The Portland daily press., 1890-04-08
POLITICS, WHITE CAPS AND MURDER.
Republicans Carried a Southern
Town and Trouble Followed.
White Cap Prosecutions and strife
Between Black and White.
Causes Which Explain the Recent
Shooting at irondaIe, Ala.

NEW YORK, April 7.-Referring to the
fatal shooting of Marshal England and the
killing of three negroes whom the marshal
was attempting to arrest at Irond ale, Ala.
yesterday, Tribune special says
The killing was not political. but the causes
which led up to 1t were, and it will have the
effect of creating further trouble in Irondale.
The town, which is one of about 1000 people,
is six miles from this city, and has always
been strongly Democratic. AT the last mu-
nicipal election the Republicans carried it,
w. Taunton, Democrat, by majority Of
seven. The election was most exciting
one, and strong animoSitieS were engendered
The Democrats claimed that large number
of negroes voted illegally and took the case
into the courts, where the election was sus-
ent city government Of own, and took an
appeal in the contest case to the Supreme
Court. j. G. Weidman, the father Of the
successful candidate for mayor is the post
master at lrondale, and j. N. Carpenter, a
Republican lawyer. was the attorney for
Weidman In the election case. A few days
ago Carpenter received brief note, saving:
Slr,-Your presence is obnoxious to good citi-
zens: You are hereby warned to leave town
"s signeS Ss Gays or abide the G.ps
The mayor-elect and his father, the post
master, also received notes warning them to
keep quiet. A boycott was begun on the
post office, and ALI letters were mailed on
trains, while the citizens had their mail sent
to this city.
The Weidmans kept a general store, and
this was also boycotted, even their custom
ers refusing to deal with them, being intimi-
dated by threats. The town yesterday af-
ternoon was In a state of excitement. The
threatened Republicans were armed and pre-
pared for trouble at any moment. The lead
ing Democratic citizens denied all RESPONSE
Dlllty Tor the warning letters, and explained
the boycott by saying that their letters were
opened In the post office, and that they had
their mail sent to this city for safety. This
charge the postmaster denied, claiming that
It was only part of the scheme to drive
him out of town.
:. The negroes regarded the result of the cleo
tlon and the decision of the Circuit Court,
sustaining it as victory for their race, and
the worst OF them became somewhat bolster
ous. This intensified the already strained
relations OF the two political parties. There
has been considerable stealing of late, espec-
lally OF iron belonging to the railroad COM
pany, and it was for this that the warrants
were issued for the three negroes who were
killed. The negroes, it is alleged, had taken
an active part in the political fight, and were
selected on this account as scapegoats,
though innocent of the stealing. On the
other hand, 1t is claimed that they were the
guilty ones, and that there was ample evil
dence to convict them. However this may
be, the little town is stirred up. The me-
groes are determined to uphold what they
believe to be their rights, while the whites
are lncensed at the negroes on account of the
shooting OF the marshal. The negroes were
lett where they lay when shot, and were
taken charge Of by others Of their race.