The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-12

Washington, Nov. 11.--R. r. Tolbert,
whose father and brother were shot in
the recent race war at Phoenix. S. c.,
was at the department of justice today
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 Toll
bert is now in the state penitentiarY
for safety from popular violence.
Mr. To1bert says that the true facts
of the rioting have not been given. The
facts, he said, are as follows:
Il was nominated for congress by the
Republicans of my district. For the
purpose of making a contest before the
house, my brother, 7. 2. Tolbert, agreed
to be present at the polling place at
Phoenix for the purpose of witnessing
the afiidaYitS of cOlored men who were
rejected as voters because of their in
ability to comply with the requirements
of the constitution.
My brother took no part in the man
agement of the polling place, which was
in the hands of Democrats. He simply
sat on the piazza of Mr.. Lakes house
and witnessed the affidavits given him,
depositing the affidavits in a box pre-
pared for the purpose.
was killed, was an election manager at
a precinct two miles away. He left
his own precinct and with a party of
men, went to Phoenix. He walked UP
with his party to where my brother
was sitting at q, table and deliberately
kicked over the table and box in which
We're put the certificates. Then he as
saulted my brother. In a short while
the Democratic voters who We're in the
same house rushed out and commenced
shooting into the crowd. The negroes
fled. MY 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"
HIS FATHER WOUNDED.
Mr.. Tolbert said that he was at Abb
beyYille, % miles away from the shoot
ing His father, ]. r. Tolbert, was at
Verdry, another precinct. When the
elder TolSert learned of the riot he at
once started to the scene in his buggy,
accompanied by a little 10year-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 a number of
times 1t is said that the boy was killed
by the shots.
T p. Tolbert. who was first shot by
distance from the scene, and was pur-
sued by the mob. While lying in bed,
in a dying condition, the mob attempt
ed 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 wound
ed, Mr. r. r. Tolbert procured a. doc
tor. who attended to the wounds of the
senior Tolbert. After placing his fam
lily in a safe place, Mr.. Tolbert came
on to this city.
Mr.. Tolbert states that his brother
said, so far as he could see, no shots
were fired by the negroes at Phoenix.
They fed as soon as the shooting COM
menced, leaving T. P. Tolbert as the
target for the mob to shoot at.
INTERVIEW WITH MKINLEY.
AT a late hour this afternoon Mr..
Tolbert, accompanied by Solicitor Cen
eral Richards Of tie department of JUS
tice. called at the White House and had
an extended interview with President
Mckinley. He related to the president
the story OF his experiences in South
Carolina, substantially as given above,
Mentering into minute details Of the
Arouble on election. The president list
esed attentively to the recital, but gave
might be taken. However, he requested
MIR. ToIbert to see the attorney general
and make to him a full statement of
the situation as he viewed it.
Returning TO the department of JUS
tice Mr.. Telbert had an interview with
Attorney General Griggs, who had just
returned to the city from New Jersey.
At the conclusion of the interview, the
attorney general said be would have a
conference with the president upon the
matter as soon as possible, and it
would then be determined what if any
ching, would be done.
Tonight Attorney General Griggs
spent some time with the president, but
so far as could be ascertained no de-
cision Of the question presented by Mr..
Tolbert was reached.
IN addition to the effort of the de-
partment of justice to secure definite
and official information concerning
Tuesdays rioting, 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 a government officer in
the exercise of mis- individual rights
and in the performance of his official
duties, the federal government will not
permit him TO be interfered with.
Washington, Nov. IA special to
the Post from Columbia S. c., gives
the story OIL To-Day 5 developments in
the race riots in that state.
The feeling against the Tolberts
seems to be intense. An impartial man,
who has been at the scene of the diff
Guilty, says:
IF the Tolberts return to their home
any time soon, trouble viii inevitably
follow their presence in the neighbor-
hood, which, for some time to come.
if ever, viii not be a healthy place for
them. They are looked upon as the in
citers Of the trouble"
It is generally thought dangerous to
allow the two Tolberts here to be taken
back to Greenwood.
One dispatch says. in Speaking of the
prospects of further trouble, if the
Tolberts are brought back, there is no
Jail made that will stand.
TOLBERTS ARE IMPLICATED.
Atlanta, Ga, Nov IA Journal /
GnncIal from (SrSo,11zrrpI