New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-05
ELECTION OUTRAGES IN TEXAS.
REPORT OF a SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE
WAGUISGTON COUNTY NTrRDFRa

Washington. Feb. 4-Scnator Evarts. from the Com
m!tec on Privileges and Elections. made a report to-
day Of the results OF tho investigation into the alleged
election outragss in Washington County, Texas. Tho
Investigation wa had in pursuance Of resolutions Of
the senate Of January, 1887 and February, 1888
which recItcd the charges by stephen A. Hackworth
and others thai they had been driven from their
aomcs In Washington County. Texas, and that Alfred
Zones. shadlach Fielder and Stewart Jones had been
killed as the result Of determination by the Km Klux
to deprive the majority OF the voters of the county,
Republican in politics from control of its affairs
It further alleged that to carry out this reprcsslvc
policy the ballot boxes az several precincts In Wash
mgton County, Texas. destroyed after the cleo
ton OF November . 1886.
The FIST conclusion the committee reaches is
that the avermcnts Of the petitioners to their being
compelled to fee from hcr homes sustained by tho
evidence. As 10 the suppression OF the vote at the
Chapel lll Districts the committee thinks It Is charge
able 10 the leaders Of the opposition Ticket and I'm that
interest with the motive to discourage and suppress the
Republican vote there, and the colored Republican
being unwilling to expose themselves to the fate
which was visited upon the cOored judges of election
Al Chapel IIi!l in 1Ss4. At the Flcwelyn poles.
Devices Bolton, who headed raidng party that
ne.e the polling precinct in disguise for the purpose
u destroying the ballot box, shot and billed The
report SAYS: The dead man was left alone all night.
Toward morning. the presiding judge nobnsoa'I per
sieded aged coOred man, Alfred Jones, 10 go WIN
him to the scene of the homicide This man had no
knowledge Of tie bloody until informed OF
by Robinson but their visit to the dead body cost him
his life This visit made him witness of the disguise
and the numerous weapon OF Bolton. When after
ward an attempt was to be made TO make out Bolton
an unarmed and undisguiscd and innocent and peaceful
visitor to the polling place and slain by unprovoked
violence Of the coloicd men, Alfred Jones was ar
rested, put in jail and hanged on no conceivable III
ccntivc but TO make away with his testimony
As to tie murder Of the two JOneses and Fielder By
mob who took them out of jail at Brennan, and hanged
them the committee says, after reviewing the testl-
mony: "Thc sacrifice of these worthy ana
Momclcss IVcs was demanded for the
suppression Of their evidence, which would
have demonstrated the death OF Bolton as
bofallng him in the act Of preconcerted attack upon
the ballot tox at Flewcyn to defeat the election Of
tho Republican ticket. The evidence before the com
mittas showed that no attempts were made by rho
authorities Of the county Of Washington or Of the state
OF Texas to bring to Indictment trial or punishment
any OF the actors I'm the several raids the ballot
boxes OF tho election of 1856"
The COMM, tee recommends the careful revision OF
the existing laws regulating elections OF members OF
Congrc-, ard an examination of the legislation per
nen to tie suA ects which has been proposed In
Congress, with the view OF pTOVidng for more conf
et protecion of the exercise OF the elective franchise
bv act ~ Congress and efficient provisions for
the punishment Of offences against H. me testimony
I'm full tahcn by the subcommittee MeSSfS Evarts,
spooner aad Eusi!s-was ordered TO be printed.