The herald., 1898-11-12
Is EXPLAINED By CANDIDATE
roLBERT
SHOTS FIRED BY DEMOCRATS
Killed the White Man Whose Death
Was Charged to the Negroes.
All Quiet Now
Associated Press Special Wire


Everything was believed to have settled
into it's normal state at Phoenix City, but
today telegram from there says word wal
sent to Columbia to hold John X. Tolber,
aud his son Sidney who are in the peniten
tiary there. The telegram said affidaviti
duplicating the Tolberts in the race trou
bles were on the way to Columbia, and i:
is now believed it is the intention to bring
the Tolberts back to Phoenix. If this il
done, it is feared further trouble will re
suit. -
Mr.. Tolbert says that the facts of the riot
ing have not been given. They are, he said
as folows
Il was nominated for congress by the Re
pnblicans of my district. For the purpose o
making contest before the house, IN,
brother, L. Z. Tolbert, agreed to be present
at the polling place at Phoenix for the pnr
pose of witnessing the alfidavits of cooret
men who were rejected as voters because
their inability to comply with the require
ments of the constitution.
"My brother took no part in the manage
mcnt OF the polling place, which was in the
hands of the Democrats. lie simply sat on
the piazza of Mr.. Lakes house and wit
messed the affidavits given him, depositine
the affidavits in a box prepared for the pur
pose.
"Etherdge the white man who was
killed, was an election manager at pre-
cinct two miles away. He left his own pre-
cnct and, with a party of men, went to
Phoenix. He walked up with his party to
where my brother was sitting at a table and
deliberately kicked over the table and box
in which were put the certificates. Then he
assaulted my brother. In short while the
Democratic voters who were in the same
house, rushed out and commenced shooting
into the crowd. The negroes fed NV
brother, who is 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 he was at Abbevville.
twenty-five miles away from the shooting
His father, j. II. Tolbert, was at Veldry,
another precinct. When the elder Tolbert
learned of the riot he started to the scene
in his buggy, accompanied by little l0-year-
old nephew. Before he reached the scene he
was met by mob, which riddled the buggy
with bullets and wounded him and the little
boy number of times. 1t is said that the
boy was killed by the shots.
I. p. Tolbert, who was first shot by the
mob was aided to his home. some distance
from the shooting, and was pursued by the
mob While lying in bed in a dying,
tion, the mob attempted to make him give
the name of the person who had killed
Etheridge. He said he could not because
Etheridge had been killed by the Democrats
themselves.
On finding his father so badly wounded,
r. r. Tolbcrt procured doctor, who at
tended to the wounds of the senior Tolbcrt
After placng his family in safe place Mr.
Tolbert came to this city.
Mr.. 1olbert states that his brother said
that so far as he could see no shots were fired
by the negroes at Phoenix
They fled as soon ms the shooting COM
menccd, leaving T. =. Tolbert as the target
for the mob to shoot at.
At a late hour this afternoon Mr. Tolbert.
accompanied by Solicitor General Richards
Of the department of justice, called at the
White House and had an extended inter
view with President Mckinley He related
to the president the story of his experiences
in South Carolina, substantially as given
above. entering into minute details of the
trouble on election day. The president lis
tened attentively to the recital but gave no
indication of what action, if any might be
taken. However, he requested Mr.. Tolbert
to see the encouragement and make to him
full statement of the situation as he viewed
IT,
Returning to the department of justice,
Mr.. Tolbert had an interview with Attor-
ncv-General Griggs, at the conclusion of
which the encouragement said he would
have conference with the president upon
the matter as soon az possible and it would
then be determined what, if anything would
be done.
Steps have been taken to afford ample
protection to the elder Tolbert. who is COL
lector of customs at te hport of Charleston.
Enforcing Order
WASHINGTON, Nov. ia special to
The Post from Wilmington, N. c., says:
This city is remarkably quiet tonight, the
turmoil and terrible race conflict considered
The military are doing police duty at the