Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-02-22
SOUTHERN OUTRAGES.
The Copiah County, Miss, Hnvsstiga-
tt0n.

Massachusetts, chairman, began thoir invos-
tigation OF the Copah county outrages Mt tho
custom house in New Orleans last Friday.
Tho first witness examined was Leon II.
Matthews, brother Of j. 2. Matthews, who
was killed Mt Hazohurst on election day last
November. He said he had lived there all his
life, and was a caddato at the election Of Nov
Z. lie was active in politics and had CANVASS
ed tho county. He believed that the indepon-
dents had 500 majority in tho county, but the
Democrats carried the election. There were
some slight disturbances during the canvass,
and clubs we're organized by the Democrats,
who went armed and mounted. They muir
dered some, whipped Others and put ropes
around tho necks Of others, but did not hang
them. Three weeks before election he saw a
man who had been whipped in the southwest
ern portion Of the county. He also saw Tom
Wallace, who had been killed by the Same
party who were said to have done many sim
liar acts.
On the day before election he saw an armed
mob at Hazlehurst. They marched through
tho town, halted, and sent a message to his
brother, warning him not to vote the next
day A few days before election the colored
church was burned. The independents had
attempted to organize a club there. The mob
carried a cannon all over the county and fired
II occasionally. Witnesses brother sold goods
throughout tho county. Shots were fired
through his door by tho mob. Armed bands
notified the Matthews family that il any trou-
bic occurred the latter would be held respon-
sible. Witness was merchant at Hazlehurst.
Erastus Wheeler was very friendly with his
brother, and was at his house q short time be-
fore the election. Wheeler had had no diff.
Guilty with him, and could have had nothing
against him outside Of politics. As soon aB
the polls opened on November Z, J. p. Mat
thews went to vote and was shot down by
Wheeler just as his name was checked on tho
poll list, both barrels Of q shotgun being fired
into his breast
Tho armed mob who were riding over the
county before election declared that they
would carry the election with shotguns if nee
essary, or with the knife. The witness gave
the names OF number Of persons who were
in the armed mob among them that of j. L.
Mead chairman of tho Democratic committee
of Copiah county. Witness mentioned the
killing Of Frank Sage and the shooting of his
wife, the whipping of Henry Potter, the as
sault on David, Bill and Solomon Smith, and
other assaults on colored mon by the armed
mob. He said that these outrages had the
effect of frightening tho colored people and
driving them to the woods. They wore afraid
to sleep at home. Some few voted on cleo
ton day, aud others went 10 the polls, but
were afraid to vote. The armed bands were
composed of Democrats.
The witness made a statement concerning
the efforts made by his brother, himself, and
other political friends, to have the county off
cials take some action to check tho outrages
and finally applied to the governor but moth d.
ing was done. After making afidsvits against
a number Of the mob, Sheriff HArgrave went
to his brother and endeavored to get him to
serve the writs that had been issued. His
brother had been apprised Of the conversation
overheard between Hargrave and Mead, to
the effect that il Matthews attempted to serve
the writs he was to be followed and killed.
John Matthews, son of the murdered man,
was next called He ia q handsome young
man of 81, student at the University of Miss.
issippi, and remarkably intelligent He went
to Jackson to the state fair the week before
election. While there he was told by Judge
Wharton, OF that Judicial district, and Dem
ocrat, that his father was in danger, and that
serious times were afoot at Hazeihurst. lie
started home that night. On Sunday he be-
came cognizant of the fact that a conspiracy
was in the air to kill his father. On Monday
he went back to college at his father request
On Tuesday he received despatch inform
ing him of the murder, He started for home
At the station he met Mr.. Meyers, Secretary
of state. what has happened p said Mey-
ers. II am informed that my father has
been murdered, the boy replied. "Ah," re-
Joined the secretary, 81 knew it was going to
be done. Didn't know that it had happened 4"
During the day Of the funeral guns were fir.
ed and the band played and there were con.
gratulatory speeches all day and at night
The roads were patrollod to prevent Mat
thews's friends FROM gathering
On Saturday Mrs Matthews, widow of j.
p. Matthews, testified that she and her hus-
band were born and raised in Copiah county
She is now living at Oxford and will not re-
turn to Hazlehurst to live, although her hus-
bands property is there. On the day before
the November election an armed mob passed
her house. Mr.. McCree came back and pre-
scented a resolution stating that the best iu-
terests would be subserved if her husband alb
stained from voting. Matthews replied that
he had as good right to vote as any one,
aud intended to exercise it. Her husband
was kind generous and charitable and con-
tributed literally to the churches. No one
ever came to him for assistance and went
away without it. She knew no reason for the
killing other than politics. She saw the mob
on election day after her husband had been
murdered. Some came aud stood about the
yard, while others had band playing. They
were firing guns and seemed to enjoy them
selves. Mary Matthews, Jennie Matthews
and S. S. Matthew'S aged Is, 16 and 20 years,
children of j. p. Matthews, corroborated sub
stantiAlly tho testimony of their mother
On Monday David Bell (colored) testified
that he was chairman OF the Republican ex-
ecutive committee OF Copiah county; the
night before election his house was visited by
% men they called him up forced open the
door, and took him out they took the cleo
ton tickets he had for distribution away from
him and destroyed them. Finally the men
turned him loose and one OF them struck him
with gun, knocking him down. He suppos-
ed them to be lot of drinking fellows.
Mrs Wallace (colored) said that the Friday
night before election a party of armed men
came TO her house and asked who lived there.
Her husband replied Thomas Wallace"
They said they had writ for his arrest, the
crowd pushed the door open and came in.
They attempted to throw q rope over her
husbands neck, when he threw up his hands,
asking what they meant to do. One man then
shot him in the neck. Several shots were
fired, one ball striking her in the arm and
passing into her husbands neck, killing him.
She has nine children. After her husband
was killed she went to the woods and remain
ed there until after the election.
Handy FORMER (colored) described o terri
BILE beating which he received at the hands Of
a mob who took him from his house one night
two weeks before election.
L. W. DOuuurhnt, u Wnlte h6puDlcan, teB-
tilted concerning the roign OF terror prevail
ing In Copiah county preceding the late cleo
ton. 1t was caused by an armed mob riding
over the county, committing outrages as de-
tailed by other witnesses. He related Incl
dents attending a meeting at Hazelhurst.
Congressman Barksdale said he was glad to
see by the faces of the men riding about town
that they were determined to carry the cleo
ton regardless of the means. Barksdale ad-
vised them to hang f. M. Bufkin so high that
birds of prey could not bury their beaks in
his body.
The Inv esIig alton OF the DanvIIIe Riot.
The subcommittee of which Senator Sher-
man is chairman has been in session at Wash
ington and examining witnesses for week.
The evidence taken tends to show that the
Danville, Va, riot grew out of a personal al
tercation between white man and negro
A negro jostled white man on the street.
angry words followed, a crowd gathered, and
the whites, who had no lack of weapons, be-
gan iring-most of them, apparently, out of
pure malice and delight in seeing the mig
gers" run.
Hense Lawson (colored), whose quarrel
with Charles d. Noel preceded the riot, said
he met Noel (who is a man inches taller and
lbs heavier than HIMSELF for the first time
November 3. Witness was getting out of the
way of some ladies and ran against Noel.
Witness said, Excuse me- sir" Noel re-
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