The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-01
JAMES W. TOLBERT.
He IN all Right, and the Good People
of Mccormick are all Wrong.

He IN all Right, and the Good People
of Mccormick are all Wrong.
The State.
Mr.. James w. Tolbert formerly postmaster
at Mccormick, is In the city. He is extreme
ly anxious to return to his home, but fears 10
do so on account of the bitterness against
him. He has given the following In terview
TO the State, with the hope that 1t Will anne
lorate the feeling against him.
To the Editor OF The State: In justice TO
myself and to the world, would like to snow
how stand. great deal has been said TO
jure my character and to keep people down
on me.
am no politician, l have never attended DEG
a colored meeting. have never given col,
ored man bad advice. l have always voted
the Republican ticket l also give others the
same right to vote what they please, 6eliev,
law.abiding citizen. ! have never done any
crime in my life. have never caused any
crime TO be done to any one ! have always
tried 10 give good advice as far as kneW
C. live % miles from Phoenix. have new
er seen Mr.. Etheredge in my life. l have not
lived at Phoenix in my life. Few people
was accused of going to Phoenix on satur-
day evening. That deny. l met Mr.. A. j:
Clinkscales at my farm at O'Clock to pay
wood on Sunday TO see my brother on bust.
ness. On Monday I went to Abbeville.
There I met Mr.. Clinkscales and Jim Rey-
9ods bought Place a. AoSey1e MNndsv on nrh MGh
bought my wife Brussels carpet for her
parlor at AbbeyiIle. 1 was at Mccormick on
Tuesday Al passed of 6onaTb, aqbie5y synd there ibe
willie on Monday from the MCGOWAN estate,
Mr.. w. II. Park er, agent
Wednesday Mr. Hugh Wilson cries out In
berts." That is why I was m0lested. AS
some Of the family were In trouble, tney
wanted TO bring me In, too, an innocent man,
guilty Of no crime. Most OF the Ioioerts were
men among US. We have families and prop
erty there. Our mothers and fathers are bur
led there MY dear baby is buried ed there IA, my
wife is delicate lady. My baby has beeH
sick most OF It's life; 1t has spasms. And l
hate to be away from my family like con.
of no charges, except that am Republican.
My mother was left widow. | was only
years old when my father died. have work.
ed hard all my life to make an honest living.
economy. When we were married. eight
years ago. we lived In two rooms of Mr.. AL
lens house: They we're very & kind ,toI to US; ny
town were very kind to her. I shall never
forget their kindness, though far away may
We lost our first child there We did all our
WOTh III LILO olOlo dho POoe oiaSO Cos
We saved our earnings, and year by year, day
by day. we accumulated some property. We
made no debts. We tried to do the best we
could had about $500 and oped1ed5 per 5sr small anhi
years of toll and work 1 have 500 acres OF
land, a store and several houses In McCor-
mick now without my care: MT: Henderson, i
they have made all my tenants leave my
farm and some have threatened to burn my
properly.
After being there seven years asked the
best people OF the town TO endorse my wife
for postmistress the second time. That they
did practically unanimously. got the peli'
ton for my wife. The leading white people
the office. All their names are on file: They
also gave me q letter as to my standing Just
before the election. They all seemed TO like
me there, and ! can't see why 80 many got
down on me all at certain time, as l nave
acted fairly for seven years and they found no
fault at all. OF course have some little trou-
BILE there, as do good deal Of business In
my store and loan out money. have always
been poor mans friend. have always CIV.
en- helping hand to all, black and white. l
rent my houses TO white and black. have
done the best could. 1 can't help but be.
es SSs we We al lave e as Know
have mine.
AS for Kindness to my wife, kept her
nice horse and buggy TO drive. She hired all
Of her sewing. Mr.. Jennings had Just done
work for her. l have been kind to my neigh
bors. They have used water out of my well.
have never charged them. My neighbors
liked me, and l can't see why should be Pr
secuted In such way as to be forced away
from my home. ! am as good to my wife as
any man living. My neighbors know me to
be white man and gentleman.
malls to my standing after seven years &C
auaintance, to show how l stood four months
previous to November 6, 1898:
ITO Whom II May Concern:
i, tftyf taf fry. ho IyrD NJ
Jas. w. Iolbert for several years and have al
ways found him honest and straigh forward
In bis business with US. He served here as
postmaster under President Harrison and
TO your favorable consideration. Respectful
Iy, Messrs. T. Z. Whitten, r L. Lyon, r. l..
Smith, Otway Henderson, P. F. Creighton, j.
B. Harmon. j. F. Edwards, ]. 4. Sanders.
hone, 3. T. Bardushaw. J. P. Robertson, NJ. D.,
N. Whitten.'
1 have also letters from the Greenwood
bank as 10 my standing:
This certities that have known Mr.. James
NJ. Toloert for several years and have always
found him honest snd reliable and OF good,
sound judgment. He and family are Repub-
lican and have been for number OF years.
foIss Presldsn', sids' Greenwood "; a Paasi sank."
Also the following:
master at Mccormick, s. c.. has been an eff.
clent officer In discharge OF his duties and re.
spectfully ask that he be permitted to hold
the Office until the expiration of his term.
AR. ]. Robinson"
would be glad to return to my bone In
safety, and trust some good citizen will call q
meeting there In my behalf aud assure me OF
my safety should return. think the peo-
Pile were too hasty in driving me away. If II
had not been for Mr.. w. A. Smiths telegram
to Senator McLaurin there would never have
been any trouble. as have done what did
In selfdefense, so could return to my home
and property. I have always tried to do
right, but II have wronged anybody. let
them publish 1t, where and when. Let the
courts try me If am guilty. Don't kill an
innocent man. am guilty OF no crime.
Yours respectfully.
James w. Tolbert.