The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-03
ELIZA PINKSTON.
Senator Zacharie's Story as to
the Affidavit.


Colonel Zacharo u State Senator an able anu Clear
headed lawyer and gentleman Of high character.
He said:-Armed with q lettor OF Introduction to
Mr. W. J. Mosby. ON whose place ssoersainsd Eliza
was WORKING left the 10th or June and, ar
irving there sunday morning. saw Mr. Nosby. and hs
promised that he would Eliza me- and advised
me that smith, the radical Postmaster and other rod
icas had her under surveillance and opned shas
shs would, therefore, say nothing against their
wlshea ! returned TO New Orleans that
night and on Wednesday, the goth, received
q letter from ME- Mostly saying that
Eliza would make q clean breast Of everything she
knew about the matter Thereupon, on the 3d.
again LETT for Canton, and on the 23d met eliza at Mr.
Honman's ONCE one OF tho most respectable and
oldest OF the citizens Canton probably well known
IN the West, as saw from glancing about his ONCE
that he agent for the Stuaebaker wagons and
several other Northern and Western mauufas.urer&
This was in the mprning. and Eliza was accompanied
by her husband, wayman Pritchard, and his father.
They pleaded religious soruples about talking about
the matter Sunday, but on my telling them
could wait until the next day Eliza and her hus
band agreed to como back Mr.. HofTman's once AZ
two O'Clock. after dinner, which they did. Mr. W.
J. Mosby, the gentleman on whose place they
were working, came in about tho same time Mr..
Nosby 10 gentleman OF the very best standing, a. !
was told by his fellow townsmen said to Eliza. In
the presence Oh tnes0 Two ReuNcmeu, hOHIuau
and Mr. Mosby well In the presence OF Mr. Gar
re.t the magstrate:-"Now, Eliza, ! want to know
the truth. the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth about this matter Tell the truth and shame
Tho DEVIL whether It IL the democratic devil or the
republican devil" She then, IN tho manner OF her
race proceeded 70 spin out tne whole story with the
usual .says L." "says he" "says they" as we'll ~
other pecuiar,tics OF speech common TO our coorsd
people, and regretted mat had not brought
photographer 10 take IL down word for word, her
m lam o..
After hearing her story through made her repeat the
essential portions OF II and TOOK them down
IN substance, read them 10 her twice. MADE
corrections and changes, inserting words aud
striking out others, asking her frequently,
quen,y saying '.Dont shy that honey, isss'n youse
positive ABOUT i'' 10 whlon always repl,eu, "Be-
uvowai Of the correctness Of the statement When
she and husband hal boon sworn and had signed,
9o sna ted snsm thai was Gong 10 send them
to the Nortb ana did not know but what II might
lead 10 their being ca led before ,he Congressional
Committee. To this they protested that they
couldn's leave their crops told them that they
would DO allowed the usual mileage and witness fees
II they were called. and with that they could EN-.
poy tako their places anu keep their crops
IN order and havo something to squire. With this
they seemed 4 content, ana left hoard nothing
more until few days altsrward, when was SHOWN
the following letter Of Postmaster Smith 10 Colonel
which the sfiaavits were taken and OF which cor
rect copy has never been published Here itm:-
rosr oyrIGx. cAsrox
Msuiboh COUNTY. Mise, Juuo 80, 1910
Colonel JACK WHARTON, New Orleans, La =
sys zss
he has done 20 a.y saw her yesterday when she told
for Of meeting gentleman from New Orleans
seen ISr since nss sr to ey MAJ s ..d
people killed her husband aud that she paid
they ' Dfonissd SS' 70 osan. and
ss% ss tho 90 :@ss
former testimony. but che got her 10 sign
signed before Mr. Garrett, Justice Of the peace think
wssn sSs reach Your sy Eliza ,e
that her former testimony was tue truth ana tina. she
AND have Watching her ioi time. thnkins that
th. Potter Eliza should 10 wanted can
.sSs ns w q | u Loo. SS % 'as viii
take 20 the city with him. fSl's truly. TN u
kKPoRrxR-I saw that you had taken tho rrecaution
TO take INC sfldavns OF the attostiny Witnesses l
suppose you ioresaw that Eiixa might make other
Colonel ZAcHARIx-Yes ! thought II she could
testify way before the Returning Board ana then
take Il back sue might say that never swore TO
tue facts embodied IL the afdavls nave s,nco 70.
ceived . letter, copy vi wnion viii give you.
the following Is inc copy. the original OF which the
CANTON. Miss, July 10. 1873
Dxan sis~ Il would rom a recent letter written
by X smith. Postmaster ~ this place, that Eliza
watch .ns gave her anaer oath N Canton the
say nothing ,ar.hsr already csrasa I, IN
solemn in regard TO this paper We were present
day above stated aud know Of our own knowledge.
Ssr swic. ia nsoy deliberate and distinct manner ana
her oath. by Justice Jarrett sub
soas and ensSg.. view. express her
se"ay Cautioned to aepcso and say nothing but tue
iruth told in advALcv that notsins
make She tod 1t the Co,nmitee
mig Mt her she get
allowed BY Jaw Tor tn.,r attendance and nothing more
to by Enss Pnkston any other persoa Ii
wholly untrue and false. You're, truly; ,s.v
Il. II. nOFFMAN.
Colonel ZAcHARIEBes,des this, hcre Is this extract
from tue Canton Mutt
Elisa Pinxerson again interviewed Wednesday
Last said that smith tod her, after had
wrong and would suffer Tor al, be sum
10 10. Ss % % os n. s a
70 The ksturn,nS Board the republicans woulu have
isrsted statements made on the 23d OF
clossh before the s' ' sSus
no, for fora be, NE rsmemSsr what she testified
shsl that time she was not la her 'ignt mind Eliza
s ne .hi ss
making the statement OF June 20 aud telling her that
say. srewssr tells ner tina. she viii be summoned before
.ns W.dnssssy next alter The aa Of June ~ail. a. the
Pos, Office Ia Canton ii. H. smith wrots . letter Or
her interest. and that she make hcr mark IL. with
knowing It's contents Tor IL vas not read to her
And also the following letter IRON smith. the Post
CASros. Miss July IL. 1878.
EpiroR or THE CANTON MALL
aesre make following explanation Of my letter
Svionei Jack wharton ALTER the interview with
kza Pinkston by Colone Lxcharis and gen .emen
this place sh, came my ONCE unsolicited and
requested that should wiite letter Tor her to
prominent republican Orleans 1he stateuie
contained In that letter maze To by Elisa
tho they said letter. she
that did read the anidavt
It, since the appearance In tue papers OF
AFFIDAVIT those of Messrs Mvsby Hoffman called
her attention ~ their statements that tro savit had
been to her several times, 10 which she replied.
Colonel Zscharie and read the afdavt to Le-
fore Il sworn to-" Had Eliza made this state
when letter written certainly should not have
stated tbat the affidavit not read W her discaim
knowledge OF this thai
statements Of Eliza Pinkston The letter
written tor publication Yours respectfully,
HkSkY X. SMITH.
REPoRrER-Mr. smith, tho Postmaster, seems
to corroDorato The OF Eza's iuy aeknvwvd- ing
truth OF tho affidavit, as she acknowledg cd 10
him that had heard 10 read before swearing 20 L.
Colonel ZAcHARfg-Yes, anu Eliza, n tho Canton
Nal tells the truth, us believe u doca, says snas
smith tried u budoze her 10 take II back, she
fuaoA IN In an