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

eommunity-as honorable, upright
men. There tan no longer be any
doubt Of the character, or rather want
Of character, of the man imported into
this State to pull down Senator George
Ito elevate Major Barksdale in bis
place
Maj. Albert Wynn is one of the
foremost and most substantial citizens
of Desha county, being actively identi-
he'd with all movements to elevate
and improve that section in business
sense as well as politically He is a
native of Georgia, was educated at
Mercer University and the University
of Tennessee, and moved to Arkansas
in time to enlist in the Confederate
army, serving with distinction under
Gen. Sterling Pnce. He is now
large planter, the trusted financial
agent of Hill, Fontaine & Co., of
Memphis, aud one of the three Levee
Commissioners for Desha County. lie
is an incorporating Democrat and
a man of his word. lie says:
| have lived in Desha county, Ark,
for the last thirty-one years, aud have
been and am now engaged in planting.
| have taken considerable interest in
the political affairs of the county and
am familiar with all important occur
rences of political nature that have
taken place here for many years past.
| knew john Ii. Mcdowell from the
time that he first came here and went
to farming a few miles from Red
Fork. When he first arrived looked
upon him as Democrat and gentle
man in every way. But after he went
into politics his actions were such as
to cause my opinion to undergo a de-
cided change.
About 1873 he was elected Justice
of the Peace, the negroes supporting
him to man. He was nominated BY
the Republicans and made the race on
the Republican ticket. 1t is said that
he devoted considerable time to
organizing and electioneering among
the negroes when most other white
people were supposed to be in bed.
Certain II is that be ran with them and
acted with them.
|. G.. Bum, another white man, ran
for and was elected Constable on the
Republican ticket. He was very in
dustrious in working up trivia. cases
aud bringing them into McDowel's
court. The two Offices combined had
not previously been worth more than
about $75 year, but Mcdowell and
Bum, according to current report,
made as much as 2,000each year out
of them.
These numerous prosecutions and
the consequent disturbance of farm
laborers, who were in large numbers
summoned as witnesses, very much
annoyed the planters and they ceased
to have any respect whatever for Nc
Dowell's methods.
Mcdowell then ondeavored to change
his tactics somewhat, but the popular
feeling among the white people against
him became so strong that 1t must have
in part caused McDowel's departure
after his term as deputy under j. N.
Grayson, Circuit, County and Probate
Court Clerk, who was elected about
1874. lie was negro and was NOM
mated by the Radicals. Mcdowell
was also candidate ON this ticket, and
worked, suppose, as faithfully for its
success as did his fellow Republican
candidates.
The negroes asserted that Mcdowell
was member of the Loyal or Union
League. w. b. Peterson, another white
Republican aud the only white man
except Mcdowell that was said to be a
member of the league, Informed me
before his death that Mcdowell did
belong to the league and kept list of
members and swore in new applicants.
at one time sent a supposed reli-
able negro to join the league to find
out who were members of tho organ
ization. lie to my astonishment-fo
| did not then believe Mcdowell
capable of so low an actlon--told me
that Mcdowell was present as a men,
Der of the order.
Mcdowell, to repeat, was very un-
popular and was regarded as an out
and-out Republican and he acted In
that party in such q manner that be
caused every good man in the county,
as far as have heard them say any
thing, to express themselves in con-
demnation of himself and In general Of
all the political methods to which he
resorted.
Mcdowell on one occasion ran
against j. z. Jones, a colored Repub-
licar for clerk, and the formers stand
ing was so low that many of The white
Democrats voted for the negro as the
better man OF the two.
(Signed) A. WYNN
Red Fork, Ark, June 20.
EX-CTRCUIT JUDGE X. j. PINDALL.
Judge y. j. Piudall is one of tho
most prominent citizens as well as ono
Of the ablest lawyers in Southeast Ar
kansas. A few years ago he filled with
credit the position of Judge of the
Circuit Court In the district which in
cludes Desha county. Hc says:
have lived in Desha county, Ark,
since Jan. /, 1866. Am now prac-
ticing attorney at Arkansas City, AK.
knew John II. Mcdowell during
the time that he lived in Desha county,
and am familiar with his political repu-
tation here.
When he first came he was extreme
in bis Southern views, claiming, Of
course, TO be Democrat As he
entered politics he began to change,
and was regarded by those who knew
him as willing to adopt any politics to
secure Office.
He seemed to be popular with the
Republicans and the Democrats lost
political confidence in him.
lie was elected to the office of Justice
of the Peace by the colored voters of
the district, and if Democrats voted for
him it was on the principle of any
thing to beat negro, or worse Re-
publican. The impression was that he
was acting with the Republicans.
Many who were acquainted with him
L L.