The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-07-17
POPE AND THE REPUBLICANS.
EAGAN AND THE RECORD.

In an interview with Times Union
roDorter. Hon. Dennis Eagan one of the
foremost republican leaders in the state,
repudiates Pope and all his works. He
charges Pope with a record, which he
saws, does not entitle him to the charac-
ter of christian gentleman. Pope had
fed the county, prior to 1858, and re-
turned in the winter of 1867. In 1873
he took prominent part in the election
as a democratic leader.
"At the election of 1880 Pope was
again an active democratic leader, and
TIE same frauds were repeated, Pope and
other democrats being present at the
polls armed with rifles. Pope and
number of others in Madison county
were indicted in the United States court
fer completely in these frauds. The
principal witnesses against them were
Savage and James, and after the murder
OF these witnesses the Government was
obliged to abandon the prosecution. 1t
Was these frauds which led to the killing
OF Frank Patterson, who was partner
OF Pope's, to the murder of Savage and
James, and the prosecution and exile of
hundreds of colored people Of Madison
county"
"Pope was mayor of Madison for some
time" continued Mr.. Eagan, "and used
his position to prosecute republicans and
to protect his associates. AS a sample,
ts Ike the case of Gus Crosby. Crosby
was one Of the most promising young
men in the county: was an inspector at
one of the polls in Madison in 1860, and
was summoned as a witness before the
United States grand jury at Jacksonville.
On his return to Madison, he was assault
ted on the street by a man named For
roster one of Pope's associates, and shot
through the shoulder. Both were arres-
ted and taken before Pope as Mayor,
who fined Forester, who did the shoot
ing, So and Crosby who got shot $50 and
costs. Crosby was forced to leave the
county and is now in this city, cripple
for life. While the republicans of the
state were raising money for the defence
of SavageEand James, Pope volunteered
his services to prosecute them and made
the most violent speeches, during the
trial at Jasper, calculated to incite the
mob to violence in case the prisoners
Should be acquitted.
I'm 1882 Pope, in view of his services
to his party, claimed the democratic
nomination to the state senate. Theo-
d0re Willard was his opponent, and
after the primary elections had been
held Pope found that Willard would Sc
cure the nomination. He thereupor
wrote q letter addressed to himself, bu
pIrporting to come from others, asking
him to become an independent candi
dGte, to which he proceeded to give hi
consent. He then went to the republi
cans of the county and said in substance
YOU have been counted out in the pas
and will be this time unless you endors
me- Under this threat the republican
agreed to lake one place on the ticke
and support Pope"
How DO you regard tne lnuependeh
platfoem?"
THAT is as objectinable as the candi
date so far as therepublican party is col
ccrned. am not prepared to place
brand upon myself and party by endol
sing what the platform untruthfully as
serts when it declares that the republi
can rule of eight years in this state wa
Incompetent and corrupt"
"But what if Mr., Pope secures the ell
dorsement of your party, Mr.. Eagan.'
''In any event, replied Mr.. Eagan,
shall oppose Mr.. Pope, and when IS
that mean no passive opposition:
shall put my very best work into Il
campaign to defeat him"