The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-15
FIJI PHOENN O
r.. r.. ToIber Goes 10 Washington TO
Secure Federal Aid-His Version Of
the .ARairs-Conference with Presi-
dent and Attorney General

H. H. TOIbert goes 10 asn1ngtOn 10
Secure Federal Aid-His Version Of
the .Afairs-COnference With Presi.
dent and Attorney General
Washington, November 11.-R- r.
Tolbert, whose father and brother were
killed in the recent race wal at Phoe
nix, S.. c., was at the department or
justice today 10 secure an invcstiga-
ton of the riot by the federal author
titles. He was accompanied by some
of the republican politicians of the ,
state. The elder Tolbert is now in the
state pe%nitentiary for safety. Mr.. Toll
bert says that the tr"e facts of the
riot have not Deen 2. The facts
are, he said, as follows.
Il was nominated fer congress by
I the republicans of my district. For the
purpose of making a contest before the
house my brother, T. P. Tolbert,
AGREED to be present at the polling
placs at Phoenix for the purpose Of
witneSing the affidavits of colored
men Who were rejected as voters be-
cause ot their inability 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 the DEMOCRATS. He
simply sat on the piazza of Mr.. Lees
house and witnessed the affidavits
given him, depositing these affidavits
in a box prepared for the purpose.
Mr.. E~theridge, the White man who
was killed, was an election manag
at a precinct We 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 a table and kicked over
the table and box in which the GER
tifcates were. Then he assaulted my
brother.
I'm a short while the democratic
voters who were in the same house,
rushed ont and commenced chnOtinU
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 broth
er did not have a weapon on his per-
SON.
Mr.. Tolbert said that he was at Alb
b~eville, twenty-five miles away from
the shooting. His father, j. r. Toll
bert, was at Verdrey, another precinct.
When the elder TOlbert learned Of the
riot, he started for the scene in his
buggy, ac"Ompanied. by a 10-year-Old
nephew. Before he reached the scene
he was met by a mob which riddled
the buggy with bullets, and wounded
him and the little boy a number Of
times.
IT. P. 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
condition the mob attempted to make
him give the name of the person who
h@ killed Etheridge. He said he could
nv because Etheridge had been killed
by the democrats themselves. On find
ing his father so badly wounded, r. r.
TOlbert procured a doctor, who attend
ed to the wounds of the senior Toll
bert. After placing his family in a
safe place, Mr.. TOlbert came to this
city.
Mr.. Tolbert 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 as the
shooting commenced, leaving T. P.
TOlbert as the target for the mob to
shoot at.
At a late house this afternoon, Mr..
Tolbert, accompanied by Solicitor Gen
eral Ricards, of the 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,
entering into minute details of the
troubles on election day. The presi-
dent listened attentively to the recital,
but gave no indication Of what action,
if any. night be taken. However,, he
requested Mr.. TOlbert/ to see the at
tOrney general and make to him a full
\ statement of the situation as he view
it. Returning to the department of
Atice. Mr.. Tolbert had an interview
ATTORNEY General Griggs, who had
Returned to the city from New
the conclusion of the inter
ktorney general said he
conference with the
matter as soon as
then 5sa~determin-
SWOuld uS done.
neral Griggs
be president
Srtained nc
\sented by