The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-29
PRICE TWO CENTS.
UNDER LINES OF BAY0NETS.
FEDERAL AUTHORITY At THE POLLS
IN SCUM CAROLINA.

judge Msck~y'. Testimony Before the Wat
Ince Investigating gComutttee-U United states
Marshnis DtsreRardlnR the state Courts.
WASHINGTON, May 2s.-The Wallace Com
mittee met to-day. and examined Circuit Court
Judge Mackey OF South Carolina. He testified
that until 1876 he was In affiliation with tho
Republican party, when he left IT, He was pres
ent at Chester In 1876. when the elections we're
progressing for State officers, Presidential
electors. and members OF Congress. and was
called on to interpose his official authority 10
check interference by the military and deputy
marshals with voters at the polls. Several
OF the deputy marshals had declared
their purpose to carry the elections for
the Republicans. They exhibited printed
circular purporting to bave been signed
by Attorney General TAFT. addressed to the
United States Marshals to disregard the pro-
cess Of the State Courts. At o'clock In the
day the Chief Deputy Marshal at the head Of
band OF colored men. assaulted voters ut Car
mel. tearing from their hards tho HAYES and
HAMPTON tickets. ana several voters VINO re,
fused to surrender ihelr uckets were kh.0ckeo I.
down. Subsequently he saw the Imiitary-
nineteen men Of the Eighteenth Inianiry-
march into the Court House yard. forming "a
two lines. The voters wrre required to pass to
the polls under fixed baydnets.
On complaint made TO the witness that voters
we're interfered with by the military, he issued
a warrant for the arrest OF Lieut. Hinton who
commanded the detachnent. The Shprin made
n verbal report that Lieut.. II Hnton stnted ne mad
been summoned by the Chiei Deputy Marshal
to bring his troops to the polls; that there were
no breaches Of the peace except such as were
committed by the deputy marshals, who PAD
taken ballots from voters and further. thut
Lieut.. Hinton had declared he was informed
that violence was imminent az the pQhs. anu h
that there had already been z breach OF the
peace, and asked to he saved from the dis
grace Of arrest. promising that he would re-
House. The witness. this having been done.
instructed the sheriff 10 tnke no further action.
Several OF the deputy marshals were engaged
in di istrbuting Republican tickets. aud charged
the colored persons having Democratic Il ksts
in their hands. and in Line with the whites.
shals. with one exception. were colorad men;
Their instructions were signed by the United
COMMISSIONS being. Stand by your party"
| The witness saw in three or four instnnces
Democratic ballots destroyed by these officers.
| The conduct of the marshnls did not fall under
his observation In 1878. hut he knew OF one COLI
ored Democrat who was threatenrc
On his cross examination the witness testified
| that the Hayes and HAMPTON ticket embraced
| the Democratic nominees for Office. ana me
| Hayes and Chamberlain ticket embraced the
| Representative Sayler and other members OF
| the subcommittee OF the House Of Representa-
tives on the Sd Of January that Hnyns had car
| ried the State by FROM 200 20 9, 100 votes, and
| such was the belief Of the Witness. Hampton
was elected by LOO majority. The witness
supported the Hayes and Hampton ticket and
| all the Democratic nominees. and side by slde
| with Hampton he canvnssed the state Tor
| Hayes: but he voted for Tlden. endorsing on
| his ballot. us a reason for doing so. that bayo-
nets were brought to the polls to secure the
| election OF Hayes.
The troops did not interfere rs body with
the voters. but one OF the soldiers cursed citl-
| zerNnd threatened to bavonet him. The only
reason given by the citizen WIS that he was on
| his way TO the polls. The troops were at the
polling place. for an hour. He In 1878 saw I.
| voter shot down in Charleston. and thought
| that the shooting in that case WIS lustihable
| Three men wale knocked down by deputy
| marshals. They were arrested on the charge
| OF intmidnting voters and for assault and hat.
| terry. One Of them was convicted. the jury con.
| taining seven or eight colorad Republicans.
| United Strtss Marshal Payne Southern Dis
| trict OF New York. and John Z. Kennedy viii be
| examined tomorrow morning.