The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-03
THE MCCORMICK CASE.
The Proposition Of j. w. TOlbert Il
Punish the People Of Mccormick
Fails Of its Mission.
Greenville Mountaineer.

Greenville Mountaineer.
The great Mccormick conspiracy case has
dwindIed very much since q little legal light
has been thrown upon the subject Mr..
James W. Tobert, a cousin of R. K. Tolbert,
the young man who was aspiring TO fill AS
bury Latimers shoes as representative in
sistant in the office at Mccormick, and that
on election day in November last he was
looking after his cousins interest by instruct
ing the negroes how to proceed when the
which was being done because none OF them
were registered. r. r. Tolbert's plan was 10
get atfidavits from the negroes at every poll
where they had offered 70 vote @ ana ma mad e1 oeen
sary for him to have the assistance OF others
In carrying out this project. which was mere
ly paying the way for contestlng Latimers
seat in the next Congress-, not with the ex-
pectation Of getting the seat, but to secure the
compensation which Ia always allowed the
contestant even when he falls to be seated.
James W. Tolbert declares that he was
threatened and intimidated by large num-
ber OF citizens at Mccormick, who had con.
spired and confederated and threatened to
take his life, to exile him frcm home, and
otherwise injure, annoy and persecute him In
divers and sundry ways, because he had
voted for r. r. Tolbert and instructed the
Wits In his Cousins behalf. His services as
chief assistant in the Mccormick post office
enabled him 10 put the case In the United
States court, which otherwise would not have
Jurisdiction, and he doubtless thought that
| The machinery Of Uncle Sam was arranged to
con vict, sort OF patent affair that was run
exclusively in the interest OF minor officials.
The citizens of Mccormick held public
| meeting Just after the election, on receiving
| informa alton about the riots at and near Phoe.
nix, in which the Tolberts figured conspicu-
ously and to their own detriment, and as Jas.
iden tical work which brought on the trouble
al Phoenix, the citizens agreed to advise him
| to leave home 40 az To prevent any bloodshed
or possible conflict at Mccormick, as the feel.
| Ing against the Tolberts in general was hour.
Ply growing. and they feared II might culmi.
nate In collision with J. w. Tolbert If he
remained In the immunity. A merchant Of
the town who had been on friendly terms
| with Tolbert was chosen to present him with
the resolutions, and every step that was taken
reflected th peaceful Intention OF the citizens.
nelghbors, undertook to acquaint Tolbert
| with the action OF the citizens, and invited
him for that purpose TO visit his store, Which
Tolbert declined TO do. Then Sturkey went
hold an interview with him, but finally con.
sented with the proviso that his wife and
Mrs. Palmer, who lived in the house. were TO
be present as witnesses Mr. surrey assent assem-
still others to hear the Interview, which re-
suited in J. H. Dunlap, Wade Cothran, Hen
ry Martin and Thos. Bently being present.
The resolutions were read by Mr.. Sturkey,
cept that Mr.. Sturkey expressed bis sympathy
| for Mrs. Tolbert and assured her that no harm
guaranteed safe conduct for ToIbert il he
would leave In thirty six hours, but he stood
not on the order OF bis going. and packing
bis grip hastily be shook the dust from bis
feet and went straightway TO Washington.
The afterthought came TO Tolbert that an
indictment OF his neighbors for conspiracy
might result in an offer TO compromise,
which would fill his pocket with filthy lucre,
q invoked TO
avenge his wrongs and indignitles. The sur
prisng feature now is that the District Az
iorney consented to prosecute ten reputable
citizens of Mccormick upon the evidence or
statement OF Tolbert, for his testimony is
alone responsible for the plight In which Mr..
Lathrop found himself when he had examin-
ing Tolbert himself The merciless blows
dealt BY Mr.. George Johnstone In the cross
examination Of Tolbert were exceedingly
damaging TO Tolberts reputation Tor truth
the best TO begin with. Mr.. tombstone dealt
with him as If mere puppet was IN MS
hands, and Tolbert incontinently fell into
every trap that he met with. He was forced
to admit things that were against h M. and
| he stoutly denied other masters when the
| proof was at hand to show the utter falsity
MIR, TOMBSTONE was pressing him hard as TO
the reasons for staying away from McCor-
mick which place he had not seen since last
November, and he rather vehemently as.
serted that Mr.. Johustone had said that very
day that he (rolberD would be shot II he ever
returned. Mr.. tombstone then asked him To
saw whether or not he was told by him that
not one OF the defendants would harm hair
Of his head. and to this be finally gave re.
luctant assent. The counsel asked Tolbert II
he did not 20 into q room with Tolbert at his
Invitation, and IL he (Toloert) had not pledg-
ed his honor that whatever took place be
tween them should not be divulged This was
a most destructive blow TO Tolberts hopes,
and he was forced to admit In the presence OF
the court and jury that he had violated his
pllghted word. The enacting Of this scene
was a pitiful sight, and the man who was on
the witness stand looked for more like Gull
prlt than any of the defendants who were on
trial The subsequent proceedings had little
charms for Tobert. whose Visions OF glory
and greatness were fast vanishing away.