National Republican., 1884-02-26

of any democrats protesting against the out
RACES in Copiah county.
Judge r. j. Wharton, Of the 9th judicial dis
trct, testified that he had more trouble re-
gsrding grand jures in Copiah county than
in any other county in the district. The grand
jury was selected by the board of supervisors.
When he went there to hold court in October
he was waited on by a large number of prom
inent citizens who protested against the seleC.
tion of the last grand jury, asserting that 1t
had been constituted with Wow to political
persecution. 1t had been generally asserted
and believed that tho grand juries of the
county had been manipulated in the interest
of ono party with view of prosecuting their
political opponents. Matthews was repre-.
sented as ruling spirit in such manipula-
tion.
The witness continued. con the Friday
night preceding the election Print Matthews
told District Attorney Footo he wanted to
sec us az his room. Matthews said that
Thompson, with an armed body of men, had
murdered an innocent inof1ensive man the
week before, and that another party would
leave town OIL a similar marauding oxpe-
dition. / asked for their names, saying
| would issue q writ and have every one
of them arrested. lie said the sheriff
would probably find somo excuse
for refusing to execute the writ; that tho
attention of the grand jury had been called
to the matter but no action had been taken,
and that there was a conspiracy to murder
his political friends, himself, and his family.
When my two sons left for oxford college
few weeks ago, he said, took their hands,
and with tears in my eyes said, MY sons,
don't know how soon you may be summoned
home to avenge the assassination of your
father" They replied with tears, I'VE are
ready TO obey the summons"
Matthews said four of his uncles had becn
killed, but their deaths had been avenged.
There were four men whom he wanted to
kill, then ho would never again lay his head
upon q pillow, but, being outlawed, would
declare war against the human race. The
witness said TO Matthews ho had mover be-
fore heard him utter such incendiary Lam
guago. Witness had never counseled vo-
lonce or fraud to carry an election. He was
for moro than eight years attorney general
of tho state.
Judge T. +. Cooper, of tho supreme court
of Mississippi, testified that he formerly re-
| sided at HazlehurBt. IIc detailed the circum-
stances sconnectedwith Matthew's delalcation
as sheriff, and said that j. =. Matthews was
regarded as a dangerous man, and as violent
| politically. Witness continued: I'm 1875 |
| heard that Matthews had made threats against
the lives Of myself and Judge Hayes. / was
then chairman and Hayes was a member of
| the state executive democratic committee.
asked Matthews about 1t. He said he undo r
stood we wanted to kill him, and he had de-
cided that, if killed, his death should be
avenged that his will provided that if ho
should be killed $4,000 should be used in So
curing assassins to avenge him."
The witness considered the people of Copish
county orderly and law abiding as a general
rule. On cross-examination witness said
that in 1871 ho wrote Matthews q letter,
saying that Matthews had been good sheriff
for all classes Of the people. He had always
| found Matthews as u court officer efficient
and accommodating. Witness did not approve
of the killing of Matthew'S did not believe
the negroes of Copiah county would arm
against the whites.
| DIR. L. A. Rowan. member of the legislature
from Copiah county. testified that the can
vass of the last election was very peaceable.
| He believed the democrats would carry the
election. He knew J. p. Matthews. Witness
| identified an article in n newspaper as copy
of q circular handed him in 1875 by Mat
thews's brother. The circular contains
violent, abusive remarks and statements
about anumber Of persons, including Colking.
Witness believed the republicans failed to
hold meetings during the last two weeks
preceding the late election, being satisfied
they had been beaten in the canvass.
+. G. Wall, commissioner Of emigration,
testified that he never saw j. p. Matthews
but once. Ho was introduced to him one
evening by Mr.. johnson. Witness gave the
name of another persen present. johnson
asked Matthews how he could consistently
support Col. King for governor, against whom
he had published such q violent circular
Matthews replied that the circular was all q
lie; that King was all right now; that at
that time Matthews had 800 organized mon
in COpiah county, and had gotten out the
circular for the purpose of aggravating King
| then leading democrat and his party &c
violence, "whea" Matthews said, eve in,
tended to kill every white man, woman, and
child in Copiah county"
The witness, feeling indignant at the use
of such language, left to avoid q personal
difficulty.
A recess was then taken.