The state journal., 1884-02-23

woods move to appoint a com.
mittee to bury the independent dead
Tomorrow was his remark.
Jones tried to break this witness
down, with no success. He heard
distinctly what was said. When the
news Of Matthew's death had spread
abroad one of the armed men said,
SWELL we will never have to hold
another election. We will just meet
and choose our men"
Then George Hamilton, the Demo.
cratic Clerk Of the Election, tod how
Matthews was murdered while voting.
"There were only six Of us in the
room, five Democrats and Matthews.
Matthews said he wanted to vote and
get away. When the polls were open
Matthews was The first voter wheeler
was The only man in the room who
had q gun. When Matthews voted
Wheeler stood about Is feet off, lev
eied his gun, and fired two charges
into Matthews breast. He fell dead.
When the smoke lifted Wheeler was
loading his gun. His son-in-law, who
had been oatside the door with gun,
then came in. They picked up
pistol on the floor near Matthews and
saw it was his. | am sure that he
bad 10 sign Of having one when shot.
Wheeler stood around and talked
few minutes aud sid he would 90
and give himself up to the Sheriff.
lie was not arrested. There was no
other Republican challenges that day
and hardly any Republican votes cast"
Hamilton was little uneasy while
on the stand, but evidently told the
truth. lie did not heal Wheeler say
that he was ac'ing under orders in
shooting Matthews, but the warning
Of the previous day telling him that
he would be killed if he voted, and
then his murder by Wheeler, q per-
sonal friend, just as soon as he voted,
with the Endorsement Of the act by
the Democrats mass-meeting, leave
no doubt of that fact.
The cousin and brother Of Matthews
testified to the frauds which have
been employed in Mississippi since
the Democrats came into power.
Last fall the Independents were
showing great strength, and would
have won with a fair count. Terri
fed by this the Democrats resorted
to violence and fraud. Matthews
brother counted the votes at his poll
ing place until noon when he heard
Of the murder. At that time an in
dependent ticket had been voted.
The returns were made up to show
"a. 1t was so all over the county.
Messrs. Salisbury aud Jonas tried to
show that the time had been taken
up in fghts. The cousin testified
that he had once drawn a knife or
man who had cursed him in public
without cause.
"That was violation of the law"
Mr.. Salisbury interrupted.
"That's the way we have to do
down here" said Matthews. But
wouldn't you do the same?"
81 am a man of peace" meekly
replied the Delaware Senator.
Matthews went to Sexton, who sat
opposite advising Mr.. Salisbury,
after his brothers murder, asking him
if it was possible for Republican to
live in Mississippi without being shot.
Sexton said he would like to help
him but feared that he could not do
much. He told Matthews that he had
received letters from Senator Lamar
and Representative Barksdale urging
him to call mass meeting in Hazel
hurst to disavow the Matthews muir
der and withdraw the resolutions OF
Endorsement passed by the Democratic
meeting the day after, but he found
the mob would not allow it. They
had no intention of allowing the
leaders who had investigated the out
RACES to rid this party of the respon
sibility. They had done them for the
party and would not surrender its
support. Since Matthews death all
bis brother tenants but one have been
driven from his cotton plantation of
700 acres. For some of them he has
bought tickets to Kansas, and some
will stay about hoping the Democrats
will let them return to him. His
fathers gin mill has been burned. The
facts have been given to the Grand
Jury and totally ignored.
III would leave the country In
week" said Matthews to your cores
pondent, ''but all / own is in land,
and that has deprecated so per cent
The negroes do not dare to buy it,