Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-11-13

the death OF Senator Zach Chandler
threw gloom over the entire commu-
nifty and the feeling is universal that
by his death the country sust ,ins an
irreparable loss. There Is no one to
fill his place in the United States
Senate to watch and denounce those
who laud and uphold those who tried
to destroy the Government, His pol
'ltical opponents highly respected him
Tor his strict integrity while they fear
ed his honest Indignation and denun-
citation.
All loyal people rejoice at the re-
suit of the elections on Tuesday last
as it shows there IS to be a Solid North
against Solid South.
As another Illustration of the man
ner IN which the Confederate Demo-
Gratis obtain solid South I give the
statement of Judge Keils as published
IN the Ne,o York Tribune:
Judge Keils of Alabama, who now
occupies clerkship in the Treasury
Department, has related to a Tribune
correspondent story which has never
appeared in print. Judge Keis was
born and for fifty years lived in the
State of Alabama. He was cducat-
ed IN the law, and having attained
some local prominence he was elected
by the Republicans to the judgeship of
the City Court of Eufrule, court
which had jurisdiction throughout
Barber county. He filled this posi-
ton nearly five years, and in 1874, at
the Congressional election, he became
candidate for reelection to the same
place.
Terrorism was rampant in the South
at that time, and at Spring Hill Pre-
clnct, in Barbar county, the Confed-
crates had threatened to kill any one
who should go to the polls TO ''inter-
tere with the election That was
then one of the Republican strong
holds, and it was suspected that mis-
chief of some kind was intended in
order to inva..idate or destroy the vote
Durlng his canvass in Barber county.
Judge keIls had been accompanied by
his son, plucky little fellow of six
teen, and on election day this boy, who
fully appreciated the danger which
threatened his father, sought and OBJ
tanned leave to be present at the polls.
Judge keils was a supervisor at
Spring Hill Precinct.
On election day, about IL A. NJ a
signal gun was fred All the white
men started at once for an empty store
wnere gans were stored, and they re-
appeared fully armed, in which con
dition they remained during the day
Notwithstanding their ferocous de
meanor, the colored men came out in
force, and when the polls closed there
was known to be Republican major
ity Of about $50 votes in the ballot
box The supervisors and election
officials then retired to room for the
purpose OF counting the vote. The
door was barred and lamps were light
ed. The Democratic clerk in charge
of the tally list man named Swan
son-pretended to be intoxicated and
unable to make out his list for time.
but when it was fully dark he started
up. saying Now l hive got it," and
proceeded to unbar the door.
The mob poured into one room
One of its leaders blew out the lights.
Upon this they began firing guns and
pistols, proceeding which they kept
up for several minutes Judge Kells
and his son had crouched down be-
hind a high counter when the firing
began. The firin; was suspended at
last, but only long enough to enable
one man t. run across the room and
pull over the counter During this
suspension, young Keils said to his
iather: 81 am going to try and get
out, for | am shot all to pieces The
firing was at once renewed, but on V
for moment. At last one man,
leading Democrat, came into the room
and calling to Judge KeilS, said that
he came as friend. and commanded
the firing to cease. A light was
brought and young Keils started for
the door, but dropped dead upon the
threshold. He was carried away by
some colored men. The mob th>n de
stroycd the ballot box with its contents
and by that means secured Demo
cratic victory in the county by ma
jority OF about fifty votes.
After the funeral of his son, Jud.
keils procured the Indictment OF
number of men whom he knew to
participants in the riot The trial
have never taken place, however. az
every witness of the riot has eithg.
been intimidatel or driven away \
Republican State official having pr-
sented the case before Grand Jars
of the County Court and summnne
a colored man named Fliiiyard Mills a.
the first witness, this man gave his
testimony. He had not left the comt
house, however, before one .! the
members of the Grand Jury him~a.
one of the rioters, moved that Nj,
be arraigned for perjury. lie MS
arraigned and tried ana 81 senvei
term of FIVE Yeas in the Pen,t
airy. The rlet has never been puei
ed to this day.
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