Daily Republican., 1879-11-05
An Ayab ann Election Incident

III lCCp.
S-0
An Alabama Election Incident.
There are no doubt hundreds ofcase
wherein Republicans have been muir
dered in the South for their devotion +
Republican principles, that have neve
yet come to the light, though four o
Ave years have elapsed since such muir
dsrs and outrages were committed. TIL
case Of Mrs. Price, the Postmistress o
Grenada, Mississippi, was an instance
where she suffered insult and threat!
before she could get An opportunity o
leaving the South and reaching place
where she would be safe in making hel
complaints.
Another instance has now Just come
to the light, which not only reveals the
lawlessness and devilishness of the
South but it gives an insight into the
workings Of the shot gun plan by which
the South was made solid for the Demo,
cracy. Judge Kies was fifty years Of age,
native of Barbour county, Alabama.
He was educated for the bar and was
elected Judge of his native county by
the Republicans in 1869 and in 1874
he was a candidate for re election. This
was at the time when the South was
made solid. Spring Fill precinct in
the county, the judges voting place,
was a strong Republican stronghold
and The COME derates had threatened to
kill anyone who wonld interfere with
the election. The Judge then expec-
ted mischief in order to iuvalidate the
election.
On the day of the election the Judge
took his son lad of sixteen along
with him to the polls, the latter sus-
pac,ing some trap laid for his father
who was a Supervisor of elections. At
IL o clock the signal gun which had
been agreed upon was fired when all
the white ex-reb-ls stampeded to an
empty store and soon returned fully
armed with shot guns and so remained
during the day. The colored men
however came out in force and voted,
and when the polls closed there was
known to be 500 Republican majority
in the ballot box. We have not heard
that there wer any troops at the polls
to prevent the poor prosecuted ex-rebels
from voting.
The election being over the next
move in the preooncerted plot was to
retire to room, bar the door, and light
lamp. The Democratic clerk, about
this time found it convenient to feign |
intoxica!ion and when he knew that |
his friends were ready he unbarred
the door and the mob poured in. The
lights were blown ont and guns and
pistols were fred Unfortunately,
Judge KeiIs and his son crouched down
b ehind the counter when a man ran
across the room pulled the counter over
when the poor boy said to his father;
:" am going to try 10 get out, for am
shot all to pieces"
This was the signal for the renewal
or the firing when at the command Of
leading Dance at the firing ceased and
young Keils started for the door only to
fall dead upon its threshold. The bal
lot box was then destroyed and the
County was carried for The Democrats
by majority Of about fifty votes. The
Judge procured the Indictment Of a
number of men for the murder OF his
son but no trial has ever taken place,
the witnesses either having been init
Undated or driven away. A col0red
man however who gave testimony be-
fore the Grand Jury was charged by a
member of that body for perjury and
was convicted and sentenced to. the
penitentiary for re years.
This is The kind Of peace and quiet
that prevail at the South, AID this
is the kind of fair play the Democrats
want at elections wherever the Repub-
lioans have a majority. Judge Keils
never told this terrible story Of blood
and crime until he left the psaoeabls