The Brookhaven leader., 1884-02-28
THE COPIAH INVESTIGATION
Testimony of few Of she Wit
ne~srr Before the senate
Committee.
The killing Of Print Matthews
The Large Majority OF 60.
piah Democrats do not
EndOrse Ia wie~snes~.

I
The committee met at the Office of Gen.
Bsdger,at the Custom House, about , O'Clock.
Senator Horr took the chair and Senators
Jonas of Louisiana, Frye of Maine, Cameron
Of Wisconsin and Salisbury of Delaware
were present.
| &C. WILLIAMSON
was the first witness called he said: I
was born in Mississippi. Am a Democrat.
Was Mayor OF Hazlehurst last year. Cannot
say ! saw any disturbance, but saw armed
men come into town They rode round the
court house. One of their prrty addressed
them. After the speech saw some men on
the other side. They soon disappeared and
went out of town. On Tuesday, the day of
election, ! saw several men itb guns. Did
not vote at the same poll as Matthews. DR..
Barlow and Matthews had previously made
afhdavits that armed men were riding round
the country and charging them with shooting.
| issued warrants which were placed in the
bands OF the Sheriff. | never tried any of
them. Heard some were in town on Mon
day, but as that was the day before the cleo
ton | declined to hold court. Did not think
it was prudent to have a trial under The cir
cumstances. The sheriff never arrested any
one; never brought any one before me. Hart
was brought before me for the shooting of
|
Hazlehurst bar would appear to defend him
Three attornc appeared in the defense. The
result of the trial was the binding Over Of
Hart TO appear. No trial has ever come off
| was not called before the grand jury inves-
tigation Of the affair. There were rumors
sever Il days before the election of men rowing
round the country; issued warrants and sum-
monses for The Witnesses and placed them in
the hands of the constable. The prosecutor,
Crump, atterward came and withdrew the
charges, saying Hat the trouble in this case
had been compromised. ] think Crump lived
in Beat 2. On the Sth, after the election, the
peorle Of Hazlehurst pledged me their sup
port to keep peace ard order Have known
Matthews since 1869. He was a Republican;
verv earnest and determined; he was well
liked; was man of property.
Cross examined by Senator Salisbury
Could issue warrant out of my beat but it
must be made returnable to some justice OF
the peace within whose beat the otfcnse was
committed
Some of the accused lived in Beat No |,
, and some in other beats. The affidavits were
made by Barlow and Matthews; it was at
night, aturday night. They were charged
: with shooting into and burning houses
After The election had a conversation with
the Sheriff and others, and we agreed that
| the parties should not be arrested and brought
, before me- because some res ided in Beat 3
, and on account of the excitement / bad NO
power TO t'y the cases of those living outside
my beat. Do not remember all the parties
. included in the affdavts Hart was arrested
for shooting burnett; he was arraigncd hcfor'.
me; was four days investigating the case;
placed him under $1,000 bond was not
sati, fed to turn Mr.. Hart loose; thought i,
Was a case for the grand iur.; Burnett was
not a witness before me. Three attorneys
) appeared for the defense-L B. Harris, }. G.
Cohn and j. L. Meade.
Sexton and Willis were the LAWYERS tor
Crump in his civil suits. He attributed more
2 OF his troubles to personal causes ard rea-
sons relative to his suits Col. Meade told
Matthews if a y crowd of men came in to go
TO his house to interfere with him IN any way
he would go there himself in order IT, protect
him and his family. He would 90 there and
fight for him. Sheriff Hargrave said he
would assist me. Mr.. Hargrave is II good,
upright man, and prcserver OF law snd Or
der Have no idea that he offered to deputze
Print Matthews 10 cause the arrest of ceri ain
parties for the purpose of having him murder
, ed. 1t was at night. and Mr.. Matthews VIVA
very pressing to have the parties arrested nt
once, and there was no one else Oh hand to
appoint AS deputy
The better and larger portion of the Demo-
cratic party in that comm nifty arc in favor Of
the preserv| ton of law and order
To Senator Jonas--Did not hear any threats
, against the life of Mir. Matthews. Mr.. Eras-
mus Wheeler is now under bail. $4,000, to APP
pear at the next term OF the Criminal Court.
| ALEXANDER A. LOMAX.
, Am Baptist preacher. Am Democrat.
Would not vote for certain people commit
ting certain crimes. There were no muir
derers on the Democratic ticket. Was not
advised to keep quiet. Joe Purser called
OIL me to ask me i'll regard to certain re-
! marks he had heard had made in regard
to him. / told him l had made no re-
marks against him. There was some ex-
element in town. thought it the hei ght
of propriety for everybody to keep qnet.
There was meeting of Prohibitionists
after the election, composed of Democrats,
Independents and Republicans. The word
Democrat was not used in regard to the
meeting. Did not select Ras Wheeler as
: chairman of any committee. We had an
, ecutive committee of %. About 10 were
Republicans. ! do not know that Wheeler
is charged with murder.
To Senator Jonas-The character of the
people for good order and quiet is good;
Dul IL u Hhn Is Spolllng 1of HgEt ne can
get it. Tue large majority of the Demo
cratic pa y is in favor oflaw and order. Did
not see any armed men in procession. Saw
some MEN mounted and armed. 1t was
small percentage Of the voters of Copah
cOOnty. Never saw more than forty guns.
There are about $500 Democratic voters in
the county. The Democrats usually carry
the county by regular voting.
| MRS. MATTHEW'S
then testified: Is the widow of J. p. Mat
| thews; resides in Oxford with her family
Took her family 10 Oxford never expecting %
return to Hazlehurst. Her property is there.
Had been living in Hazlehurst II years, and
was born and raised in COpiah county. Mr..
Matthews vas a merchant. Saw armed men
on horseback before the election, on the
street. Heard them cay, "somebody better
get away" When they went by the house
they shouted They stopped not far from the
house and one rode into the gate aud asked
Mr.. Matthews TO come out. Mr.. Matthews
asked him in. He had resolution which
the witness read
M. Frye resc resolution.
WHERRAs, 1t Ia thought that the public inter-
est Will be subseived by Print Matthews absent
ing himself fro.u the polls on e.ection day;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, that Print Matthews be o. dered to
keep within his own enclosure Tomorrow.