The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-12
fHE RIOT AT PHOENIX
R. R. TALBOT DEMANDS AN l,TtSrl6A>
TON.
At Washington he Says Tue Story has not
been Told ard Charges Dem Gratis
with RESPONSIBILITY.
with Responsjb billy.

Washington, Nov. 11.-R. r. Tolbert.
whose father and brother were shot in
the recent race war ut Phoenix, ;. c..
was ut the Department of Justice to-day
to secure an investigation Of the riot by
the Federal authorities. He was ac-
companied by some of the Republican
politicians of the State. The elder Tol-
bert is now in the State penitentiary 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:
Il was nominated for Congress by the
Republicans of my district, for the
purpose Of making IL contest before the
House. Ny brother, T. Z. Tolbert
agreed to be present ut the polling place
at Phoenix for the purpose of witness
ing the aff.idavits of cOlcred men who
were rejected as voters because Of Their
inability to comply with the require
mCnts of the Constitution.
My brother took 10 part in the man
agement Of the polling place which was
in the hands of the Democrats. He sim
ply sat on the piazza of Mr.. Lakes
house and witnessed the affidayitS given
him, depOsiting these affidavits i'll Il box
prepared for the purpose.
Mr.. Etheridge. the white man who
was killed, was an election manager at
Il precinct two miles away. He left his
own precinct and with Il party of men
went to Phoenix. He walked up with
his party to where my brother was sit
ting. at II table and deliberately kicked
over the table and box in which the
certificates were. Then he assaulted
my brother.
I'm short while the Democratic
voters who were in the same house, rush
ed out and commenced shooting into the
crowd The negroes fed. Ny 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 his person"
Mr.. Tolbert said that he was at Able
vile. twenty-five miles away from the
shooting. His father, j. X. Tolbert, was
at Eerdry, another precinct. When the
elder Tolbert learned of the riot he
started for the scene in his buggy, ac-
companied by II 10-year-Old nephew. Be
fore he reached the scene he was met
by mob which riddled the buggy with
bullets, and wounded him and the little
boy IL number OF times.
1t is said that the boy was killed by
the shots.
f. Z. Tolbert. who was first shot by
the mob, was aided to his home some
distance away, and was pursued by the
mob. While lying in bed in a dying con-
dition the mob attempted TO make him
give the name of the person who had
killed Etheridge. He said he could not,
because Etheridge lpd been killed by
the Democrats themselves.
On finding is father so badly wound
ed Il. II. Tolbert procured doctor.
who attended to wounds of the senior
Tolbert. After placing his family in Il
safe place, Mr.. Tolbert came TO this
city.
Mr.. Tolbert states that his brother
said that so far rs he could see no shots
were fired by the ncgoreS ut Phoenix.
They fled as soon as the shooting COM
mcnced. leaving Il. II. TOlbert as the
target for the mob to shoot at.