The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-15
DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES
REFUGEES FROM SOUTR CAROBTNA
ASK FOR PROTECTION.

Five of Them Are in Washington and One
IL Rn Assistant Postmaster They Say
They Were Compelled to Flee the state
Simply Becauso They Are Republicans.
WARRINGTON. Nov. 1.-THE South Carolina
refugees are still In Washington attempting TO
secure Federal protection so that they can re-
turn to their homes. There are now Ave OF
them In the city. L. H.. Deas OF Darlington,
who. though not a refugee, still fears TO return
TO his nome at present on account Of the friend
ship he has shown for tho men who were
driven out, is here also. j. W. Tolbert, AS
sistant Postmaster at Mccormick. aooom-
panied by several OF tho refugees, called on
President Mckinley this morning and stated
his case. TIL President sympathiges deeply
with the men and is willing 10 use whatever
authority he may have to secure them Inn
munity from attack in case they return to their
homes. Later in the day the party called on
the Postmaster-General
DIR. Webster. the Republican National Com
mitteeman from South Carolina. presented
the other members Of the party to the Post
master General. He was accompanied by r.
T.. Henderson OF Phoenix. ]. w. Tolbert. ]. W.
Collins OF Abbeyville, II. II. Tolbert and e. H.
Deas. J. W. Tolbert asked the Postmaster
General to afford protection to him, saying
that he was driven from his homo and pre-
vented from fulfilling his duties as a Federal
officer. Mr.. Tolbert said to-day that he hardly
expected 70 return to his old home. He feared
that whatever protection might be given by
the Government might be only temporary aud
that his life would be in danger as LONG as he
remained in that locality. He said that be had
been called upon by NJ. L. V. sturkey. who is
Chairman Of n Committee OF 100. who notified
him that II he ATTEMPTED to take part in the
election he would be killed. His house. in
which the Post Office was conducted. was sur
rounded by 100 armed men and he was, com
PEELED TO make his escape by the rear and walk
reach friends. He feared now that his family
would suffer and his property, be destroyed.
terday. He, says. that all that prevented him
from being Killed was the death Of his mother.
He had made Hp his mind to exercise his rights
as q citizen and had been called upon by :. "A.
GG om%,;t cha; wPo no Fl tse b Rem fSSf tbsr eo %ers
500 armed white men who had determined to
prevent the negroes from voting. and that they
with them, because they preferred to kin a
few white men now rather than a great num-
house for two days and was not permitted to
leave his house, 70 attend his mothers funeral.
in the house a party of armed mon searched 1t,
Fnlght and under great fif leu Soo e. he sE was
streams and finally to ride sixty five miles on
horseback before he reached a place q safety.
II mas DtCu IN lIltu tnhb tilC ShONi.h III
county has written to the Governor saying that
Mr.. Henderson's life cannot be saved If he re-
Mr.. R. r. Tolbert. who was a candidate for
Congress, had nothing to say TO-DAY, as he Is
s SsrIsens able IL, to o6 discss %a the eo d f to 81 Ie avs f bfs
home in Abbeyyille and concluded that he had
better do SO. Nh. Deas has a great scar on his
Congress in 1890. He said to-day that the only
charge against the members Of his narty was
count they had been driven from their homes.
These me9, and their immediate families
oTa good farming land. They Objected to the
methods employed by, the poor white" farm
ere., and rented their land to the negroes, who
paid their rent and were good tenants. Incl
d~entally they gave an asylum to many negroes
who otherwise would be unable TO earn their
that they were Republicans which angered
the poor whites against them.
'antedates the Revolution. Their forefathers
occupied the ground on which they now live
they have always been good Citizens 81 the
tIhsS, ba o,,,d been ss9 driven from home and Drao-
Attosney-Gepera Glriggs has already OK,
GrieGs says it is the duty OF the State authorI-
zens OF the State. and so far no evidence has
been rough forward to S SinsT that IN d The G oyer
men projection in case they return to their
homes. In case he should decline to give
them the protection of the State, 1t might then
become a Government matter. but he de-
clined to discuss the possibilities. Mr.: Griggs
has no hesitancy in expressing his opinion OF
the treatment accorded these men, which he
believes TO have been outrageous. unwarranted
and unlawful. but as an official OF the Govern
ment he says it will take no action unwar-
ranted by law II he can prevent it.
There is. however. a strong probability that
the rinRleaders Of the mobs which attacked j.
". Tolbert ane compelled him to leave home
may be arrested and prosecuted by the De-
partment of Justice for interfering with the
performance of his duties as a United States
officer. The Acknowledgement says that, the
officers In the performance of their official du.
ties with all the strength at its command. and
people resisting such officers under such cir
cumstances must be considered as rebellious.
The department is endeayoring to ascertain
fully the facts In the case before making any
recommendation to the President, III ii is
found that MIR. Tolbert was subjected to vio-
lence or was driven from his home and pre-
vented from performing his duties as Assist
men who did 1t are liable to Imprisonment in
the penitenJiary. The department is now
awaiting the facts in the case before 1t takes
any action.
Acknowledgement Griggs said to-day that the
question of the recent riots in Illinois had
never been brought before the National Gov
eminent because it had been dealt will en-
and no appeal had been made to the Federal
Government for interference. In the South
Carolina matter the refugees seem to expect
the President to give them military protec-
ton. but the Government hopes and expects
that the. State Government will settle the mat