The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-23
SOUTHERN oUTRA1Es.
Detailed Report of Thursdays In
vestigations by the Congress
ional Committees.
White Democrats in Mississippi who Fav-
0red Mob Ruie Mt Elections Other
Damaging Testimony.

ing committee today was from white democrats.
Robinson, decent-appeari of middle age, said
he was The coroner when Mathews was murdered.
He held no inquest. He thought it was not neces-
sary. "How did you know who killed MatLews?'
inquired Mr. Hoar.
"Oh' blandly replied the coroner, 'T asked
Wheeler, and he told me there was no use of sum-
moning a jury. He killed Mathews" Dodds and
Harris. democratic lawyers, said there was need
of an inquiry.
Don't you generally have homicides committed
to jail?" was the next question.
swell, yes; but there wss no concealment
Wheeler adm tied he had done 1t, and had given
bonds before found hi,n."
swell, now" inquired Mr.. Hosr, "what is the
general character of the democracy OF the coun-
typ"
The witness had his answer ready. "Quiet and
peaeeab'e.''
''Do you include among them the mob who rode
about killing men?"
Eyes, some Of them were as good men as there
are in the State. Don't know as l could name any
one who is not good man Some of them belong
to tile church, On being pres ed he admitted that
Wheeler the murderer, was a little rash but very
good man, "~ ere they fair ave age democratsY"
Mr. Hoar inte jected.
.'Yes, was the reply "but some of them were not
exactly nice moral men,"
elhnrst, discreei In not remeh bertDg very
much He heard Congressman Barksdale's speech
to the moi both hen in the pIoce sion and in The
Court House There nothing IN either one 10
create an excitement. He thought they were rather
inclined TO be humorous. Barksdale made no ref
creme to shotguns, but told the mob that be knew
they would do their duty; this when it
der arms and on horseback. Might have said he
hai heard of the lil ing and whipping of negroes,
but did not remember about rep prling them in his
paper. He d say, editorially, that if the negroes
did intend to vote ths denocrasic ticket, they
had better ay away from the pols as election uay
would be hOl one.
"You know about this mob?' asked Mr.. Hoar.
II rall it procession" the editor answered
"Well cali IL procession then; did you think 1t
was after Mathews?"
1.Oh, no,' was the reply; sit was made up from
the most peaceable, law-abidiug and repu1 able
ed that Mead, chairman Of the democratic commit
tee, and lis co-edii went out 10 induce the mob
not to murder Mathews, AS Mead feared they meant
to do it before they voted
"Do you not COZ slider it fagrant outrage for q
mob to threaten ci izen with death If he votes?"
scornfully inquired Mr.. Hoar.
Well, c0olly replied the Mississippi editor, II
have not made up my mind as TO that; however,
did not app owe OF the killing OF Mathews. ex-
pressed opinion about it in my papes, nor In pr
Vste, did not den0unce it eiitOrially, for Meal
was chaif man or the committee which passed the
commendatory res llution.
Perhaps the most in ere ting parsonage today was
a welI-to-do and lnteligen merchant of Hazslhurst
named BirdsOng. He SCENE to consider mOb-rule
at eecti IN perfectly justihable aud even pardona-
u
'Now ell me, SIR Mr. Hoar inquired, whether
the Democrats in Copiah consider 1t great cslam-
iLy TO psrpetrate these outrages or 70 allow indie
pendents to gait sse sion of the offcas?'
1t was a strange answer. II think We pre-
fer the outrages desperate diseases require desper
pate remedies Now that Mathews is not in the
way we shall do very well. our people prefer to
bulldoze, rather than TO have officers elecled who
would bankrupt ths county. I don't ses way We
shoull not do 1t. well as you in New York and
Pennsylvania. know that You do it +"
"You have doubtless heard al SORTS of reports
about malsdmiuistration by the Republicans at
Washington" said Mr. Ho T, "Do you approve OF
getting possession OF the government by fOrce?"
Tue witness iutim tted that he did, confes ed that
his son was in the mob, and that h. was on Wheel
er's bond All he could say was that he people of
Copiah were real nice FOLKS and for himself hs
had never ai Charged them for vo.iDg the Republi-
can ticket,
Well We are not down here investigating how
you treat your operatives" suggested MIR. Cam
eron.
But the witness insisted on adding that he be-
leved tina the Democrats are ihs M best peseis AZ
the South and the worst in the North; whereat
MIR. Salisbury winked ard Oliver went his way.
1 he county clerk, hustling funct ona y, was put
to prove that Mathews de- iaulted when be was
sheriff. The exact figures, he said, were S t2o7
He was forced 10 admit that the county owed Ma
thews $500 and when the court ordered that laid
Mathews settled his indebtedness He was then
asked what he thought of the mob rule. "Oh. yes;
know of the mob and its proceedings; 1t Was made
up of some of he most worthy citizens. he demo-
G. ats Of Copish the patient and conserva-
tive democrats | have ever seen in Mississippi or
Have YOU ever seen any others?' queried Mt.
Hoar aed the witness said he had seen them IN Cal
ifornia and Massachusetts. "DO you consider the
murderer Wheee patient and eonservative?"
"Perhaps not patient, but worthy man." he an
sTered. II voted to make him city marshal after
he xii ed Mathews"
1t has been source of wonder to the committee
why he grand jury took rs notice of any Of these
crimes. The foreman. Earne. explained He said
they could get evidence to the killing OF Wal
lis. nor az to the shooting Of Bernett.
Did you call Wallis Wife. who saw her husband
one of the mob, shoot him"' he was asked.
NO. he answered; 'but made every effort to
get at he facts and no true bill WAS found"
Have you any doubt that these crimes were COM
mi ted and did you summon any Of the mob before
you?'
To both he answered "No."
Butfin. q republican supervisor, testified that he
was often threatened. and for three or four weeks
ior to the election did not dare to remain at home
the latter psrt of next week. The democrats will
call 30 witnesses. Wheeler, the murderer, was here
TO-DAY. He wants TO be summoned rs one of the
mocrstic witnesses.
teeiited that 45 yea' ago effort WAS made to run
Priut Mathews father out of Copiah county, on a
charge of harboring horse thief. Witness cnnsid-
cred j. p. Mathews ono of the worst enemies to
tue people in ihe county He stirred up the strife
between the white and eolored people. Witeess
knew a number Of the armed mob He considered
them good law-siiding citizens. opposed to acts Of
Sio ence such were alleged to have been commit
ted. Other witnesses testified in confederation oi
previous witnesses.
The Danviile Massacre.
WASHINGTON, Feb 2l.-The first witness in the
Danville investigation today j. d. Blsekwell
whi,e, AS years of age. an attorney at law by pro
fession and judge of the corporation court Of
the town of Danville. He witnessed the entire riot
from window opposite The position of the hites
and described it logically and clearly. He was
called to the window of the room by cries OF mur.
der. and saw white man beating negro over the
head with stick. The negro was crying "Mur'
der'' at the top of his voice; this word murder
was the only articulate word he heard from begin
Mug TO end of the riot he two other white mer
with drawn pistols standing by the combatsnts;
powerful negro crossed the street and attempted
take Leafs pistol frcm him; the two fell, and the
negro, for some reason, imm diatey jumped up ant
ran; Lea arose, took celebrate sim al the negro
and fred, but did not hit him; whites and coaorea
collected rom all quarters, the negroes in the
street, the whites on the sidewalk several whites
were gesticulatit exc tedy and aneriy toward hi
three four of the negroes were gestcu sting a,
excitedlY in return; two or three of the whitet
we're hen seen in close consultation, and shortly
| Afterwards the whites formed in an orderly line
Que end being curved slightly, owing 10 obstruc
tobs and to the shape OF the crowd of negroes ps
tolls were drawn and eveled; the negroes turned t
run; psssib all had not thus turned whei the vol
ley nred; the discharge was like that OF
drilled body of men. Witness had never heard
| more orderly ulSehdrge IN Dattie, tns Succ6cun
| discharges were like those fired sat will" tn
next firIng witness was by Capt. Graves, VIII
| stood ON neighloring street corner and, turning
about. discharged his pistol three times in ditferen
| directions. Witness could not, in either case, So
the object aimed tt the firing and the closing
4 feature OF the disturbance was by man name
/ Bluut; he ran into the street, swinging his han'
/ and shouting, and finally discharged his pistol Il
tire air. turning about two or three times; hs acted
/ like man beside himself With excitement.
| Under cross-exsm nation by Senator Vance, wit
| ness said that he had personal acquaintace wit
/ Noel or Lawson; he repeated explicitly that th
| white man he saw beating negro was doing 8
with a stick this notwithstanding the fact thai al
| preceding Witnesses had sworn that Noel had II,
stick. Witness said he was sure of it, and that o.
reading the evidence to the contrary he ha
reached the conclusion that he did not see Noel an,
| Lawson on that day at all, but other pair q
| combatants. Witness was surprised when I'll
| smoke cleared away to see that no execution ha
| been done by the firing; the whites had aimea de
liberately at the crowd of negroes with a uupose
| g. far as witness could Judge, to do execution.
Senator She man handed to witness a copy O
| the Danvile circular and asked if its STATE ment
| were true. Witness replied that some of ther
were, but in his opinion the great maj 0ri of theI
were false; The negroes were in a large majority il
| every ward Of Danville; there had never been
ill every posi- ion in tue council; a. a matte
of fact the whites had always had majority in th
| council and the power to remedy the evil
complained of In the circular; it vas in the pows
of any man who signed the circular to learn ths
certain OF its statements false; witness did no
accuse all The sguers of Intentional fasehoc d; me-
became so blinded by passion as to be unable I
judge impartially; witness was native Virgnial
and served tor tonr years In the Confederate arm,
If