Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-24
MISSISSIPPl'S TERRORISTS
FURTHER SPECIMENS OF SHEER
MANS BUNCOMBE.

MANS BUNCOMBE.
Negro and His Wife ShOt-Barks-
dale's Address Intimidating-FIeei
the County Because of Threats-The
Visits of the Armed Band-Arms for
Forty Men.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 23.-The Senate
COpiah County, Mississippi, Inyestiga-
tion Committee resumed it's investigation
to-day. The first witness called by the
Republicans was Frank Hayes, colored.
He testified that he had been visited by
armed men, who broke open the doors OF
his house and shot his wife in the
shoulder. The witness started to run,
but was shot down; his leg was broken;
he did not know who the men were; ne
has not been able to work since.
THE wIFE's CORROBoRATION.
Mrs. Frank Hayes testified, corroborat-
ing the above. She said that there were
about 80 armed men present. Hayes was
still using crutch.
CONSTRUED AS INTIMIDATING.
2. b. King testified; heard Barksdale
address a mob in front of the court house.
He recited the incidents and construed
it as intimidating.
THREATENED WITH DEATH.
T. !. Hurd testified relating to efforts
made to induce him to 20 with Demo-
Gratis into the country in search of Inde-
pendent tickets. He said that his life had
been threatened after the election and he
left, and is now living in New Orleans.
His offense was denOuncing the killing OF
Matthews as a cold-blooded murder.
VISITED BY ARMED MEN.
Orange Ketchum, a cOlOred Republi-
can testified that the night before the
election armed men visited his house and
took fercIble possession Of the lndepe nd
ent tickets he had for distribution in
/ Browns store precinct. The witness al
50 testified to intimidation in his section.
40 GUNS AND 1000 ROUNDS OF AMMU-
NITION.
J. 5. Ware, of jackson, testified to hav-
ing taken 40 guns for the State with / 900
rounds of ammunition to HaZlehurst, on
the night after the election. He delivered
them to Meade He saw men with guns
standing guard about the streets.
FRIGHTENED OUT OF VOTING.
Sandiford, another colored Republican,
testified that he received a call from
armed men, who threatened to take his
life if he voted the Indept ndent ticket. He
did not vote because he was afraid to do
so.
Solomon Smith, colored Republican,
testified that on the night before the cleo
ton a band of armed men broke in his
door, took the Independent tickets he had
for distribution in beat three, and then
beat him so severely over the head with a
pistol that he could not go to the polls the
/ next day.
HIS HOUSE BURNED.
Daniel Crump, a colOred Republican,
testified concerning the burning Of his
! house. He recognized Little and Tom
/ Norman as two Of the men who set fire to
it. They shot at him and his son. The
witness cOrrOborated the testimony of
/ other witnesses regarding efforts made to
have these men punished.
After the election he was visited by
armed men who whipped his son and SON
in-law severely. The men said that they
whipped them because they voted the In
1 dependent ticket.
/ Mr.. Miller, District Attorney, promised
| to have the men prosecuted.
Frank Nj. Sessions cOrrObOrated the
| previous testimony regarding the adOp-
! tion of the resolution after the election.
Joseph Bailey made speech saying
! that the pistol was the most successful
] electioneering argument used.
THE SHOTGUN POLICY.
John 7. Sull, Independent, Receiver Of
/ Public Moneys of jackson, testified that
| he never saw anv article in Meade's pa
/ per cOndemnlng the Outrages in Copiah.
! The witness classified the number of pa
/ pers published in Mississippi from which
/ Frye read editorials. Some approved,
! others condemned the Copiah county out
RACES, while some advised the adoption of
the 70 tactics, known as ''the shotgun
/ campaign" On his crOss-eXamination
the witness said that he was a Democrat
/ duripU that pampniOu and cordially C11p-
/ ported that party, and he had no criti-
/ cism to make against its methods now.
ALL BARK AND NO BITE.
L. 0. Budewell testified that he can
vassed the county for the Independents.
He considered the parties very evenly di-
ylded. He had never heard Burnett's
veracity questioned until now. The wit
ness furCher testified that be participated
in the election in 1915 as Democrat. He
said 81 have no complaint to make
against the methods then adopted. We
did a good deal OF shooting, but hurt no
one"
Mack Gof testified in confederation of
the evidence of others concerning bull
doing.
FRIGHTENED OFF HIS ROUTE.
G. E. Matthews cOrrObOrated the testi-
mOny of other members OF the Matthews
family, and said that cOlOred man who
had the carrying of the United States
mails was frightened off, his life having
been threatened.
J. b. Middleton testified concerning out
RACES from common report. No one had
ever interfered with him, and he never
saw armed men except at HaZlehurst. He
canyassed the county tor the Indepen-
dents.
FROM THE DEMOCRATIC STANDPOINT.
The following witnesses were called by
the Democrats:
D. 5. Burch, Superintendent of Educa-
tiOn in COpiah county, testified that
equal facilities were afforded to white and
cOlored children. The reports showed no
decrease in the number of cOlOred chill
dren attending the schools since the cleo
tiOn. Under the Matthews regime the
witness taught school and was paid in
county warrants. Matthews told him
that ii he joined the Republicans he could
get the warrants cashed or anything else
he wanted. The witness was a member
of the Board OF Aldermen which elected
Wheeler Town Marshal after he killed
Matthews.
John b. Middleton testified that he
went to public meeting, carrying a gun,
because the Independents had threatened
to interfere. He was opposed to most of the
resolutions against the Matthews family.
He had never heard of any Democrat be-
ing hurt just before an election. The
committee then adjourned until Monday.
Ocean Steamers in Distress.
LONDON. Feb. 23.-The steamer Scandi-
navIan. from Charleston for Liverpool, has
passed R0ohe's point. Her engine is dis
abled. She reports that she passed large
unknown steamer, disabled. The steamer
Strathleven, from Savannah for Liverpool,
was standing by her.
THE STEAMERS IDENTITY.
LONDON, Feb. 24, A. M.-The unknown
disabled steamer seen by the steamer
Scandinavia was the Llandatf City, from
New York, February ,, for Bristol. She
was spoken on the 18th inst. She report
ed all we'll. She was being toWed by the
steamer Strathleven.