The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-04
ELIZA PINKSTON,
THE TRUTH REGARDING A STORY
THAT STARTLED THE COUNTRY.
Five Hundred Dollars for False Oath and
Little Drama Secretary Sherman's
Hilarious Laugh.

u
ment to the effect that her husband Henry Pink
stOn, had been dragged out Of his cabin by gang
of Democrats and murdered before her eyes be-
cause he was prominent Republican, and that
the same gang then brutally beat cut and shot
her.
She seemed still greatly debllitated when testi-
flying, and her story and her appearance produced
a profound impression In New Orleans and
throughout the country. Her appearance was a
complete surprise to the Democrats OF the State
and OF the county (0uachita) in which she lived
and where the brutal outrage was said to have
been committed. They appear to have atfrst &C.
| Cepted her tale, but as soon as they could reach
the county and look into the story Its truth was
positively denied, and later 1t was charged that
Eliza Plnkston, having with her husband, been
| the victim of quarrel with some OF her C0l0red
neighbors and been picked up by Republicans,
brought to New Orleans, tutored carefully In the
/ part She was to play and the evidence she should
| give and was then suddenly and In the dramatic
manner which will be remembered, brought be-
| fore the Returning Board as sample OF Demo
| cratic brutality. The denials came too late, how.
| ever ELIAS testimony had gone over the cOun-
try. It was given out that the poor creature co d
| not recover from her wounds. She dropped out
Of public sight and attention as other events
came up, and until lately It was not even known
in New Orleans whether she was dead or alive
She had disappeared from Ouachita parish and
no one thought Of her
ELIzA's STATEMENT.
A correspondent Of the Herald CHANGED to learn
few weeks ago that Eliza was still alivei that
she had recovered from her wounds; had mar
red again. and had removed TO Madison county
| Mis-, where she and her new husband, Way
mond Pritchard a respectable colored man. were
living on the land ofMr. W. ]. Mosby, as tenants
The Herald correspondent had the curiosity Il
visit Eliza aud talk with her and finally procur
I'd from her and from her present husband the
sworn statements which follow. 1t will be seer
that Eliza here states under oath:
First-That she was induced 10 appear before
the Returning Board and make the statement
there given by two Republicans, o. H. Brewster
and DinkgraVe.
second-That she received for her testimony
and the part she acted on that occasion $500, 9
very large sum of money to woman in her con
dition; and she now swears that Of this none!
she took $50 in hand and allowed the remainde
to lie in the hands Of Brewster, from whom sh
says she has never been able to get 1t back.
Third--she denies that her husband ever tool
any part as Republican in politics, and assert
that he was engaged in quarrel wllh coloreC
man, having no relation TO politics. and that
| while she does not know who killed her husband
and wounded herself she believes 1t was this col
ored man also thai, contrary to the testimony
she gave before the Returning Board, she never
knew who committed the outrage.
Fourth-That she was brought by Republicans
from her home TO New Orleans and instructed by
them to lay the blame Of the killing and assault
| on the Democrats.
Fifth-ThSt so far from being unable to walk
she had walked, on the days before giving hel
testimony, considerable distances as well as up
and down the Custom House stairs in New Or
| leans; that on the day Of her appearance before
the Returning Board she walked up the Stair, but
was induced to lie down on a sofa and allowed
herseftO be carried into the room to produce the
greater impression.
It will be noticed that her present husband
Waymond Pritchard in an affidayitc confirms Eli.
zas story as being that which she has always told
hirA since he married her.
ELIAS AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, COUNTY OF MADISON
Personally appeared Eliza Pritchard, woman OF
color, residing in Canton, Miss, who, being duly
sworn, deposes that her name has been Eliza
Pinkston, as wife Of Henry PinkstOn, deceased
that she has since married Wayman Pritchard,
and is now residing at Canton, Miss. that as Eliza
Pinkston she did appear as witness before the
Louisiana returning Board, at 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 her.
self and husband. Deponent further deposes that
she was induced to give said testimony by Ger.
tain Repnblicans-namely, o. b. Brewster and
Dinkgraye, by promises Of reward, and she was
In fact paid therefor the sum Of $500, as per said
promise, which Bhe received, and, after taking
therefrom the sum Of $50, she allowed the remain.
der to remain with said Brewster on deposit but
has failed 10 obtain said amount from said Brew.
ster, although she has frequently demanded the
same. Deponent alleges that at the time Of Civ.
ing said testimony she was In q weak nervous
and prostrated condition, induced by suffering
from wounds and by having her fears played up.
on by intimations that the democrats were intent
oil numbering her; that she is ignorant and uned
uCated, and was readily induced by these per
sons Of superior intelligence 70 give her teBtimo
ny q coloTing, 30 as 10 show that her husband
Piukston, was killed andrherself wounded on &C.
count Of political opinions, when the facts were
that her husband Pinkston, never took any pari
In politics, and had in no way given any offence
to any person on account OF politics. but depOnent
believes, and did believe then, that said murder
was in no wise condected with politics; that she
did not then know, nor does she now know, who
were the persons engaged In said murder and
WOunding; but she believes that there Is every
reason to think that colored man who had
twice fought with her then husband and had
been by him WOrsted, and who had made threatl
to take his (Pinkston's) life, was one of the per
Sons engaged in said killing; that she was told by
her said husband (Piukston) shortly before his
death Of the circumstances Of said fights, while al
dinner one time and said Pinkston poihted out
the said colored man one day as he passed their
home on the road; that deponent can not at this
time recte the name OF said person, but knows
that he lived in the neighborhood of 0uachita
City. Deponent further depoes that he wrs per.
suaded and assaulted her, but deponent had nc
personal knowledge Of the fact other than being
informed by Cora Williams that said Lyons was
at her Cora WillismsO house on the day OF the
murder. DepOnent further deposes that she was
brought from her then home in Ouschita parish
| and conveyed to New Orleans and she was in
structed to testify and lay all the blame of said
killing and assault upon the Democrats; and that
she was further instructed and induced to pre-
tend that her wounds were more serious than
| they were and that she could not walk, when In
fact she had walked each day considerable dis
tances and assembled long flights of stairs such as
| the Custom House stairs in New Orleans, without
assistance; and on the day she was carried in the
room of the Returning Board on lounge or sofa,
she was conveyed in carriage, but was able to
walk and did walk part of the way up the stairs
| to the room In which the Returning Board was
sitting and gave out, but she was induced to al
low herself to be carried in on said sofa or lounge
| in order to produce the impression that she was
| worn out and could not walk. Deponeot further
depOses that previous to her giving her testimony
| before said Returning Board she was visited by
| John Sherman and others Of the visiting states.
men, as she was informed, and introduced to
| them as such, and that she walked before them
and they had ample opportunity to see what her
| condition was and that she could walk about
| DepOnent further deposes that during the time
she was in New Orleans attending the said Re-
turning Board she was cogstantly given money
| by different Republicans and was promised a
support for life, which last has not been given as
promised. DepOnent makes this affidavit with
| out fear from any cause snd without any promise
Of reward or other consideration than desire to
have the whole truth known in the interest Of
| truth.
her
ELIZA u PINGSTON