The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-12
SOUTH CAROLINA RIOTS.
R. R. Tolbert Asks the Government
d to Investigate.
HIS VERSION OF THE DIFFICULTY
MIR. Tolbert, Who Was the Republl-
can Nominee For Congress, Declares
His Brother and Father Were At
tackled without Cause.


can Nominee For Congress, Declares
His Brother and Father Were At
tackled without Cause.
: washington, Nov. 12.-R. r. Tolbert,
whose father and brother were shot In
the recent race war at Phoenix, s. c.,
was at the department of justice yes
terday to secure an investigation OF the
riot by the federal authorities. He was
accompanied by some of the Republi-
can politicians of the state. The elder
Tolbert Is now in the state penitentiary
for safety from popular violence.
MI. Tolbert sayys that the true facts
of the rioting have not been given.
The facts are, he said, as follows:
II was nominated for congress by tho
Republicans Of my district. For the
purpose Of making a 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 afildavits of colored men who were
rejected as ~because Of -theirHin-s
ability to comply with the requirements
Of the constitution. My brother took
no part in the management Of the pclF-
! ing place, which was in the hands Of,
the Democrats, He simply sat on the
piazza Of Mr. Lakes house and wit
messed the afidavits given him, de-
posting these affidavits in a box pre-
pared for the purpose.
!, "Mr. Etheridge, the white man who
was killed, was an election manager at
a precinct two miles away. He left
his own precinct, and with party OIL
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 as
saulted my brother.
"In short while the Democratic vot-
ers who were in the house rushed out
and commenced shooting into the
crowd. The negroes fled My brother.
who ia probably dead by now told me
that Etheridge was killed by shots
from his own friends. My brother did
not have a weapon on his person"
! Mr. Tolbert said that he was at Abbe-
vile, 25 miles away from the shooting.
His father, j. r. Tolbert, was at Ver-
derry, another precinct. When the ell
der Tolbert learned OF the riot he start
ed to the scene in his buggy, accom-
panied by little 10-year-old nephew.
Before he reached the scene he was met
by a mob, which riddled the buggy with
bullets and wounded him and the lit
tile boy a number of times. 1t is said
that the boys was killed by the shots.
i 4. p. Tolbert, who was first shot by
the mob, was aided to his home some
distance from the scene, and was pur'
sued by the mob. While lying in bed
In a dying condition the mob attempted
to make him give the name Of the per-
son who had killed Etheridge. He said
he could not, because Etheridge had
been killed by the Democrats them
selves.
!. On finding his father so badly wound
ed Mr.. r. r. Tolbert procured doctor.
who attended to the wounds of the
senior Tolbert. After placing his fam
lily in safe place Mr.. Tolbert came on
to this city. Mr.. Tolbert states that his
brother said that SO far as he could see
no shots were fired by negroes at Phoe-
nix They fled as soon as the shooting
commenced, leaving T. P. Tolbert as
the target for the mob to shoot at.
& At a late hour yesterday 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. Returning to the
department of justice Mr.. Tolbert had
an interview with Attorney General
Griggs, who had Just returned to the
city from Jersey City Subsequently the
president and attorney general were In
conference on the matter.
. The department of justice has taken
steps to obtain official Information
bearing upon the trouble in South Caro-
lima. and it is said to be entirely nn-
likely that in the absence of such in
formation the president would take any
action In the matter. Steps have been
taken to afford ample protection to the
elder Tolbert. who is collector Of GUS
toms at the port of Charleston. 1t Is
said that. as government officer, in
the exercise of his individual 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 last night:
Collector Tolberts rights will be
maintained, even though an effort be
made, under the guse Of law, to trench
upon them"