Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-20

W abSeaupb an escape.
FLEMoN LED IN PRAYER.
1t was deterned to defend themselves, and
after looking to their guns. the eolored mer
held a prayer meeting. over which Flemon pre-
sided. Dawn was just breaking, when thu
whites opened fire, and the colored men re
sponded. A lively fusilade followed, in thu
course of which Flemon was shot through III,
arm, causing q compound fracture Of thu
bone.
The whites hurriedly decamped after a rak
ing volley fired by the colored men. and it wal
afterward learned that James Blackwell, :
white lad aged is. and not at that time or AMI
other a deputy sheriff, had been mortally
wounded and died the same day while being
hurried back to his home. He was, therefore
not an officer of the law and did not die in the
discharge of his official duty as has beer
claimed. Several colored men of the party
were killed ana wounded. But wish to EN-.
phasize the fact that toere was not a legally
authorized deputy sheriff in the white party.
BERT sTRoM's IDENTITY.
"sFeannot help expressing my indignation, Mr.,
Dalzell, at the way in which Governor Richard
son has chosen to add insult to injury in this
matter, so far as our race is concerned South
Carolina has armed with her commission and
sent to Pittsburg as q nIted Stated Marshal.
Bert strom. one of the leaders in that infamous
midnight shooting party. have no doubt that
Strom was glad to meet Flemon. The sequel
TO this page of Southern election historyis fully
as dark as the story have told Two colored
men of the party fired upon were lynched with
out the semblance of a trial the following
night Two more were tried for the murder of
Blackwell and hung. Two more were tried and
convicted. but secured q new trial and were
acquitted. But they
swoRE FLEMoN's LIFE AWAY,
maintaining stoutly that he fred the fatal shot
that ended Blackwelrs life. But as matter
of fact, in was in the half light of early dawn;
and Of the number of shots fired, it would be
hard for an unbiased jury to say who really did
fire the fatal shot He may have been acces-
sory, but even that is doubtful He, Of course.
was out of the way. or he would not now be
alive to appeal to the Government that you,
Mr.. DalzelL, represent. John Yeldelrs life
county to-day on account of the false tes-
timony given by two poor fellows who
had their own lives to save,
the white people, with whom Blackwell was
very popular believe in my soul that FIemon
will be lynched if he is taken back to Edgefield
Life.
CONGRESSMAN DALzELL'S REPLY.
Mr.. McKepna remarked that he thought
that the political excitement at the time OF
the alleged murder justified, in fact made
eminently proper, the presentation of the
facts in the case to President Harrison and
Attorney General W. II. H. Miller, in order
that the protection OF the National Govern
meDt could be afforded to the prisoner
Mr.. DalzelPs response was as fol-
lows: The very remarkable turn
affairs have taken interests me extra
ordinarily, both as an individual and
as a United States Representative. If
counsel will enbody a statement of the
facts detailed by Rev. Mr.. McMullen,
showing the political complexion OF the
crime and the circumstances, 1 will person
ally and at once lay the same before the
Attorney General and the Senators from
Pennsylvania, and request that the powers
of the Federal Government, so far as legal,
be invoked to see that if the prisoner is
returned to South Carolina, he he given as
fair trial as ii he were a white man."
Rev. Mr.. Holiday said: "The trouble is
not with the lawyers or judges; but it is the
sentiment of hostility against the colored
man.
OFF FOR WASHINGTON.
Congressman DalzeI asked Messrs. Nc
Kenna and Marshall if the statement could
be prepared Immediately and placed in his
hands, and received an affirmative reply.
"Then," said Mr.. DalzeIl, 81 will leave
for Washington tomorrow (this) morning"
This prompt action iii the case vastly
pleased the committee, which left thanking
the Congressman volubly. At late hour
last evening the papers in the case were de-
livered by messenger at the residence of
Mr.. Dalzell to that gentleman, and he reit-
Grated his intention of taking the early
train for Washington this morning and los
ing no time In obtaining favorable consider
alton for the case from President Harrison
and his erstwhile law-partner, now head of |
the Department of Justice. Strong recon- |
mendations as to Flemon's private charae- |
ter, including testimonials from former In |
quirers and lengthy telegram from Will |
berforce University, Oberlin, O., where |
Flemon studied for the ministry, will be |
also taken by Congressman Dalzell. to
strengthen the case.
CHANGE OF LEGAL BASE.
Messrs. McKenna and Marshall, counsel
for Flemon, were stin hoping to secure an
allocatur from some member of the Supreme |
Bench in time to prevent Flemon's delivery |
to the South Carolina Hawkshaws. The /
agitation of Thursday night and yesterday
eliminated in the eolored ministers deposit i
ing funds with the counsel in order to secure
the allocatur, or order to review, by the Su-
preme Court. Mr.. McKenna stated last
night that that body has original iurisdic-
tlon OF the habeas corpus, and. failing all \
else, an effort will be made to have Flemon
taken tosPhiladelphia in order to secure a
such case both attorneys would immediate
ly proceed to Philadelphia and argue the
matter. Further development are expected
at the hearing to-day. At all events. the |
effort to reach several OF the individual JUS
tices has failed.
CHARGES AGAINST CITY POLICE.
At the meeting of eolored citizens last
night, considerable excitement
was caused by resolution offered, the sense
Of which was that committee of thee be |
appointed to wait upon Chief Brown and |
ask him to explain the charges that the
South Carolina deputies had telegraphed TO
fittsburg authorities an offer of S1O0 for
FIemon's arrest and detention, to be paid if
the Southerners succeeded in identifying
him; that upon the arrival of the deputies
hey haggled over the matter and offered
S5o; that the Pittsburg officials said coolIv.
No 500, no Identification" that the money
was hnally paid, and the resolution wanted
o know of Chief Brown whether such ac-
ION was what colOred citizens paid their
axes for. The committee was appointed.
according to reliable information.
HE DENIES IT ALL.
Inspector McAleese was seen last NIGHT
md asked If the above story, or any portion /
hereof, was true. He denied it in toto.
lie said:
In the hrst place, the police authorities have |
ot Iecelvea . cents, or any other sum- for max
ng the arrest We have heard many stories
bout rewards One of them was that Young
'lackwelis mother was very wealthy and had
nered nig reward for Flemon's capture
'ut as % these Deputies means, one of them !
old me that Governor Richardson was his per
onai friend and advanced MIN the money to |
lake 5ne TRIP upon. Betn of them are living
agalig and heard that they hadn't a cent |
10. SIR. We did our dirty in making that arrest
no no more nor less We had him under sus- |
lclon Tor over week and did not arrest him
naLly until CoutsoTI and had talked nearly
nour with MN. While we were shadowing |
I'm We receivred three or four tele-
rams from the Deputies but did !
OF answer nem did we telegraph
Is captnne unit the next day after r was
1ected. We dave heard of no committee and
le charges u at the police denartment has ra. |