National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-19
MISSISSIPPI OUTRAGES.
Continuation Of the Testimony Of the Victims
Of Copiah County Rufianism.
Inofensive Republican Negroes Shot
Down and BrutnIly whipped.

DAVlu Bell tCOlOrcu) tc5Ulucu Jnat ne was
chairman of tho republican executive COM
mittee Of Copiah county; ho saw armed mon
riding about; tho night before election his
house was visited by party Of about twenty
f We men; did not know their politics they
called him up, forced open tho door. and
took him out and had talk
they took the election tickets
he had for distribution away
from him and destroyed them; they were
IN liked tickets--republican and indepond-
euts-and the name of Miller, tho democratic
candidate, was on them Finally tho men
turned him loose, and one Of them struck him
on the shoulder with gun; tho blow knocked
him down. After this, for about two weeks,
he slept out of his house; the reason was
that he had business outside lie
learned from his wife that the house
was visited after election. The wit
ness was now assistant sergeant alarms
of the Mississippi senate. He was given the
position, he thought, through the influence
of X. N, Miller, whose name was on his ticket
Witness declined to give the names Of the
men who took the tickets away from him.
He supposed them to be a lot Of drinking
fellows. He denied having offered to testify
for the democrats Witness voted the iude-
pendent republican ticket election day, as
did most of the Colored men in his neigbbOr-
hood. They were not intimidated
Mrs. Wallace, colored, widow Of Thomas
Wallace, testified. Friday night, before
election, about'1 o'clock, a party of armed
men came to her house, knocked at the door,
and asked who lived there, Her husband
replied, "Thomas Wallace" They said they
had a writ for his arrest Aman outside said
he was West Dunbar, sheriff Of Osyky
Finally the crowd pushed the door open,
came in, and went through the house. They
attempted to throw rope over her hus-
bands neck, when he threw up
his hands, asking what they meant to
do. One man then shot him in tho neck.
Several shots were fired, one ball striking
her in the arm and, passing into her hus-
bands neck killed him. The men then
went away. She did not know VINO they
were. She has nino children, two small ones.
After her husband was killed she went to the
woods and remained there until after the
election. Sometimes she slept at her sisters,
She was afraid to 60 home. The men left a
strap behind them, which looked like piece
of belt, with handle.
John Wallace (colored) republican testified,
substantially confirming the testimony of his
mother regarding the killing Of his father,
Thomas Wallace. When the men knocked at
of Brookhaven. Witness thought he was
after him because he had had several fights
at Brookhaven. Ho ran out the back
way to escape. lie heard five shots
fired, when he went back into the
house and found his father dead.
He thon ran close up to the men, but could
not tell who they were. Witness remained
at home because he wasn't afraid. He voted
the independent ticket at the last election.
In answer to q question by Senator Jonas,
witness said that at the time his father was
killed he was SO frightened that he couldn't
recollect anything about the time. He didn't
know how long it was before election.
Tim Wallace, colored, testified corroborat-
ing the testimony of his mother regarding
the killing of his father. He saw armed
bands of men and heard them shooting. He
remained in the woods about two weoks;
voted at Centennial on election day, but did
not see any guns on that day. = 'ol
Hardy Fortner, colored, testified that he
lives on Ras Matthews's place, in Copiah
county. He was the first one the bull
dozers came after. Two weeks before
election crowd came to his house
at about 10 o'clock at night
said he had q writ for him for stealing a
mule. The witness continued "rhey came
in and cursed me, and said they had come
for me. They made me cross my hands and
follow them. Henry Pollard and Robert
West (colored) were at my house. crowd
of armed men-some of them masked and
some Of them painted-then took me out in
the woods and made Pollard aud West
follow. When they got to where a large
crowd was they pulled down my breaches
and stretched me out on the ground. They
made Pollard sit on my head and West on my
feet and commenced lashing mo. The pair
was SO great that Pollard aud West could moi
hold me still. Then the mob would lash
them until they held me steady. There
were sixteen men in the crowd, thirteen
of whom took n hand in whipping me
They kept it up until my body had no feel
ing in 1t, and | ceased hallooing, After this
Joe Reese struck me forty or fifty lcks with
strap. My back was nothing but one
bruised mass The men ceased and threat
ened to shoot my brains out. l told them
| was going to vote the democratic vote and
they said that If i was within 100 mile
of there next day they would kill me
They said the same thing to Pollard ant
West, l then left my home and remained In
the woods for about four weeks. My cow
were destroyed and four bales of my cotton
Matthews sent hands who assisted in gather
ing the balance Of the crop. voted st Cen
| tennial on election day. The negroes all slep
| in the woods for some time after election
as the mob continued its visits"
To Mr.. Salisbury witness said he had suet
a man named Thompson, of Claiborne county
and had beaten him in the suit and though
that this was the reason he was whipped b!
the mob.
Henry Pollard and Robert West testified
corroborating the testimony Of Fortner.
Isam Gilmore, Jack Thompson, and G. i
Oliver (colored) all testified substantially a
the previous witnesses concerning the reigl
of terror in COpiah county before and shortl,
after the November election,
T. w. Bondurant (white), republican, tes
titled concerning the reign of terror prevail
ing in COpiah county preceding the late eleC
tion. 1t was caused by an armed mob ridin
over the county, committing outrages a
detailed by other witnesses. Bondurant wa
at Ros Matthews's, tifteenImiles from Hazlt
hurst, when the mob came there and fire
through the door with pistols and guns an
shot OIL cannon. Orman and Matthews wer
with him in the store. The mob ahoute
some one had better get away from ther
They cursed them all the time they weI
around the store, and some of them sait
Let's string them up"
Witness frequently met these armed meI
but they did not molest him. He relate
Incidents attending meeting at Hazlehurs
Part of the mob was there. Barkesdale sal
he was glad to see by the faces of tho me
riding about town that they were determine
to carry the election, regardless of the issu
Barkesdale advised them to hang f. NJ. Blu
kin so high that birds of prey could not bur
their beaks in his body.
Mead, who presided, said he wanted twent
mounted armed men in readiness for an
point, Witness voted at Centennial. Z
election day he gathered up negroes on Il
road took them to the polls, and encourage
them to vote. Witness saw armed men abol
Specer's mill, where he went TO look after II
dependent voters. He saw Marion Hogdon,wl