National Republican., 1884-02-27

that the several statements made therein
were untrue.
Pink Beecham, member Of the grand jury,
testified substantially as has another member
of that bodys regarding tho efforts made to
ascertain the guilty parties in the wallace
and FOrtier cases.
l.. F. Chiles testified impeaching the char.
aCter of Burnett.
A. G.. Lewis testified impcaching the char.
aCter Of Matthews, who admitted to witness
that he had manipulated the board of super.
vision of Copiah county and made money by
SO doing.
Dr. O. IT. Spence testified to the peaceable
character of the election at the Green's store
precinct. lie believed, however, that the
independents stuffed the ballot box.
W. &. Wilkinson testified that the election
at Crystal Springs was peaceable and quiet,
and that the statement made that the an
nouncemcnt Of Print Matthewss death was
applsudcd was untrue. Witness regarded it
as q great misfortune. lie opposed all man
ner of violence and fraud in elections.
G. Prco testified concerning Matthews's
controlling influence with the supervisors, of
which witness was a member
J. L. Nelson testified to tho corru ption Of
the members Of tho board of supervisors.
T.. W. Brown clerk of the circuit court,
testified impeaching Burnetts interview, in
that he had tho most law practice in tho
county, the record showing but ten cases to
his credit, and those mostly unimportant.
lie considered Matthews a violent man, and
thinks he always went armed.
A recess was taken.
Daniel Woods testified, contradicting the
statement of Noel Ramsey that Woods told
him before election that Matthews would be
killed.
j. l.. Meade, chairman of the democratic
committee at tho last election, testified he
did not encourage fraud or violence. He
related incidents occurring before and after
the election, substantially as testified to by
other democrats. The witness attributed the
excitement preceding the election TO the fears
of tho people that the Matthews crowd would
get possession OF tho county government,
resulting in the ruin of the people. Witness
considered some candidates on the independ-
Cnt ticket personally good men, but under
the influence of Matthews. which they were,
they were all bad. He thought the resolu-
! tion advising Matthews not to vote i'll ad-
vsed. lie presided at the meeting, and ap-
proved Of the resolutions adopted after
| Matthew's DEATH
X. II. Thompson, attorney, and w. H.
| Gowan, commissioner of elections of Copiah
county. both testified TO Matthew's violence
| in political matters.
+. !. Hargrove. sheriff of Copiah county,
testified fsvorably concerning the peaceable,
law abiding character of the white people Of
the county, He believed he had done his
entlre uuVy unuer tne law III arreBtlnR men
| charged with disturbing the peace in beat
three aud releasing them on their own re-
cognizance He believed that he would have
been elected sheriff without any bulldozing
James Sexton, Of the counsel for Copiah
county before the committee, testified con-
corning the occurrences preceding the cleo
tion from his knowledge as attorney in one
case and from information obtained from
attorneys and others as to the other two
cases. Witness is satsfed-in fact feels
sure-thst the killing of Wallace, whipping
of Fortier, and the burning of Crump's house
were in no way connected with politics, and
does not believe the armed men who came
into Hazlehurst had anything to do with
these or other outrages He considers the
resolutions against Matthews's family the
result Of great excitement; that large
majority of the white people do not indorse
them. Witness is opposed to frauds or any
character of intimidation being used to carry
elections