New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-22
THE COPIAH COUNTY METHOD.

DRAGGING MEN FHoM BED ny ROPES ABOUT THE
NKCK-sHoOTISG AND OTHER oUTRAGEs.
NEw-ORLEANs, Feb. 21.-BefOre the Senate
Committee to-day, @. NJ. Bankson testified that he Was
an Independent inspector of election at the poll where
Print Matthews killed. No one was in the room
but the officers Matthews and Wheeler being challenger
Matthews offered his vote, and the witness was LOOKING
for his name when he heard the report of q gun He
looked in the direction whence the report came and saw
Wheeler apparently reloadng a gun. Matthews stag
gereG and fell.
Napoleon Demar colored testified TO having been VS.
tied by armed before the election. They threw
rope his neck and made him kneel down and swear
that would vote the Democratic ticket He did vote
II because he feared violence If be failed to do So
William Robertson coroner at Hazehurst, when
Matthews was killed. testified that Dodd and Ware ad-
yised him to hold inquest, as was unnecessary
il being well known who killed Matthews. Later in the
day he saw Wheeler who admitted that he had done the
killing. Ware is related TO the Matthews family.
F. NJ Bufkins testified he and J. Matthews, one
night after election fired abOa' twenty shots causing
their neighbor Osruan to take the woods Osnan had
since left the county. Though the Independents had
seventy majority at spencer's Min the Democrats took
charge of the and gave the Democrats eighty ma
Jority.
RARksDALE'S ADyiCE-OUTRAGE NOT CONDEMNED.
william Mitchell Democrat, testified that he was editor
Of The Signal, newspaper published At Haziehurst he
heard TIE ngure Of speech used by Barksdae tat the
Democrats should bury the Republican party 80 deep
that birds Of prey coudn't bury their bcaks In tho
bodies" No reference was made individuals report
was circulated the day before election that large
party OF armed men coming to town and That they
greatly excited because alidavits had becu made
against some OF them. Colonel cad went out TO meet
them, he having assured Matthews OF protection INC
witness, I'm 10 MIR. Hoar, denied tbat was gene
rally understood that these coming 10 XII MAI
thews. The armed company held q meeting near the
cOurthO They had under consideration resolution
advising Matthews not to vote. Mead told them that II
he pesp wa
do with them. The witnesses paper, tn edited by
Mead did not condemn the ontrsges Mea9 WIS cns
the election lie explained to the meeting that II was
understood that Matthews's family and friends had
thre ltcned TO aVenge Matthew's death
MORE DEMOCRATIC TESTIMONY.
r. B. Minis testified that he voted at Green's store Tho
cratic club there and he knew fifteen colored men who
voted the Democratic ticket Of their free will j.
+. Brdsong thought the of the Independents
would have been a great calamity in Coplah County TO
eultiug bankruptcy. He could not say whether tne
success OF the Independents would have been greater
calamity than the Outrages. -
William Oliver secretary and treasurer of the Wcsson
Mills testified that there 800 voters at Ness0n al
dozen cOored iremen at the mills, who were he,
publcans Witness was Democrat lie uaod
his influence for his party -, mt , never
Irsored to other means than argument He considered
the Democrats the best element o the county.
H. \. Earne. foreman Of INC Grand Jury az Ilazehrst
before the election testified that eight OF the twelve
members Independents Republicans. lie believed
that six colored. The shooting OF burnett, kins
of Wallace whining of Fortner and the burning ~
found Of the for want of testimony liking me
gt any one. The Grand jury adjourned on the Fri
j. NJ Norman. chancery clerk of Copiah County test
fed that j. r. Matthews when he left c Office OF sheriff
wa deauter for 81 200, and paid the amount tour
later Matthews mad no claim against the county
% 81 loo, His total indebtedness was 5000