The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-14

note paper in a business hand, but with APP
parent haste. 1t is in the following words:
whereas, 1t is thought that the public interest
Will Toe subserved by Print Matthews absehting
himself from the polls on election day; therefore
be it,
"Resoved, That Print Matthews be ordered to
Keep within his own enclosures to-morroW.
Adopted by citizens OF Copiah county this the
9Th day of November, 1885,
after reading the note my husband told
McLemore that he was a Tree man, and had
as much right to vote as any OF them, and
that he would exercise the right.
AN INCITER OF MURDER.
'Mr Barksdale's speeches, especially the
one at night, were we'll calculated to encour-
age violence. He told them among other
things to carry the election if they had to do
it at the muzzle of their guns. This was
heard by all and fully talked about. L have
read denial of it by some one for him, but
Mr.. Barksdale is TOO bold and too truthful
man to deny it himself.
''On the morning OF tine election we were
all in deep trouble. Mr.. Matthews ate no
breakfast but after it was over, replying to
his brother, Leon, he said, Yes, | wild vote
and went to his store, situated near the polls.
never saw him again in life, out faithful
and truthful friends have told me the hor-
rors that followed
THE room in which the election was held
is about hundred yards from our house. 1t
has cellar, which is entered by trap-door
from the inside. When the polls were opened
my husband went to them with handful of
tickets where he found Wheeler. who was
to act as Democratic challenger, and the
officers of the election. Very few Others
were anywhere visible. He saw no gun. but
it was there, setting in gun-box. AS my
husband came into the room he and
al and hnI
and all say they were not only friendly. but
pleasant. In a few moments nv husband
said Well, | have always voted last, but this
time | will vote first and Wheeler said,
Print, would hot vote if l was you The
reply was, L have right to vote-as much
right as any of you-and intend to do so;'
and, taking a ticket in his right hand, ne APP
preached the polls. One of the officers re-
eeived the ticket, dropped it in the box,
called his name and said voted and as my
husband turned from the box Wheeler fired
both barrels of his gun, the charges striking
him in the neck and breast and killing him
instantly. As he sank to the floor pistol
he had in his pocket was driven out by the
fall and fell on the floor. In moment
mum Der of armed men came into the room
through the trapdoor III the cellar and sur
rounded Wheeler The front door was then
locked and Wheeler and his friends passed
out at the back door, My daughter heard
the report of the gun, and realizing its inn
port, ran to the place. His brother Leon
reached there about the same time, and, find
ing the door locked, broke it down to reach
his murdered brother.
THE tool of the Democratic leaders, APP
poin ted to do this work in blood, immediate
ly became lion, and was placed In COM
mand of the mob. The news was sent in hot
haste TO all the voting places in the country,
which, with threats and demonstrations of
violence, had the effect shown by the returns
g = H., q, Al 4 L
ent or Republican had committed or threat
ened any violence at any time Sheriff Har-
graves teegraphed Governor Lowry for
troops. Instead of sending them he sent
arms and ammunition for distri button
among the infuriated mob, which was done
under the direction of the murderer
Wheeler. This sheriff and this Governor were
appealed to only the day before by law-abid-
ing citizens to interfere and protect the peo-
pie in their rights, and they turned deaf
ear to the appeal but when the lawless mob,
that had been for weeks terror to all good
people, applied TO them for protection
against the vengeance of outraged people,
which they expected and deserved, the Gov
ernor used the first train coming that
way to send arms and ammuni-
ton TO the mob and thus assumed his share
of the responsibility of his party for the ter
rible crimes committed.
what followed has been published-that
is, the Democratic meeting and its action
placing me and my children outside the pale
of the law and forbidding, under penalty of
death any opposition to the Bourbon party;
and now | am here as temporary refuge for
my children. AS early as l can will select
home among strangers, where my children
can enjoy the rights to which they were born
and where can enjoy whatever peace and
quiet may remain to me-"
None of the infamous political murderers of
Mississippi have ever been punished, and not
all of them even indicted, but all have been
rewarded for their party service, Barksdale
who murdered Dixon, has been chancerv
clerk. and is no mem Der elect of the Mis-
sissppi Legislature. Gully, the leader OF the
mob that assaSsinated Chisolm ana his chill
dren, has since been a member of the Legis
lature; and Wheeler at the municipal cleo
ton following the killing CT Matthews, came
within three votes OF the nomination OF his
party for mayor, and would have succeeded
but for the efforts of few men who labored
10 save their town such a scandal; but the
first act of the new board was to make
Wheeler town marshal, and his claim to pro-
motion cannot be denied. While Governors,
sheriffs. Democratic chairmen, judges and
juries show by their acts that they are in
sympathy with their great crimes. it is due to
the people to say that such men 10 not hold
Office by the popular vote, but by the count
ing of the outlaws who control the ballot
boxes.