Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-10-03

The Shooting Case in Blackville, S. 6.
There were several things Of some signifi-
canoe about the recent attempt to assassinate
the colored postmaster of Blackville, 5. c.
The postoffice, it seems, had had a postmis-
tress, a South Carolina woman named
Maher, who was removed for cause, one of
the causes being that she was persistent
rebel in sentiment and that in any political
campaign it was impossible 10 send letter
to or from that office addressed to any Re
publican of any prominence in or out OF the
State. In one instance Republican called
at the office for some campaign documents,
which he knew had been addressed to him,
and was informed by the postmistress that
there was nothing for him. Next day he
was waited upon by a committee, composed
of leading Democrats of the place, the
spokesman of which drew from his coat
pocket number of the very campaign docu-
ments which their Republican fellow-citizcn
was expecting and from his rear trousers
pocket revolver The spokesman having
made this suggestive display, the Republi-
can was quietly but peremptorily informed
that if he obtained said package from the
postofiice his life would be forfeited" The
case was looked into and reported upon by
special agent of the Postofiice Department.
Miss Mahcr having demonstrated her pecu-
liar unfitness for her position, Nix, colored
man, was appointed on recommendations
vouching for him as man of character and
ability.
Senator Butler of South Carolina under
took to get Nix removed and Miss Maher
reinstated. The Senator's application TO the
Department, to that end, having failed, the
Blackvile Democrats took adifferent course,
described as follows by the victim, who
seems to be man of intelligence enough TO
write a very creditabe letter.
PosToFFIcE BLACKvILLE,
BARSwEIL CO., 5. e.. Sept 20, 1879.
Hon. Durid VI. Key, Post Master General, Wash
ingtoa. d. C.:
Honored sir-Upon my accepting and taking pos
session OF the office as Postmaster of this place
ocrais here, which resulted in conspiracy being
formed to take my life simply on account OF color
and politics. The said conspiracy was attempted to
he carried into effect Tuesday, the 10th inst
The circumstances are as follows About four
O'Clock in the afternoon, and while my assistant
was gone 10 dinner, sitting in front OF my
office A. Luther Williams (white), one OF the con-
spiraiors, sent one OF his party from across the
street 10 get his tWilliamssl mail. | got up and
went into the office TO get his mail. Now the
Office is partiiioned OF from the main room by a
partition extending the length OF the room. In
that partition have delivery window. While
was AT the letter-b0x getting his lWilllams's mail
ba maj hnf b. had SCI hy
the clicking Of a pistol at the delivery window,
about six feet from the letter box At which | was
standing. | half turned. and, as ! turned, he
[wiliamsl, who had slipped from across the street
into the main room and up TO the delivery window,
fired, putting his hands through the window, the
ball taking effect in nv right arm and across nv
chest and entered the letter-boN. After he fired
he Immediately went into the street, pistol in hand,
which created quite an excitement. called upon
the town authorities for assistance. Being all
Democrats, they refused TO render any. | have
made afidayits before the United States Commits
sOner and he has issued warrants for the arrest of
the parties concerned. would have written TO you
the affair." but, being unable from the
effects of the wound, ! could moi do so until now.
Yours, very respectfully.
FRED Nix, Jr., Postmaster Blackyille $. G.
This new method of securing a vacancy in
a postoffice is of course simply an adapta-
lion of the "Yazoo plan TO the case in
hand and it will doubtless he found, as
time goes on, that there are many other
of that plan, available for all |
sorts of political emergencies in the South. |
Of course we shall be told by the Demo |
cratic papers and 10y the New York Nation |
hat the Blackville shooting case had nothing |
o do with politics anyway-that it was the |
-esult of ''long time feud' or personal |
l., lI;1iap,e apl /