The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-01-30
THE TELLER COMMITTEE


Republican Corruption In South Carolina Brought
to Llght-OutrageOus Treatment OF ColOred
Democrats.
Charleston, Jan. 27-The Teller. Committee was
occupied mainly to-day in hearing Democratic
testimony as the conduct Of thecanvass or elec'
tlon in Williamsburg and sumpter counties State
Seuator Maurice testified to lukewarmness and
divisions of Republicans in Williamsburg and to
the general bad character OF Swails, the Republi'
can leader. 1t was in consequence oil sWalls
threats that he was notified he would be held re-
sponsible for any bloodshed or house burning and
had better leave the country.
Circuit Solicitor Hirsch, a Republican until 1877
said ne had investigated by Hampton's direction
different charges made by Swails and found the
White Oak meeting was not held to advocate
Rainey; that Swails was not arrested by red shirt
and no threats had been made against sWails ex'
cept that he would be held to account for any
bloodshed or iDcendiaIism.
Jack Epps, a colored preacher, testified he alb
stained from voting at the election, and IS IN con-
sequence debarred by colored Republicans from
ministering in the Baptist churches he had regu'
larly served
Us, Haywood, (white), testified the invitation
to swails to ride into Kings Tree with red shirts
was freely accepted BY swails when he had been
assured no harm would be done him.
B. Chandler (white) testified armed negroes
surrounded the Cedar Swamp precinct saying the
ballots should not be counted. The ballot box
was sent off on by.path while the negroes lay 10
wait for 1t on the usual road, II wasthe intention
of the negroes to murder the managers and seize
the box.
The first Democratic witness from Richlsnd
county was Paul Ludwig, who testified as to the
peacefulness Of the election. This witness went
to sumpter with a cannon on october 18th, and
testified that only blank cartridges were taken
aud that the gun was run up to the Cour
House without orders because riot was going
on.
John Lee, (colored) Democrat, had been told by
Republicans that he ought to be hung and his
wife burned.
Many colored Democrats had been threatened
and their red shirts torn off, Others had been
pulled from their homes and their wives advised
| to leave them. Saw large numbers Of colored Re
| pubicans vote the Democratic ticket
Coleman Beattie (colored) Democrat, was told
that every colored Democrat ought to be hung OF
burned.
Andrew Johnson (colored) Democrat, had been
threated, abused and beaten by colCred Republi
cans on account Of his politics, and his children
beaten and driven from school.
James Minus (Colored) had been cursed and
scorned and his children hissed at, because he
was Democrat He had been shot in the face
and his head was broken.
Dick Wallace (colOred) had been cursed and
threatened by colOred Republicans who also
knocked down a building on his place.
Jim Taylor (colored) was attacked near Colum
bia by three colored Republicans who tore off hii
red shirt and stole his hat. Other attempts were
made to do him bodily injury.
This closed the testimony ELECTED from Rich
land county and Edward Perry, printer, oi
CharlestOB, was put on the stand and swore that
he printed 10000 Republican tissue tickeu for E.
| W. Mackey, Republican candidate for Congress al
/ kha Last