New-York tribune., 1884-02-21
BOURBON INTOLERANCE.
TIE CopIAH COUNTY oUrRAGEs.

krMOCENTS REJOICING IN MbRDEk-lhb wa
CoIoRED MEN WERE DRIVEN FROM TIE POLLS
NEw-ORLFANs, Feb. 20.-At yesterday
session Of tho Senate Committee investigating tno
alleged outrages in Copiah County, Miss j. H. AIe"
testified: am member Of the Independent Co'Inn' %
fee Ny brother was secretary OF tho Democratic OV
uittee Ireceived proposition from my piO'"V
we both withdraw, but declined On inc od'' ~, +no
fore the election, many men pe'ont"9 ma a.
mob came TO my house anu . so 60 my
ioin them saving that if ep ~ nv. 80 io,,
80 or i,, bopso mi ght I've burned dechncu 10 Ioi
,ho,oh followed the mob over TO FRANK n"S'S .
saw the latter His leg had De'n sn'' ~ - 49,,
hrcLsh,t and his wife had been sho' Io.' NM -
more shooting for the two weeks lro'to"s ~" Co
.~.n had heard before since lett the CON
wa" Amy in 1865. did not Vote'
!. ,argcd that Matthews going to arm the
oos No white man believed this report loWneu
smoau farm. 1t cost $1,000 / haY6 offered u ior
60 ZOO hut there were takers. II could sen OUT
would go away. ,, f.. coD,o,,.
Courtv Iknew D. c. Woods The evening before the
election / heard Woods say that Matthews would De
KILLED and L. H. Matthews. II elected sheriff. woud also
be killed Woods the Democratic candidate Iol
coroner. .,.. su.,, ,,o.,o-
hurst I heard Henry Hartman, Democrat, say, when
tbe report was received that Matthews had been killed.
that he had known for week that Matthews would oe
killed that day.
BF Casey testified that he went 70 Tail Holt precinct
70 vote but did not do owing to the violent demonsa
zion made by armed Democrats. While there he heard D.
r. starns yell ont Boys get your guns the negroes are
coming armed" They well knew that this was not True
They knew tho Independents were not going TO use
force. .,-,,
= G Williamson testified: am native OF Mississippi
Twas Mayor of Hazlehurst last year. l saw pody Vi
srmed men on the Monday before the election, saw
three or four men with guns on election day. Prior 10
andM Matthews
fore me They charged the with shooting into houses
I'm the county gave a writ TO the Sheriff. "heh young
Hart was arraigned before me for shooting Bunet ne S
that the Hazlehurst bar would defend him. The Win css
said that the appeared to VINO was Dou
over to the Circuit Court He was told that the uranu
1urv had failed TO find bill The testimony
taken at the preliminary investigation had Deeh SUMMIT
ted 10 the Grand Jury When Crumps house was ouIneu
the affidavit was mado against Norman ana Li'le Inc
cases never came trial Crumps afdaVt chafgeu na'
armed men came at night fired into his honSe ana lnon
burned it, Crump finally withdrew the afhdaVlt' ine
Attorney advised TO allow Crump 10 WIN
draw the affidavit. understood that compromise had
been made Cnmps losses, or apotion OF men, haVns
been made good.
On being ciossexamined the witness said: Wheelcrwho
tied Matthews waived examination. and was bailed In
$1,000 Murder IS not baiable offence in Mississippi
Henry Edwards coored) testified regarding the armed
men riding about the county Five or them visited my
bonse at midnight on the Sunday before the election
One presented pistol to my head and said that had TO
vote as he wanted me TO. He asked me if would vote
Tem"crstc Ticket They had put rope around my neck
and pulled tight. on Wednesday night went to the
precinct and remained there until eleven O'Clock on ec
ton day did not vote because the polls were not open
ed: saw man there with 9a gun ~ cha ,ynt
before the election 100 armed Ssv %antd sdmS to * know
whom whom / was going to vote for. I have
always been a Republican They told io,nt me
One of them presented pistol at me and said that
didn't vote the Democratic ticket he would b9w my
day started to 90 to Tail Holt election day. but
seeing armed men back h9me ana oG e
n beat No g. Copiah County. was candidate on me
the ss eecoh acted l with the Independents
Jackson the Thursday before the election because
the Saturday before the election. body of armed
They didn't bother me-. own 1000 acres OF land,
men were lying out in the woods. didn't vote myself
Some few coored men voted but as rule they did nG
for half lis value and go away but no one viii buy
have lived thefs dfty years own properly.
Republican crowd Of armed men came ITO to
6g eelon RSqS and the fred through
fed into the woods and stayed ont week. NY Iamhy
road by armed who cursed and threatened me,
Alexander Geoehcean lcolored) testified went to
Tair Holt election day Men with guns, democrats;
Lat there was great excitement and went away without
voting. Iremaiued at me p9s un'ld eoGn; & @ uu I
sale for twothis Of its value because don't con-
slider INV life safe.
W L. Allen testified: When the news Of the murder OF
Iiathevs was received the people about the polls re
ioocd waving their mats etc. eau give the names of
several Democrats whom in the mob on the sun
day before election. / voted the independent ucset
considered the Democrats pack OF muIdclcrS: -
Richard CCEWell. Democrat testified: I'VE IN haze
hurst WAS an election officer. J. T. Matthews handed
nc Lis vote Die the clerk looking on the roll for
lis name heard a lun fired. / Wheeler standing
fn the room end Matthews lying on the floor.
Nv inn yression is the killing of Print Matthews was
NOT approved hut con 1cnned majority Of the voters
OF Conan County After Matthews had been killed. Isaw
shotgun u tle hands OF MQr1son, "Eeelefs son III
Jaw.
The Deuo:ra;ic mcnbcrs o. the committee we're re-
cuestod hy Chair HO TO have their witnesses ready
on Thus isy mOrling. The committee adjourned until