Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-22
SHERMAN'S 0UTRAGES.
BLOOD CURDLING STORIES
STILL PLENTIFUL.

More Witnesses Tell How Matthews was
Shot at the POlls-VnsuecessfuI Efforts
Made to Have Interested Parties Bring
Their Grievances into Court.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 21.-Before the
Senate COpiah County Investigation Com
mittee to-day G. NJ. Blankston testified
that he was an Independent inspector of
elections at the poll where Print Mathews
was killed. No one was in the room but
the officers, Mathews and Wheeler being
the challengers. Mathews offered his
vote and the witness was looking for his
name on the list when he heard the report
of gun. He looked in the direction
whence the report came and saw Wheeler
apparently reloading the gun. Matthews
staggered and fell. There were two
wounds in Mathews breast two inches
apart. Either two loads were fired or the
shot divided.
Napoleon Delar, colored, testified to
having been visited by armed men before
the election. They threw a rope over his
neck and made him kneeI down and swear
that he would vote the Democratic ticket.
He did vote it, because he feared violence
otherwise.
W III 1AObCl lSOU. Tue NlOIOUtE at E1aZel-
hurst, where Mathews was killed, testi-
fed that DOdd and Ware advised him not
to mold an inquest, as it was unnecessary,
1t being well known who killed Mathews.
Later in the day he saw Wheeler, who
admitted that he had done the killing.
Ware is related to the Mathews family.
L. Nj. Bufkins testified substantially in
cOrrObOratiOn of other witnesses concern
ing outrages. His life had been threat
ened by armed bands, and he had slept
out Of his house. He left the polls on
election day because of the presence of
armed Democrats, who were drinking and
making violent demonstrations.
On crOsS-eXaminatiOn Mr.. Bufkins said
that he and j. E. Mathews, one night
after the election, fired about twenty
shots, causing their neighbOr, Osman. to
take to the woods. Osman had since
left the county. Though the Independents
had fifty majority at Spencer's Mill the
Democrats took charge OF the box and
gave the Democrats eighty majority.
William Mitchell, a Democrat, testified
that he was editor of the Signal, a news
paper published at Hazelhurst. He heard
ngure of speech used by Barksdale that
the Democrats should bury the Repub-
lican party so deep that birds of prey
couldn't bury their beaks in the bodies"
No reference was made to individuals.
A report was circulated on the day before
the election that a large party of armed
men were coming to town and they
were greatly excited because afiida-
Wits had been made against some
of them. Col. Mead went out to meet
them, he having assured Mathews
Of protection. The witness in answer to
Mr.. HOar denied that it was generally
understood that these men were coming
to kill Mathews. An armed company
held meeting near the court house.
They had under consideration a resolution
advising Mathews not to vote. Mead told
them that if the resolution was adopted
he would have nothing more to do with
them. The Witness, a paper then edited
by Mead, did not condemn the Outrages.
Mead was Chairman of the mass meeting
which adopted the resolutions after the
election. He explained to the meeting
that it was understood that Mathews
family and friends had threatened to
aVenge Mathews death.
II: a. Earne, foreman of the grand jury
at Hazelhurst before the election, testi-
fed that eight Of the twelve members
were Independents or Republicans. He
believed that six were cOored. The
shooting of Burnet, the killing Of Wal
lace, the whipping of Fortner, and the
burning Of Crumps' house were before
them, but no true bills were found in any
of the cases for want of testimony fixing
the guilt on any one. The grand jury adj
journed on the Friday before election.