The Brookhaven leader., 1884-02-28

was a difficulty IN working In the vault; after
that a negro who was fixing It was warned
away.
GFoaGE BANKsToS.
Am q native OF Mississippi and resident OF
Hazehurst. Was Independent inspector OF elec-
tion at Hazlehurst. Was at the polling nootn n
election day. There were q number OF perkons
present. Matthews said he reckoned ne nad .
right to remain there. Hewas challenger. he
went 70 vote; was folding his ticket i was look
gun; saw Wheeler with gun In his hand; saw
atthews staggering. l tried 70 catch him, but
he fell before could reach him. There were no
previous indications OF trouble round the poll
that day. One load entered Matthews Just below
the throat and sbJut three Inches pc
low, the other load tore mole In rs oody
twenty-four buckshot were extracted from ms
body. There we're either two sh OTIS fred or else
the load pretty evenly divided itself before strlk
ing him. Don't know what became OF wheeler
after he killed Matthews. 1 went ~ let MAJ
thews' brother know he had been killed. have
heard rumors but do not propose to TESTIFY 10 fu-
mors.
pocket; suppose II fell out he fell on his left
side, one arm under him and the other across MS
body; saw no pistol III he fell.
Mr.. R. coxwELL.
Was Democratic Inspector on election day.
Everyb ody was requested to get out OF the poll
ing booth; MIR. Matthews said he and Wheeler
his ticket and put 1t into the box; while the CLERK
was writing his name there WAS gun nred. Saw
Wheeler standing near q side door; had gun 10
his hand; he walked out; saw him doing some
thing with his gun; could not say he was unload
ing u. saw Wheeler and Matthews talking TO-
gether during the morning. After Matthews rel
saw q weapon lying near his body; di-csVeTeu
the pistol; Matthews was near me when he Tell
Mr.. Maginnis picked up the pistol.
To Senator Jonas--There were MOI In I'M
room only those aving Il right there. After th'
| polls were announced open Mr.. Matthews vas tht
| first to present his ticket. | did not see Mr.
| Matthews fall. When heard the gun NE look
| ed suddenly and saw Wheeler with gun IN his
hand; sew Matthews lying on the noer; Their
was pistol lying beside him near hi' hip pocket
| After this the people began to crowd In. ha'
| no idea there was going TO he trouble; saw n6
! Indications of any trouble urewing Hear,
! Frank Guinness cay that he was in Mr.. Matthews
store and heard Print Natives say he had PTS
| that the negroes of Copiah county were arming
| Ii was the general rumor in Hazehuist that th'
| negroes were armed; such rumors were preualen
on election day. voted the Democratic tlcEe,
The general standard OF the Democratic parry o
| Copiah county Is for peace. order and quiet Tn
killing of Matthews Is strongly disapproved by
majority Of the voters of Coplah county. Hear
| Of Matthews using In his speeches very hard Ian
| Kuage In regard to the Democrats.
To Senator Hoar-saw gun in the room ate
Matthews was killed Heard the cOlored peopl
ha gone armed to the polling place At Brown
store.
DIR. A. b. PITTS.
Had. together with Wheeler, q Times Demo
Graf, and read IN it the killing OF Matthew
During .the conversation with heller he TOT
me about the shooting Ut the polls He did M
say he shot Matthews. He told me he and Ma
thews had always been friends. was surgeo
for Mr. Burnett. Wheeler told me- he was ob!ige
to kill Matthews because II fell 10 him by lot
shoot Matthew's II he voted.
| 10 Senator Jonas-Was N HaZlehurst on n
day Of election. Heard rumors that armed NJ
groes were ~ Browns store.
WIN. P. WARE.
Iresids in Hazlehurst; am Democrat; not q
active worker; never held any once. Did NJ
work for the party at last elections; voted I'll
Democratic ticket.
know DIR. Jones; had conversation with hiI
in regard to the armed men; he came into m
store said that resolutions had been passed
kill Matthews and wanted me to d something
prevent II and notify hun; went t0 Matthew
store; saw Leon Matthews aad told him what D
Jones he'd told me. hai always been personi
friend Of Matthews.
head some Of the crowd say they intended I
carry the election At al hazards After the kill
ing of Matthews was sent for. The DemOcrati
party DID not believe in such actlons. lot {
iOughs he'd gotten control and were runnin
things on that policy. Asked Mr. Meade why tn
cannon was fred at the polls. He said II wa
fred az the signal of Matthew'S death. That
was the understanding with 4 club hat In cas-
| Matthews was killed the Cannon was to he fred
l told Print Matthews 10 leave rs that crow
would kill him; he said the 5 erH had guaran
teed him protection. The ina jorty OF the Demo
cIats were not i'll favor of anything OF that sOr
but the executive committee was not made Il
the right III al eriaI. l believe the sheriff helpe
organize the mob. He could have nipped 1t |
the bud il he had wished or tried to have don
so. There were enough Democrats, white m I'll
to have stopped II all
10 Senator Jonas-I am not prepared TO 50
| who II WAS that said Mattne vs. woutd be killed;
| would not like to answer that question; woul
not like mention any names.