The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-11-24
A SOUTHERN OUTRAGE.
The Unhappy Fate of "a North Carolina
g;0lNred Democrat.
Washington Post.l


Among the victims Of Attorney Genera
Devens' bloody y-shirt crusade is Mrs John
Simms, of Wilson, n. G. Mrs. Simms is a
female hulldOzer, if that be an admissible
expression. Her Offense Is that Of committing
a Southern outrage, Of a. political nature,
upon the person of her husband, John Simms.
It appears that Mrs. Simms,. who is a
female of color, and stalwart both as to
her Radicalism and her muscle, commanded
her husband to vote for O'Hara, the col
.ored candidate for Congress. Smms
promised to do 50, but on his way to the polls
was met or overtaken by q couple OF white
men on horseback. These miscreants, not
having the fear OF the fifteenth amendment
before their eyes, shot John Simms in the
mouth with a bottle of apple-jack In fact,
they fairly riddled him, SO that by the time
John arrived at the polls he was too badly
wounded to remember his promise to Mrs.
Simms He was indeed 50 badly intimidated
that he voted a Democratic ticket, which the
two white men put into his hands, and for
the rest of that day John Simms slept and
slumbercd in the kindly shade OF a wood
tered forth with headache. He soon met q
coored acquaintance. who advised him that
Mrs. Simms had been apprised of his voting
the Democratic ticket, and was looking for
him. Thereupon John Sinms, probably be
iieving himself to be at the Hardshell Baptist
forks of the road, leading to perditiOn In one
direction and to damnation in the other, in
contincntly took to the woods. And he re-
mnlneu III llle WOODS unJll Jn6 tWCi1Jn instant
period OF seven days, when, being nearly
starved, he was forced to show himself again
in town. For the rest let us quote the local
chronicIer, who says: "Smms' wife met him
on the street, and having provided herself
with heavy hickory stick, she administered
a severe beating on her lord for failing to
vote for the man OF her choice. The woman
was arrested, not, however, until she had
laid about thirty lashcs on the back of her
husband Later advices say that after
Johns personal safety had been assured by
the lodgment of his stalwart better-half IN
the jail OF the vicnage some Of his Demo-
cratic friends escorted him to the office Of the
United States commissioner, where he made
a complaint in due form against Mrs. Simms
on a charge Of "abridging his rights on
account Of race, color or previous condition,
contrary to law and the constitution of the
United States" Mrs. Simms was thereupon
bound over to keep the peace and await
the action of the United States grand
jury. All the local accounts agree
that the affair is the cruelest piece
Of persecution, on political grounds, that
any negro has ever been subjected to In North
Carolina. In view of the peculiar gravity of
the case, we suggest to Attorney General
DeVens the propriety of employing special
government counsel to assist the district at
tOrney in the prosecution of Mrs. Smms.
We think it perfectly safe to promise him
that the Democratic House will cheerfully
appropriate the money required to pay the
fees OF special counsel in this remarkable
case. AS we understand it, Mr. HAYES in
tention is to enforce the laws with strict i'm
partiality.