The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-25
Why He Quit the Office
of Chief of Police.
WILMINGT0N'S EX-CHIEP
Testffes In the Dockery.BelIamy Con.
test as to the State Of Affairs I'm Will
mington About Election Time Last
FaII-Copies OF The Messenger I'm Evi-
dence-MeIton Explains In Words
ssBig SIS and Tells why IL Was
Changed TO the "Big So"
Especial TO The Messenger.)

Changed TO the SBig 81"
Especial TO The Messenger)
Raleigh. y. c., April 20.-The taking
Of evidence in the Dockery-Bellamy
congressional election contest was re-
sumed here today. The evidence of the
negro Russell, chairman Of the Sixth
congressional district republican COM
mittee, yesterday, showed that he felt
no interest in the campaign, and II he
felt that way it is easy to see that the
other republicans were more than luke
warm.
Melton. the ex-chief Of police of Will
mington, was on hand promptly today
to give evidence. 1t is said he has a
great desire to get back to Whining
ton.
Melton was the first witness. He tes-
titled he had no occupation, was a pop
ulist and was chief Of police during the
last campaign. He a lived in VIII
mington all his life, except five years.
Busbee objected to his testimony on
the same ground as on yesterday.
Melton testified that guns were a r
RED IN the SlIeeLS u
and night. For several days preceding
the election they were in the hands OF
every man in the central part or the
town. People were terrorlzed from
voting. The witness and others recelv-
ed cross-bones or pamphlets saying
they would be killed if any trouble
arose with the negroes. His frlends
told him he was liable to be killed.
The witness identified certain copies
of The Messenger presented as evidence
and said threats were made in n
Messenger and The Dispatch.
Attorney Dockery showed the witness
a copy Of The Messenger with the
headline: Remember the Big G." and
asked what it meant. Melton replled:
81 understood that six of us were TO
be ki1led-the governor, G. z. French,
w. H.. Chadbourn, F. w. Foster, c. +.
Jockey and myself. These comprised
the big six. wrote one let
ter explaining the situation, which did
~seem to please the democrats, ana
for s,,rurcause or other he wrote a
second letter refuting, in large meas
ure, what he had previously written.
Then the Big G. was changed TO the
Big s. and Chadbourn was excepted
as an immune from slaughter
A copy of The Messenger contain
waddelrs speech was put in evil
p dence. Busbee entered objections 10
each question asked.
In reply to a question Melton said
the number Of guns in Wilmington was
estimated at 1000. There were two or
ganizations-the Red Shirts and the
Rough Riders" Theodore Swan and
Mike Bowling were captains of the two
organizations, respectively. No threats
against the witness life were made
until the day of election. He related
various acts committed by the "Red
Shirts and said the appointment OF
Russell, Pritchard, Butler and Dockery
to speak in Wilmington was Cancelled
because they were told blood-shed
would follow if they spoke. He said
the fusionists lie not put out a county
ticket because of the threats made,
and that the negroes told him they
would NOT vote, since they Thought
more Of their ives than of politics. He
Sdlu 1t was ISpOI lSo " I'LL lA1oI AL Lie
Tenth precinct, before the vote was
counted, armed men entered, blew out
the lights and stuffed one Of the ballot
boxes. He did not see the
of The Record office, but saw the armed
men going there. The crowd h scat
tered and took possession Of the town.
The officials were forced to resign.
Melton said George Rountree advised
him in a friendly way to resign, and
told him if he did not he could not be
responsible for the consequences. Mel
ton resigned.
This afternoon Melton gave a graphic
description of his exit from Whining
ton and said he was so mad he wanted
ito die. On cross-examination by Bus
bee he admitted there had been much
incendiarism in Wilmington prior to
last election, and instanced the fire on
Robinson & Kinks tar yard, Calder's
wharf, two fires across the river,
where 1000 barrels of rosin We're burn
ed, a school house on Fifth street, and
one on Seventh street, and the small
pox hospital. He also admitted that
the chamber of asked pro-
tection from their existing political
rule.
This testimony was adduced to show
that h citizens Of Wilmington pro-
cured and carried uns for the pro-
lection Of life and property and not for
intimidation of voters.
There was rather an amusing Incl
den today in connection with the tax
ing of testimony in this case. 1t was
being taken in Judge Purnef1's office
i n the federal building. This afternoon
Revenue Collector Duncan, who is Gus
odian of the building, gave notice that
it was a private matter and that it
was improper to take evidence in the
government building. This afternoons
nearing was in a lawyers office.
The commissioner Of insurance yes