The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08
Especial to The Messenger.)

was great interest in the hearing in
the supreme court room this evening
of the charge by the negro republican
registrar 3. B. Steptoe, of Roseneath
precinct, Halifax county, that ex-Ccn-
gresham Buck Kitchin, Claude
Kitchin, DR.. A. G.. Liverman, John
Gray and E. T. Whitehead had gone
to his house at night, armed, had
broken down his door and entered and
made him resign as registrar of cleo
ton.
The defendants all arrived this af-
ternOOn, before Judge Montgomery's
bench warrant was served on them by
the sheriff. Democratic State Chair
man Simmons was present with the ac-
cused.
F. II. Bussbee and w. A. Dunn ap-
peared as counsel for them. while John
w. Graham and Charles A. Cook APP
peared for Republican State Chairman
HOltOn. The latter was also present,
as were all the fusion officials, save the
governor.
Graham conducted the prosecution,
Busbee the defense.
With the defendants there came thir-
teen prominent democrats of Halifax
county. AS the bench warrant had
not been served, the defendants, has
tening here voluntarily to present
themselves, a new warrant was hastily
prepared and Sheriff Jones of this
county served it in the court room.
SteptOe was the sole witness for the
prosecution. Counsel for hat side
said other witnesses had been subpoe-
naed, but had failed to appear. Steptoe
said he was a school teacher. He is
Goa black and about As years old. He
said that last Saturday Claude Kitchin
told him that he was sent by a club
of 165 white men to say that if there
was any trouble on election day or if
any houses were burned the leaders
would be responsible and hat Steptoe
was one of the leaders; that on the
IIShI VI JhCiI hoy NCb ~ III IL
O'Clock people came to his house and
called him; that his wife asked who
was outside and was told nobody to
hurt him; that his wife said he was
away; that he crawled under the house
through a hole in the floor; that with
a beam the rear door was broken and
Donn n n mo in with n MN lonIZo1 fnr
him, found him and that the first man
he saw was Captain Buck
Kitchin; that they made a light
and were not disguised; that he
called on Captain Kitchin to help
him; that his wife screamed and
n man chOked her and said if she
did not hush, he would kill her; that
Captain Kitchin said he had been sent
by a club to have SteptOe write his
resignation as registrar; that he said
all right and Claude Kitchin told him
10Y 70 write it; tnaL they swOre il
he old what happened they would Kill
him if it took a dozen years to do it:
that Claude Kitchin o his resigna-
ton; that Captain Kitchin told him
eff you don't sign it we will kill you
and if you ever tell | will kill you in
self defense He swore he WOuld moi
tell.
The cross examination of SteptOe
revealed the fact that two weeks age
he came here to ask the governor and
State Chairman Holton to send troops
to Halifax county; that he did this af.
ter a meeting of negroes which haC
adopted resolutions. He said that Ill
to the time when he and two other ne
gro committeeman came here to ash
for protection. no one had interferreC
with him, and it was two weeks before
Claude Kitchin had said if there wa:
trouble the leaders would be held re
SpOnsible. He did not see HOltOn, h
declared, but did see Augustus NJ
Moore, who is in charge Of republican
headquarters during Chairman Hol
tons absence, and also talked Will
other republicans. He was asked If h
was paying the lawyers for the pros
ecution and replied, no, that he was
not able to pay them, and that Holto1
said he would provide counsel. HI
came here the second time last Tues
day and then saw Holton.
SteptOe was asked if Claude KitchiI
a not told him last Saturday morn
ing at Steptoe's school house that ne
,Oes had held secret meetings ant
threatened to do injury to white peopl'
and their property, and that he sai(
he did not vote for the resolutions
Steptoe then broke down in his evi
dence. He said his township had
white majority. He acknowledge
that after his first visit to Raleigh
Claude Kitchin had charged him witt
. coming here after troops, and he ha'
said he came to see his daughter. H
said Captain Kitchin had made hin
write out his resignation, and yet tw
days ago he said here that Claud
Kitchin made him write it.
Captain Kitchin was put on tn