received,
and after taking therefrom the sum OF fifty
dollars she allowed the remainder to remain
with said Brewster on deposit, but has
failed to obtain said amount from said Brew
ster, although she has frequently demanded
the same. Deponent alleges that at the time
Of giving said testimony she was in weak,
nervous, and PROSTATE condition, induced
by suffering from wounds, and by having
her fears played upon by intimalions that
the Democrats were intent on mur-
dering her; that she is ignorant and
uneducated, and was readily induced
by these persons Of superior intelligence to
give her testimony q coloring, so as to show
that her husband (Pinkston) was killed and
herself wounded On account Of political
onjninnc whnp IN fonfc that l,ar h,1c
band (Pinkston) never took any part in poll
tics, and had in no way given any offence to
any person on account OF politics; but de-
ponent believes, and did believe then, that
said murder was in nowise connected with
politics; that she did not then know, nor
does she now know, who were the persons
engaged in said murder and WoundiHg, but
she believes that there is every reason to
think that q colored man who had twice
fought with her then husband, and had
been by him worsted, and who had made
threats to take his (Pinkston's) life, was one
Of the persons engaged in said killing; that
she was told by her said husband (Pink-
ston) shortly before his death OF the circum-
stancs OF said fights, while at dinner one
time, aud said Pinkston pointed out the
said colored man one day as he passed their
home on the road; that deponent cannot at
this time recite the name OF said person,
but knows that he lived in the neighbour
hood OF Onachita City. Deponent further
deposes that she was persuaded and pre-
vailed upon to testify that Tom Lyons, a
coiored man, was with the party who killed
hel husband and assaulted her, but depo-
nent had no personal knowledge OF the fact
other than being Informed by Cora Williams
that said Lyons,was at her Cora Willians's):
house on the daytof the murder. Deponent,
fnrther deposes that shesWus brought from,
her then home i'm 0uachita parish and