The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-07-04

cause al CllekAmAuga. lie has Deen
Sheriff Of this county, aud is a large
planter. He says:
\. l was born and reared in Desha
county, being now 4S years old, and
am familiar with the political history
Of tnis seotf6li. ------N-
l knew John II. Mcdowell when be
lived here.
Politically he was on either side
where the most money was TO be OBJ
tanned.
lie was elected Justice of the Peace
in the earlier part of the seventies,
mainly by the Republican convention.
lie associated and affiliated political
ly with the negroes. His adminislra-
ton OF this office was corrupt general
ly, the office being run for the money
in ii, and Mcdowell and his constables,
according to McDowelps statement to
me and others, making $500 a year
out of the Constable's Office fees, the
Justices Office bringing in other reve-
nue. i'll addition; whereas before that
time the fees were SO small that few
persons could be found willing to hold
the office.
have known him to dismiss cases
without trial upon payment of certain
amounts in money, when, if trial had
taken place, his fees would have been
payable in deprecated State and coun-
ty script.
Mcdowell was deputy clerk under
j. N. Grayson, County, Circuit and
Probate Court Clerk about the years
lS74-76. Grayson was a negro, and
was elected by the Republicans.
Mcdowell was not respected at all
by the white people, but was regarded
as a trickster and bad man. During
his term of office he was constantly in-
terfering with and disturbing farm
labor during the busy season in the
prosecution of trivial suits, presumably
for the fees in the case.
l have frequently heard it asserted
as true that he was a member Of the
Loyal League, negro Radical organi-
zatioD for political purposes, and do
not doubt the statement in the least.
(signed) VAN II. RYAN.
Red Fork, Ark, June Is.
Capt. Burkitt iittingly comes for
ward with his whitewash brush 10
color up his fellow whitewasher in the
Macune rascality. The people OF Mis-
sissippi will not be slow or uncertain
iu disposing of the case of this worthy
political trio:
Tupelo, Miss, June 26.-The AL.
lance meeting was continued here to.
day. Mr.. Burkitt spoke first. lie
commenced by referring to the charges
contained in yesterdays Commercial
agaist Mcdowell. Without knowing
anything of the sworn testimony on
which they rest, he denounced them
as false aud slanderous and then
poured out the vials OF bis wrath on
the Commercial and devoted much oi
his time to that delightful task. lie
tried TO be very severe. He then told
the farmers how, twonty years ago, he
concluded they needed champion
some one to look after interests and
lead them, and be had undertaken IL
do it, and his efforts were about TO be
crowned by leading them to victory
He seemed to think that he and his
paper had done 1t all. lie went over
all the talk about legislation against
the interests of the farmers and seem.
ed to think that was sufficient reason
why they should have what they ask
for, whether II is good for them or not
While disclaiming all desire to arouse
the prejudices OF the country peopl,
against the town, his evident object
was 10 do that, as he began his speech
by abusing the Commercial.