The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-12
r.. r.. TOLBERT's STORY.


Riot at Phoenix.
WASHINGTON, Nov 11-R. r. Tolbert,
whose father and brother were shot in the
recent race war at Phoenix, S. c.. was at
the Department Of Justice to-day to secure
an investigation Of the riot by the federal
authorities He was accompanied by some
of the Republican politicians of the State.
The elder Tolbert is now in the State Peni-
tentiary for safety from popular violence.
Mr. Tolbert says that the true facts of
the rioting have not been given. The facts
are. he said, as follows: st was nominated
for Congress by the Republicans of my dis
trict. For the purpose of making contest
before the House my brother, T. P. Tolbert.
agreed to be present at the polling place at
Phoenix for the purpose of witnessing the
affidavits of colored men who were rejected
as voters because of their inability to COM
ply with the requirements of the Constitu-
tion. My brother took no part in the man
agement of the polling place, which was in
the hands of the Democrats. He simply sat
on the piazza of Mr.. Lakes house and wit
messed the affidavits given him, depositing
these aff1davits in a box for the purpose
Mr.. Etheridge, the white man who was
killed, was an election manager at a pre-
cinct two miles away. He left his own pre-
cinct and with a party of men went to
Phoenix He walked up with his party to
where my brother was sitting at table
and deliberately kicked over the table and
box in which were put the certificates. Then
he assaulted my brother In short while
the Democratic voters who were in the
same house rushed out and commenced
shooting into the crowd. The negroes fled.
My brother, who is probably dead by now
told me that Etheridge was killed by shots
from his own friends. My brother did not
have weapon on hts person"
Mr.. Tolbert said that ne was at Abbeville
twenty-five miles away from the shooting.
His father j r. Tolbert, was at Verdry
another precinct. When the elder Tolbert
learned of the riot he started to the scene
in his buggy accompanied by a little ten
year-old nephew. Before he reached the
scene he was met by mob, which riddled
the buggy with bullets, and wounded him
and the little boy a number of times. IT
is said the boy was killed by the shots. T.
P. Tolbert, who was first shot by the mob
was aided to his home. some distance from
the scene, and was pursued by the mob.
While lying in bed in a dying condition the
mob attempted to make him give the name
of the person who had killed Etheridge. He
said he could not because Etheridge had
been killed by the Democrats themselves.
On finding his father so badly wounded Mr..
r. r. Tolbert procured doctor, who at
tended to the wounds Of the senior Tolbert.
After placing his family in safe place Mr..
Tolbert came to this city Mr. Tolbert
states that his brother said that so far as
he could see no shots were fired by the
negroes at Phoenix They fed as soon as
the shooting commenced, leaving r. p. Toll
bert as the target for the mob to shoot at.
At late hour this afternoon Mr.. Tolbert
accompanied by Solicitor General Richards
of the Department Of Justice, called at the
White House and had an extended interview
with President Mckinley. He related to the
President the story of his experiences in
South Carolina; substantially as given
above, entering into minute details
of the trouble on election day. The Presi-
dent listened attentively to the recital, but
gave no indication of what action, if any,
might be taken. However, he requested
Mr.. Tolbert TO see the attorney general and
make full statement of the situation as he
viewed it.
Returning to the Department of Justice.
Mr.. Tolbert had an interview with Attor-
ney General Griggs, who had just returned
to the city from New Jersey. At the con-
clusion Of the interview the attorney general
said he would have conference with the
President on the matter as soon as possible
and it would then be determined what, if
anything would be done. Tonight Attorney
General Griggs spent some time with the
President, but so far as could be ascer-
tanned no decision of the question presented
by Mr.. Tolbert was reached.
The Department of Justice has taken steps
to obtain official information bearing upon
the trouble in South Carolina, and 1t is said
to be entirely unlikely that in the absence
Of such inormation, the President would
take any action in the matter In addition,
however, the effort Of the department to
secure definite and official information con-
cerning Tuesdays rioting, steps have been
taken to afford ample protection to the elder
Tolbert, who is collector of customs at the
port of Charleston. 1t is said that as gov
eminent officer in the exercise of his indi-
vidual rights and in the performance of his
official duties, the federal government will
not permit him to be interfered with. A
prominent official of the administration said
tonight: Collector Tolberts rights will
be maintained, even though an effort be
made under the guise of law to trench upon
them"