The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-11-18
Investigation IS ORDERED
or THE RACE RIOT At PHOENIX,
SOUTH CAROLINA.
TOLBERT CALLS ON MKINLEY.
IIe Tells Hls side Of the story and Do.
mands That tho Trouble BE
Looked Into.

A Washington special says: The |
president has ordered federal officials
10 investigate the condition Of affairs
in Greenwood county, South Carolina,
aud to report TO him as to whether fed
eral interference is warranted.
This order was sent through the de-
partment Of justice Friday.
The United States marshal and the
district attorney are directed to pro-
coed TO Phoenix aud report the facts.
The step was determined on after a
conference Of an hour between repub-
lican leaders Of South Carolina and
the president.
During the session Of the cabinet Fri
day considerable attention was devoted
to the race troubles in the Caroliuas.
The president expressed deep concern
over the situation.
OF course, the duty Of furnishing the
transgressors is with the state author
tiles, and as Governor Ellerbe has not
suggested that he needs aid, it is diff
cult to see how the federal government
is going to interfere
r. r. Tolbert, whose father and
brother were shot in the recent race
war at Phoenix. was at the department
of justice Friday and asked for the
investigation of the riot by the federal
authorities of the state The elder
Tolbert, as has been announced, is
now in tho state penitentiary for safe
keeping from popular violence.
Tolbert's Story.
Tolbert says that the true facts Of
the rioting have not been given. The
facts are, he said, as follows:
, Twas nominated by the republicans
! of my district. For the purpose of
, making a contest before the house,
my brother, I. P. Tolbert, agreed to
E be present at the polling place at
t Phoenix for the purpose of witnessing
the afidavits Of colored men who were
D rejected as voters because Of their in
ability to comply with the require
Q ments of the constitution.
+ ''My brother took no part in the
r management Of the polling place,
+ which was in the hands of the demo
D Gratis. He simply sat on the piazza of
d Mr.. Luke's house and witnessed the
: afiidavits given him, depositing these
r afidayits in a box prepared for the
purpose.
+ MIR. Etheridge, the white man who
!, was killed, was an election manager al
# n precinct two miles away. He left
n hiu own precinct and, with party Of
d men, went to Phoenix. He walked NJ
@ with his party to where my brother
|. was sitting. at table and deliberately
r kicked over the table aud box in which
l. the certificates were. Then he assault
W ed my brother.
n TN a short while the democrati,
n voters who were in the same house
n rushed out and commenced shooting
u into the crowd. The negroes fed. NJ
brother, who is probably dead by now
y told me that Etheridge was killed b,
le shots from his own friends. M,
brother did not have a weapon on hi
a person.
IA At late hour Friday afternoon
j Tolbert, accompanied by Solicito
OF General Richards, of the department
y. of justice, called at the white hous
th and had an extended interview will
President Mckinley He related t,
the president the story Of his expert
ences II South Carolina, entering int
i, minute details of the trouble on cleo
:" ton day The president listened al
=, tentively to the recital, but gave n
- indication of what action if any, Nigh
- be taken. However, he requested MI
~ Tolbert to see the attorney general an
70 make to him full statement of tn
~ situation as he viewed it.
Returning to the department of jus
n tice, Tolbert had an interview wit
a. Attorney General Griggs, who ha
\; just returned to the city from Ne
i Jersey. At the conclusion of the il
~ terview the attorney general said i
~ would have & conference with I'll
w president upon the matter as soon 8
~ possible, aud it would then be dete
" mined what if anything, would /
done.