Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-12
THE PHOENIX RIOT,
R. R, To|beTt in Washington
to Secure an Investigation
RADICAL STORY OF THE FRAY,
Etheridse, the Murdered Democrat, SnoI
~ His Party Friends.
PRESIDENT WILL NOT INTERFERE.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., November IL
r. r. Tolbert whose father and prother
were shot I'm the recent race war at fh"@-
nix. s. c., was at the Department OF Jus
tice to-day, to secure an investigator %
the riot by the Federal authorities. ne
was accompanied by some Of the RepuDh-
can politicians Of the State
J. r. Tolbert is now in the South '-aro'
lima state penitentiary for protection from
violence.
Mr. Tolbert says the facts Of the rioting
bava not been given. The facts, ne says
are as follows.
"T was nominated for Congress by the
Republicans of my district, for the pur-
rose of making contest before the
House. Nv brother, T. p. Tolbert. agreed
,o he present al the polling-place at Phoe-
nix for the purpose OF witnessing the 81
ddavits of colOred men who were felecteu
as voters because of their inability 10
comply with the requirements OF the Coh-
stitution.
"AIv brother took no part in the man
agement OF the polling-place, whlen was
in the hands of the Democrats ne sim
ply sat on the piazza OF Mr.. LAKE hCuse'
end witnessed the affidavits giyen him,
depositing these afidaVits IN pON W.
pared for the purpose.
ETHERIDGE BEGAN TROUBLE.
"Mr. Etheridge, the white man VINO was
killed, was an election manager at pre-
cinct two miles away. He lett MS U"
nrecinct. and with q party Of men went
~ Phoenix Te walked up with his party
TO where my brother was sitting az Ia
ble and deliberately kicked over the Ia
ble and the box I'm which the certificates
were. Then he assaulted my orother' III
3 short while the Democratic voters VINO
were I'm the Same house rushed out ana
commenced shooting INTO tire crown. ne
negroes fed. My brother. who Is probably
| dead now. told me that Etheridge was
killed by shots from his own friends
| 'Alv brother did not have a weapon on
| his person" 90.
MIR. Tolbert said that he was at Abpe-
vile twenty-five miles away from the
scene OF the shooting. His father, j. r..
! Tolbert. was at Verdery, another pre-
| cinct When the elder Tolbert learned OF
| the riot he started for the scene in ms
buggy. accompanied by lO-year-oid
nephew
TOIBERT BUGGY RIDDLED.
Refore he reached the scene he was met
by a mob. which riddled the buggy win
bullets. and wounded him and the little
! how a number of times. 1t Is SAID lhal
the boy was killed by the shots.
| r. p. Tolbert, who was first shot by the
mob. was aided to his home, short as
tance away, and was pursued by the MOD
| While lying in bed in u dying condltoh'
the mob attempted to make him give the
! name Of the person who hau hlIieu Hthe-
ridge. He said that Etheridge had heeh
| killed by the Democrats themselves
On finding his father so badly woun1ed'
p p Tolbert procured a doctor, who at
tended 70 the wounds Of the senior Toll
bert After placing his family in safe
place. Mr.. Tolbert came TO this city.
NO SHOTS FIRED BY NEGROES.
Mr. Tolbert states that his brother said
that so far ae he could see, no shots were
fired bv the negroes at Phoenix. They ned
as soon as the shooting commenced. leaV-
ing n p. Tolbert as the target for the
mob 70 shoot at.
TOLBERT SEES MKINLEY.
At late hour this evening Mr.. Tolbert,
accompanied by Solicitor-General hlcn-
ards OF the Department of Justice, cail-
cd at the White House and had an eX-
tended interview with President McKin-
lev. He related TO the President the
story OF his experiences In South caro-
lima substantially as given above, 'nter'
ing into minute details OF the trouble on
eIectIon-day. The President listened at
tentiyely TO the narrative, but gave nc
indication of what action, II any, mlgh'
he taken However, he requested MT
ToJbert to see the Attorney-Genefal ano
make 10 him a full statement OF the slt
uation rs he viewed IT.
Returning TO the Department or Jusuce
Mr.. Tolbert had an interview with Attor
| rev-General Griggs, who has Just return
ed TO the city from New Jersey. AT th'
conclusion OF the interview the Attorney
. General said he would have a conference
with the President upon the matter enc
II vould be then determined IL anything
could be done.
Tonight Attorney General Griggs spen
2 some time with the President, but. so fai
as could be ascertained, no decision o.
the question presented by Mr.. Tolbert wal
reached.
DEPARTMENTAL INVESTIGATION.
The Department Of Justice has taker
stems 70 obtain official information bear
inc upon the trouble i'm South Carolina
and il is said 10 be entirely unlikely that
IN the absence of such information, th'
, President would take any action In th'
matter In addition however, TO the ef
fort OF the department 10 secure definite
and official information concerning Tues
DAVIS rioting, steps have been taken t'
afford ample protection 70 the elder Tol
> bert who is Collector of Customs at ih'
, | port of Charlestono.
II is said that as government officer
In the exercise of his individual rights
and i'm the performance OF his official du
ties the Federal Government Will not per
nit him TO be interfered with.
prominent official OF the administra
tion said tonight: Collector Tolbert'
, rights will be maintained, even though al
effort be made under the guise OF law 4
| trench upon them
AFFIDAyITS FOR TOLBERTS.
ATLANTA. GA. November li.--A Jour
nal special from Greenwood, s. c., says
"Eyerythlng was thought TO have set
tied into It's normal state at Phoenix 10
day. but n telegram says word has bee
sent TO Columbia to hold John X. Tol
hert and his son, who are In Jail ther,
The telegram said that affidayits impll
eating the Tolberts In the recent rae
troubles were on their way to columbia