The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-17
WILL INVESTIGATE RACE WAR.
l. :. ATTORNEY LATHROP TO LOOk
INTO PHOENIX TROUBLE.

Jnmes w. TOIbert Sends n Letter to
GOV. EIIcrbee Asking If the Gov
ernor WIN Afford Him Protection
should He Return to the State-HiS
Wife Postmistress and He Is Her
Assistant-He Is stiIl in Washing
ton.
Washington. Nov. 16--The government
has decided to investigate the circum-
stances under which James w. Tolbert,
assistant postmaster at Mccormick, S. c.,
was compelled by the threats of an armed
mob to abandon his office and home. With
that view the matter has been paced in
ths hands of United States Attorney Lath-
rop 10 look into the case. with view to
the prosecutions of any violations of the
federal states in this or any other case
growing out of the recent troubles in that
locality As a preliminary step, Mr.. Toll
bert has sent a telegram to Gov. Ellerbe,
ar Columbia, asking to know whether, as
Governor of South Carolina, he can aud
Will afford him protection in returning 70
his family and office. Following is the
text of the telegram, TO which no answer
has been received when Mr.. To.bert was
seen by representative of the Associated
Press to-day:
Washington Nov. 15.-To the Governor
of South Carolina, Columbia, S. c.: I am
a citizen of South Carolina. where I was
born and raised and have always resided.
My home is at Mccormick, in the county
there, and I am her assistant and con-
duct the business of the office for her,
she being a delicate woman.
"On Thursday, the 10th inst, was fore
ed by an organized and armed mob of a
hundred men to leave my family and my
home under the threat that if l remained
there l would be killed. 1, therefore, fed
for safety, because 1 was unable to resist
this mob. l am large land owner in
the county of Abbeville, and also the
owner of valuable houses and other real
estate in the town of Mccormick. My
wife is there with our only child, girl. 4
years old, without my presence and my
protection, on account of the action of an
armed mob, and my property is without
proper care. / have committed no crime
against the laws of my county and have
done nothing to give any offense what
ever to any man or set OF men save that
/ am a member of the Republican party
and believe in the doctrines of that party.
Il send this to know if you, as the Gov
ernor of South Carolina, can afford me
protection as one of it's citizens and as
an employe of the United States govern
ment, that l may return to my family, to
my property and my business and be safe
IRON mob violence. Answer care of St.
James Hotel, Washington, D. C.
fJamaS w ToIbart
Concerning claims of interference with
the postal service, it is stated at the post
once department that there is no evl-
dence that the postal service has been in
terfered with; that officially the depart
ment has no knowledge of Tolbert, who
Is only assistant postmaster at a fourth
class postoffice, and therefore, appointed
ana employed by the postmaster and not
py me department. The postmaster is the
Wlle Of Tolbert, and as she is not inter-
Tered with the department officials say
there is nothing to show that the depart
ment should act in the matter
Mr. To,bert called on Postmaster Cen
eral Emory Smith to-day with a view 10
securing some action in the premises. but
was told of the conclusion of the depart
ment that there is nothing of which it
could take cognizance