The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-22
SOME MORE TESTIMONY
SUPPLIED IN THE DOCKERY-
BEII.AMY CONTEST PRO
CEEDING.
WITNESS TELLS HOW HE HELD THE FORT
When All but Him Had FLED. Plenty of Ru-
mors and Vain Imagining but
Paucity Of Facs,

In the contest case of Dockery against
Bellamy, the cross-eXamination of j. b.
Melton. ex-chief of police, of Whining
ton. was resumed this morning at nine
O'Clock
On the first day Melton said that he
regarded Col Waddell's speech as the
worst" he knew of in the matter of
intimidation or threats. He and Mr..
Busbee both stressed the term ''intoler-
able conditions" used in Col. Waddelrs
speech. but with different emphasis.
Among other things, mir. Busbee asked;
Il ask you if the intolerable conditions
to when Col. Waddell alluded We're not
the local conditions which then existed
in that section of the State, the misgoy
eminent of the city of Wilmington, and
the county of New Hanover, the failure
of the authorities to protect person and
property. the numberless fires and bur-
glaries which were committed i'll the city
of Wilmington, the utter ineffciency of
the local police officers, the universal
protest against the condition OF things
from every law abiding person in the
community, the insults and outrages
made and committed by negroes upon
white women-all of which produced II
sentiment which was expressed in state
ments of Mr.. Chadburn, of the chamber
of commerce. Mr.. Foster and Col. Wad-
dell, / ask you if these were not the in,
tolerable condition to which Col. Wad-
dell had reference
The witness replied: Il think the
biggest object Col. Waddel had was to
get position and office. He had been
out of public life for long time. and
that was his opportunity to put himself
before the people and pose as a patriot
thereby getting to the feed trough
Then. when further questioned as to
Col. Waddell's speech Every good
citizen condemns Manly's article, be he
white or black, Republican, Populist or
Democrat, as also they condemn him
for the nameless crime against the fair
SEX
Continuation of the cross-examination
brought out but little new matter.
W. J. HARRIS CALLED.
w. j. Harris was sworn as a witness
for concontestant. Questioned by Mr.
Burns, counsel for Dockery, he
said: II got no home; / was
run away from it. My former
home was in Wilmington My
age is 90 years. / was born and bred a
Republican. ! was in New Hanover
county of this State during the cam
paign of 1898 and on the election day
of that year. l was unfortunate enough
to be one of the poll-holders of the First
ward of tho Eirct nracincf In 1tba o;ty al
Wilmington.
Mr.. Burnes questioned: Estate the
character and nature of the campaign
waged by the Democratic party in the
Sixth district of North Carolina, and il
New Hanover county in 1882
Mr.. Busbee, counsel for Mr.. Bellamy
objected to the question, as the witness
had not qualified himself by stating that
he knew anything about the campaign
But Mr.. Harris was eager to talk ano
said: Il dispute the contradiction.
know all about it.. And furthermore
can almost tell you of the Matching Of
the Red Shirts y
WELL" he continued after Mr. Best
the notary who was taking the deposi
tons had given him permission to speak
Fin the first place in regard to intmida
ton l, for one, was right smartly i'll
undated and | don't know the NAMES OF
the others, but know the Republican vo
tiers and Populists that failed to vote
and some voted the Democratic ticket
The Populist voted the white supremacy
ticket through fear or at least that il
what he told me. He was the last mal
l spoke to in Wilmington. Well, l an
little ahead of my story right now.
am going to say this We Republicans
was so demoralized that we could hardly
get a quorum, except in the first meet
ings. / went to headquarters according
to agreement and understanding that
would find, probably, the man that Ii
the lights. Well, everything locke,
gloomy and they would talk about gun
and / would say to them: Push SOM
sand in your craw There is talk Of guns
but it is all bluff and don't be afraid.
Well, / went to the party leaders ant
they seemed to be torn and and wercke,
in mind.
''They made efforts to intimidate us II
in a slight way by remarks and tells m
individually to come over and be whit
man. My reply to them was that | an
as white as any of you and Furthermore
what would you think of me if | wa
TO vote the Democratic ticket. View
enough Benedict Arnolds in the Repub
lican party now. They would say: 'Di
you see Chadbourn's letter."
well, they done so much / hardl
know what they done. In the first plac
the County Commissioners seemed t
pick out men as Republicans and Popu
lists that did not fill the bill. At tn
polling place where | was as a registra
the Populists,. or in other words thos
that represented the Populist party, wer
as strong Democrats as ever | saw, an
the gentleman that was to represent tn
Republican party as judge on challeng
and trial day and election day
you state in your answer to my las
two questions that the Democrats mad
efforts to intimidate and did intimidat
Now state any facts on the part of til
Democrats or the leaders of the Dem'
cratic party calculated to intimidate, an