The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-29
The Truth Regarding Story that
Startled the Country.
HOW THE NORTHERN HEART WAS FIRED.
Five Hundre Dollars for a False Oath
and Little Drama.
SECRETARY XHERMAN'S HILARIOUS LAUGH.


the country was startled aud shocked by the intro
ducon the victim OF and witness 10 savage demo
cratic ulldozng, oil \ colored woman named Eliza
Pnkston. Sho had been severely wounded, was ap-
parcntly dying, Was brought in to give testimony
lying a sofa sotice and gave remark ably sue
cinct and dramatic statement 10 the effect that her
husband, Henry Pinkston. had been dragged out OF
his cabin by u gang OF democrats and murdered be-
foro her eyes because nc was prominent republ,-
can, ana that The samc gang then Drutaliy boat cut
and shot her.
She seemed s,l greatly debilitatcd when tcstifying.
aud h story ana her appearance produced II pro-
found impressions in New Orleans and Throughout tho
country. Her appearance was complete surprise 10
the democrats OF tho Stale and OF the county
(Ouachita) in which she lived aud where the brutal
outrage was said to have been committed. They ap-
pear to have at first accepted her tale, but
they could reach the county and look into the story
Its truth positively denied, aud later 1t
charged that Eliza Pinkston, having with her hus-
band, been the vclim OF quarrel with
of her colored neighbors, mad been picked
up by republicans, brought 10 New Orleans tutorsd
carefully In the part she to play aud the evidence
she should give, and was then suddenly and In the
dramatic manner which Will be rcmcm bered, brought
before the Returning Board sample of democratic
brutality The denlas came 100 late, however. Ellzi's
testimony had gone over the country II given
her wounds She dropped Of public sight and at
tention other events came up, anu until lately
was not even known IN New Orleans whether she
dead alive She had disappeared from Ouachi,a
parish, and thought OF ner
ELIzA's STATEMENT
correspondents oil the HERALD CHANGED 10 learn
few weeks ago That Eliza was still alive that she had
from wounds; had again, nd
removed TO Madison county Miss, where she and her
new husband, Wsymond Pritchard, respectable col
ored man, living tho land oil Mr.. W. j. Mosby,
as tenants. Tho HERALD correspondent mad tho
osi,y TO visit Eliza talk with her, and finally pro-
cured IRON her ma from her present husband tho
sworn statements which follow. IL VIII DO that
Eliza here states under OATH
Fvst-That she was induced to appear before tho
Returning Board and mako tho statement there given
by two republicans. o. H. Brewster and Dinkgrave.
Second That she received for her testimony and
the part shc acted occasion $780, very largo
sum Of money to a woman In her condition; che
now that Of this money she took $50 IN hand
and allowed the remainder TO lilo In the hanas OF
Brewster, from whom sne says she has never been
able to gcs II back
Third--Shc denies that her husband ever took any
part republican In politics, and tha.
was engaged IN quarrel with . colored man, having
no relation to politics. and that while she does
know who killed, hcr HUSBAND and wounded herself,
she believes u this colorcd man; also that,
trary TO the testimony she borore the Returning
Board, shs mover knew committed tho outrage
! Fcurth-That she wss brought by republicans from
her New Orleans aud instructed by Thorn 10
pretend that she was moro seriously hurt than she
was, and also instructed 10 lay tho blanc OF the
killing and assault on the democrats.
Fyth--That. 80 lar from beng unable to walk, she
had walked, on the days before giving her testimony,
! considerable distances, we'll up aud down tho
Custom House stairs IN New Orleans; that the day
OF her appearance before tho Returning Board she
walked up the stars, but was induced 10 down
sofa and allow herself to be carried INTO tho
| produce the greater impression.
1t VIII be noticed that her present husband, Way
mond PritcharJ, IN AFFIDAVIT, confirms Ezas story
MS being tina, which she mas always told him since
| married nor.
BLizA's AFFIDAVIT
stain or MississrPI COUNTY OF MADISON. Per
sonsliy appeared Eza Prichsrd. woman Of color,
siding n Canton, Mas, Who being uuy Sworn, de-
poses that har name has been Enxa ri as vic
OF Henry Pnkst0n, deceased; that she has since
red Wayman Prchard aud Is now residing nj Canton,
Miss. that as Eliza Pinkston che did appear wit
before the Louisiana Returning Board. at Now
Orleans, La, In the month Of November, 1876, aud ms
sucn sno gave testimony that her former husband,
had been seriously injured aud wounded by certain
democrats OF the PARISH oil 0uschita because OF and
\ on account of tho republican politics OF herself and
husband. DeIonent further deposcs thai shc In
duced 10 give sad testimony by certain repubi leans
4 ~, ". u.
reward, she was act, paid therefor the OF
5000, us per said PROMISE which she received, and,
aiicr taking hereIrom mo sum Of 500, shc allowed
the remainder TO remain with said Brewster on do
post, out mas fail TO obtain said amount from said
Brewster. at though she has frequently de niandsd the
same. Depoucut alleges that At the time OF giving
said testimony she was in weak, nervous ana pros
| trato condition. Induced ~ suffering from wounds
aud by having her tears played upon by in,iinstons
| that tho democrats were intent on numbering her;
that shc Ignorant anu uncducatcd, and was readily
Induced Wy those persons oil superior intcI gence
give her testimony eoloring 20 as 10 show that her
| husband, finkston, was knicd and herself wounded
ON account OF polcai Opinions when the facts were
that her husband. fnkstoo, never look any part ia
politics. ana mad in no way gwen any offence to any
person account OF poucs; but depon-nt believes.
aud did believe thea mat said murder nowiss
connected with po,Ics mat she did not then know,
| nor aces she now kao~, VINO we're the persons en-.
| gagged IN said murder and wounding; but sue
believes that there - every reason 20 think that
| her then husband ana had been ny him
worsted, and VINO mad made throais to take hts PINK
ssons) nie VIA one OF the persons engaged IA SAID
killing that sno told by her said husband Pink.
stonl shortly before ms death OF the of
said nsnis VIM, ~ dinner ono time, and SAID pms.
ston poinlcd The said coorcd one day he
passed Their home on the road that deloacnt cannot
at this time recic the maine Of SAID person. but knows
that he lived IN the neignborDood OF Ouachiia City.
DcpoDsnt further depoees that she was persuaded and
prevailed upon 10 TESTIFY that Tom Lyons. colored
| man, with the party VINO killed nor husband and
assaulted her, but dcpcncnt had no personal kno~i
edge Of the TACT otner than BENG informed ny Cora
| Williams that sara Lyons was al her tcora WiiamsJ
| house tue day OF the murder Drponent iurther
deposcs that she was brought IRON ner then home Ia
Uuachfih PARISH 70 NeW Dflnaus ana sue
was Instructed testify lay all the plane of said
killing aud assault upon the democrats and that she
was urtner instructed and induced 10 pretend that
| her wounds were more serious thnn they were, and
that she could not walk wben la tact mad walked
| cacn aay considerable distances and ssoended long
nighs oi stars such as the Custom House stars IN
New Orleans, without assisancc ana on the day she
was carried III the room oi the Returning Bbard
lounge or svis, shc was conveyed n carriage but
was able 70 Walk and did walk part Of the way ~
Tho stairs TO the room 10 which the Returning Board
sitting and gave out, but she was induced 20 allow
| herself 10 be carried In on said sofa ioungc In
order TO produce the impression that she was worn
| out aud could not walk. Deponort iurthcf deposcs
that previous 10 nor giving her testimony before
| Returning Board sue was VISITED by Joun sherman
ana others OF tho visiting statesmen, she was 10.
formed. ana introduced 10 them such, that
| walk, before tbem ami they had ampc opportunity
| TO what her condition and that she sould
walk about Deponcnt further deposcs that during inc
| time she was In New Orleans attending tLe SAID Re-
turning Board she constantly gwen money by ai-
| isrrnt republicans aud promised a support
for lie, when hns not been gwen az rom tscd