The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-19
Authentic History Of the Contested
Election Cases.
Political Persecution Thinly Yelled.

Political Persecution 1nlnly Nelleu
JEFFERSON, Jniy l1.-[Special Correspon
dence. 1.-THE department of justice ha
received further information from Jefferson
Texas, relative to the assassination OF Judg
Haughn, the main witness Tor the govern
ment in the pending case tor the violation
of the election laws. The writer say
threats have been made by the defe dant
IN these cases to the effect that they vii
not be prosecuted by the government; tina
when they go into court they will 60 armed
and if the trial should result in convic
lion they will kill the court and rybodI
connected with it. The assassination o
Haughn has given rise to considerable un
easiness there, and it is not known hoV
soon others may go in the same way. TIT
writer asked that his name be not used IL
this matter, tor should it be known, b,
would not live to see the sun shine again.
The department of justice at Washing
ton has information that Judge Haughn, o
Jefferson, Texas, was murdered because ht
was expected to testify against the defend
ants in the Marion county election cases
The informant says the defendants threaten
to clean out the court if they are con
victed."
Referring to the above and foregoing par
agraphs which appeared in the Fort Worth
Gazette of the 10th and 18th inst, from
Washington, and believing that the same
are calculated to mislead the public and
prejudice the courts against the defendants
in the so-called Marion county election
cases, feel it a duty l owe the good people
of this community and the defendants II
readers of the HERALD and the world a
large, history of the nuch-talked-ot cleo
ton cases, and at the same time repute thu
base and foul SANDER which has been so in
genuously couched in the above para
graphs, conceived in the fertile imagination
of the informant with no other purpos'
than to create the impression abroad tina
the people of this community are set Q
lawless desperadoes, cut-throats and mid
night murderers.
It will be remembered that at the las
election held on the 7th day of November
1882, our people, by strenuous and unitet
effort lin which they were magnanimouslJ
assisted by many good colored citizens
succeeded for the first time in fifteen years
in defeating the republican element in thi
county, and in dethroning the carnival o
recklessness, wrong and oppression which
had so long been perpetrated upon this PEG
pie under and during which our county wa
burdened with an enormous debt and well
nlgD IOuHueItu upUu tuc ohoaio uhN iuiSh
sands OF bankruptcy.
MANY of the sober thinking colored PEG
pie of the county, who had always previ
GUS to this supported the republican ticke
throughout, and who when confronted
with the facts and figures showing the ii
nancial condition of our county, the sourc,
from whence it came and the end to which
such an extravagant, reckless and unprin
cipled administration, the democrats OF GU
county to defeat must inevitably lead JOINED
hands with an administration which ha(
mort gagged and well-nigh conveyed in FREE
sample their homes and farms for the pay
ment of this debt, created and forced upol
the people by fraud and riotous living. Tit
success which crowned our efforts was bu
the legitimate result of unity, energy ant
perseverance on the part of the white ant
black people of this community. The cleo
ton was fairly held and the votes were hon
estly and fairly counted by good men il
the presence of both democrats and repub
licans. The newly elected officers having
qualified within the manner and time pre-
scribed by law, like magnanimous victors
quietly and peaceably entered upon tn
discharge of their various officia
duties with but little outward demonstration
over the victory they had achieved. Blu
the conquered or defeated candidates ant
republican leaders were 10th to yield th
prestige which they had so long held owe
us by fraud, usurpation and intimidation
hence the effort on their part TO assume tina
the election was unfair, and to this emf
they, through one Leathermon, deput,
United States marshal at Galveston, tilet
affidavits of information against thirty-nin
of our best citizens, charging them Will
cons piracy, intimidation and other viola
tiops of the election laws, all of whom wer
arrested and bound over in bonds OF iron
81 900 to $1,000 each to appear at the las
term of the United States court at thi
place and from term to term until discharges
| by the court. While our people were justl,
indignant at this dastardly attempt upo
their rights and liberties, yet they wer
satisfied that the law should take its course
and when the cases were called for trial q
the last term Of the court the defendant
announced ready for trial, but tn
ctses were continued by the government
Al this time, too, It will be remembers
that Haughn, Gutheridge, Campbell, Ora
ham and several hundred negroes wer
present and in attendance upon the cour
/ to testify in these cases, and many OF then
fully prepared 10 swear anything that nigh
be necessary to insure a conviction OF tn
defendants.
Does the announcement OF ready 70
trial under such circumstances indicat
that the defendants had any fear OF tn
testimony Of Haughn or anyone else? q
| that they had any apprehensions as TO th
final result of the trial? as indicated by th
informant from this place to the depart
ment Of justice at Washington, whose state
ments lead TO but one conclusion, 10 vii
that be has wilfully and purposely assume
/ the most improbable conclusion OF all tn
different theories advanced in regard !
the killing Of Haughn, and one too, who'll
unsupported BY any fact or circumstanc
30 far developed In the tragic affair.
And when said informant further state
thst the defendants say they will not B
tried by the government and that shout
they be convicted they would murder %
court and everyone connected tberewitf
be forgets that there IL such thing .
I truth and lends himself 10 such base. d.
/ I;berate and designing falsehoOds as woul
bring a blush Of shame to the most hsrc
ened wretch IN creation.
As 10 how or by whom Judge Haugh
was killed we know not, nor IL Il our prot
ince 10 presume who did il, but when som
desiguing miscresnt would seek 70 taste
M grave and hein0us q crime upon pe.
Die into whose faces be is unworthy 70 looi
and when such q one would seek 70 defam
the character Of the good people Of our con
munity In such manner Fno JOY % vie
uuruoee Al heart, Justice demands thi
some word be spoken " their behalf. an
thet the filthy slanter and msliciou
thrusts Of such charz tiers be hurled BAG
frorn Whence they cane, 81 bnse slenot
md Infamous fnlsebood. conceived and pr
concerted for purpose vel known 70 ID
people.
Destructive FIre.
BUooxusHAN IED.. July l5.-Last nigh
an. No. dsusrtnenf Of the Indiana IN
- - L1-.---~-.1 - So The 1ahn~r