The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-01-30
The Teller Committee In South Car
Olina.


cation, in Charleston, s. c., on the 21st of
January, of the late general election. All
witnesses examined were from Charleston
County, and it was admitted by both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans, that all election
officers, excepting clerks, were appointed
upon the recommendation of the Democratic
Committee; that one of the three Commits
sioners of Election for the county was a
Republican; that the managers of election
at different precincts were exclusively Dem
ocratic, and that United States Supervisors
at different polls were not allowed to
have clerk, there being NJ provision in the
law for such person. 1t was also testified
that the Democratic Supervisors had no
clerks, and that the clerks of the Repub-
Hcan Supervisors were excluded from the
polling places by order of the Democratic
Committee. -
L. N. Gregg (colored), Republican.
United States Supervisor at the Eage
Engine-house, was the first witness,
testified that the election was quiet. When
the polls closed it was found that there was
a number of tissue Democratic tickets in
the box, and that there were one hundred
and fifty-eight votes more than there were
names of persons who voted. The excessive
votes were drawn out, as required by law,
by blindfolded manager, and the witness
believes that the majority of those so with
drawn were Republican ballots. He did
not see any tissue Dall0ts voted. 3D.. -gI d.
! Hutchinson, second witness, white, Re-
publican, United States Supervisor, tes-
tilted that at the poll at St. James,
Goose Creek Parish, there were one
hundred and thirty-fve tissue Demo-
cratic tickets, and the same excess over
the number of voters. Excessive ballots
were drawn, majority withdrawn being
Republican votes. Not a voter was chal-
lenged, and the election was quiet. Wit
ho 10 h
licans and the whites Democrats.
W. ]. Elfe, colored, Republican, United
States Supervisor at the Washington
Engine-house, testified that eighty-one
votes were turned away by the managers
for different reasons. Soon after the count
ing of votes began the lights went out, and
| witness fed through back window and
went home. The belief of the witness is
that the Republicans had a large majority
| at this poll. Nothing has ever been heard
| of the ballot-box or ballots.
&C. White, Democratic Commissioner of
| Election testified that resolution to appoint
| none but Democrats as manager, was agreed
to by three Commissioners, one of these be-
| ing a Republican, and the appointments
| were so made unanimously. The Repub-
licans applied to have their party repre-
| sented, but none were appointed. Witness
was member of the County Democratic
| Committee but did not act as such after his
appointment as Commissioner. st..H
T. Baker Jones, a Democratic Com
missioner of Elections, testified to the same
effect g 500 'i'-
| The Teller Committee resumed it's session
on the 22d, and E. NJ. Pinckney (colored
minister), Republican, testified to the ex
| istence of three organizations of Red Shirts
in Williamsburg County. He also gave an
account of s the alleged interference
with a Republican, meeting at White
Oak, where Swails is said to have beer
captured. He gave long account of thu
election at Kings Tree, stating that thu
Democrats refused the United States Super
visor admission to the polls, and in thu
evening captured the ballot-box ant
stuffed it, and also related his personal ex
perience, saying that the Red Shirts wer'
hunting him, and had grave dug for him
He described his arrest on the charge o
perjury, made by the Democrats, as kid
mapping" and gave a detailed account o
Z his being beaten and threatened. Cross
examination, however, ELECTED the fact tina
these latter were the consequences of pei
sonal difficulties. ..... d; q. a.. .-.ft
!. G. D. Bryan, President of the Democrac
: of Ward One, testified that only three tissu
tickets were voted in his ward. The whit
: residents of the ward went to the Palmett
Engine-house or Market Hall, in War
Three, to vote, in consequence of the crow
at his poll. One colored man brought u
, eighty-fve colored men to vote the Demo
cratic ticket. Other colored men told hil
: their churches would not allow them t
vote the Democratic ticket, and they d.
I sired TO conceal the fact The intimidatio
! of colored Democrats by negroes at tn
l 1I,previous election was common. Witne.
8 did not know of colored Democrats kille
: for voting such ticket, but knew of white
protecting colored voters. Had heard I
: a cannon being taken to political meeting
a in 1878, but only for saluting purposes, an
: knew that at previous elections the Stai
= militia, composed of negroes, attende
9 political meetings with arms. Charlesto
s now had a finer body of colored militia,
y reorganized by the Democrats, than can
e found in any other city of the Union.
6 Before the Teller committee, Butle
g Spears, of Sumter County, colored Repul
:, lican, testified he was pursued and fred
It by Democrats, and w. II. Singleton testife
to finding packages of tissue tickets in tt
e ballot box at Swimming Pen Precinct
y The Democrats then put up G. H. Moi
d and Marion Noise, white Democrats,
s Sumter, who testified to the general goo
e feeling toward the tcolored people in tt
l. county, and non-interference of Democra
g with the Republican meeting on Ootob,
;. II. The former said he was disgusted wit
i the conduct of the Democrats In offerir
e violence to Sam. Lee, and that the tisst
n tickets in the Sumter box could only hay
) got there by fraud. ia saF a2'- i.-
n 8. j. Hanna, colored, Supervisor, testifis
l. to being assaulted and driven from Il
s p oils at Kings Tree, williamsburg Coun
s - Pendergsst, colored, Deputy Marshal I