Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-08-15
Excitement at Franklin Courthouse.
AN ASSAULT UPON MASSEY.

A Lynchburg correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, under date of the 9Th
inst, says:
1.-THE campaign speech Of Mr.. John
E. Massey at Franklin Courthouse yes
terday was attended by some disOrderly
and disgraceful scenes. It became ap>
parent at an early hour that the Ma
hone party were determined to inter.
rupt. Col. Waddell James, Malone
member of the Legislature, had been
circulating reports that Massey when q
candidate for the United States Senate
had tried to buy his vote. Without
mentioning James's name, Massey de-
nOunced these reports as false and SLAM
derous James asked if he was referred
to. Massey replied that the authority
for the report was the man he referred
to, whoever he was. James then said
he was the author of the report. 1.-THE
report is lie," said Massey. James
said he would swear to it. "Then you
would swear to lie," said Massey.
There was great confusion. and Col.
James, attended by County Judge Clay
borne, attempted to speak from the
| stand Massey occupied, 1nterrupting
the latter. The crowd took Massey up
in their arms and carried him into the
courthouse, but as it would not hold
one-tenth of the immense crowd pres
ent, he was again taken up and carried
to the portico Of the Early House,
where he delivered a tremendous invec-
tive against the MahOneites.
This morning Col. James, attended
by Judge Claiborne, made an attack on
Massey at the depot, which led to an
other disorderly scene, in which James
was rather roughly handled. Massey
was arrested on charge of assault, and
he would have been prevented from
keeping his next appointment had not
the passengers on the train all voted ii
should wait till after Massey was heard.
The train waited. The Mayor acquit-
ted Massey and fined James $40. The
citizens cheered Massey, and he made q
speech from the car platform"
A correspondent of the Lynchbure
Aduance, writing from Franklin Court.
house, (Rocky Mount,) says:
cat our depot this morning, august
8th,) James made one of the most mali.
cious attacks on Mr.. Massey known to
our people, but he certainly must not
have known his man or the crowd. He
struck Mr.. Massey on the side OF his
head, and bystander returned the
blow, with stick, on the side Of
James's head that brought blood freely.
At one time the fight had the appear.
ance of a general row, but quiet was
soon restored. Both parties were ar
rested and taken to the depot, where
the Mayor opened his court. Witnesses
were examined, and Mr.. Massey hon.
orably acquitted. James was fined $40
Mr.. Massey then boarded the train
amidst deafening cheers. When he
reached the platform of the cars. he re-
turned thanks to the citizens of Frank
lin for their kindness in his behalf, and
the only thing that could be heard from
the large crowd was, "Hurrah for Mas
sey."
i Every attempt that Mahone's strik'
ers made at Massey in Franklin has
weakened their cause and made hosts
of friends for the Parson.
! When the parties were arrested the
passengers on the train got out and de.
c!ared their purpose of remaining until
the matter was disposed of. The Mayor
was sent for, with the result above sta
4 ted"