The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-12
LYNCHlNGS ARE CHARGED
CLAIMS TILIlMAN'S ADVICE LED
TO BLOODSHED.
Mr.. CRAWFoR0'S TELLING ANSWEF
He Gives an Accurate Statement of How Pear
son has Wired in and Wired Out Join
ing First cne Party and
Then Another.
Then Another.
washington Post.)


The effort of Richmond Pearson, OF
the Asheville Congressional District in
North Carolina, to unseat William /.
Crawford who holds the certificate OF
election, has resulted in some very plain
talk between these two gentlemen. Mr..
Pearson charges that Crawford secured
the election. through intimidation, vio-
lence. hloodshed, debauchery, corruption
of voters, stuffing of ballot boxes and
all other kinds of robbery, while Mr..
Crawford retorts that Mr.. Pearson's poll
teal somersaults have never inspired the
people of the district with confidence
i'm his political integrity. Much more
word singing TO the same effect Is
founid in the printed copy of the testl-
mony in the case, which has just been
issued.
Crawford was declared elected by the
marrow plurality of 23S votes. Pearson
claims that this number, and great
many more. We're fraudulently cast and
counted. He claims, too, that he was
the victim of a plan of compaign which
Systematically intimidated the Republi-
can voters. The hope and determina-
ton was not only boldly but defantly
EXPRESSED according to Mr.. Pearson, to
carry the election, if not by one means
then by another. The KEYNOTE of the
campaign, Mr.. Pearson sarcastically OBJ
serves, was the declaration of a distin-
guished Senator from South Carolina,
IAN expert in elections who advised The
North Carolina Democrats to come out
and shoot This bloody advice was ac-
cepted,' says Mr.. Pearson, ''and within
few Gays after the remedy was pre-
scribad by this eminent specialist, three
Republicans We're killed in the county in
which it was delivered"
LIVELY TIME ON ELECTION DAY.
Mr.. Pearson says that the campaign
was one of passion, rancor, and terror-
ism, resulting in many lawless acts.
bloodshed, and breaches of the peace.
uA.s bill OF particulars fairly reeks with
sensations In one precinct a man was
hit semseless with stone, two more
were badly injured by pistol shots, and
others We're wounded by pistol shots.
knives. sticks, and stones. This bloody
ARRAY cost Mr.. Pearson fully fifty
votes, he says. In another place man
was lynched ON the might before election,
and in another precinct a Republican was
terribly cut. Not the least thrilling
event was the fact that at Murphy ii
negro shouted "Hurrah for Pearson,
"and without further offense he received
a violent blow in the mouth Com
plaint is also made that the Democrats,
on election day, sent around forged let
tiers to various Republicans, telling them
tnat other Republicans had various sums
to hand to them for use at the polls.
Mr.. Pearson admits that the effect OF
these letters cannot be stated with alb
solute certainty, but it is safe to say,
-e remarks, that they made difference
of not less than 800 votes in the pre-
cincts in which they were used. Mr..
Pearson also objects because the Demo
Gratis hired negroes to run for office.
thus splitting the Republican ticket.
Mr.. Crawford, of course, denies all the
charges made by Mr.. Pearson, but he
goes further. He enters into a discus
sion of the political situation in North
Carolina, and the analysis Mr.. Pearson )
career as follows:
1854 Nominated for the Legislature
as Democrat.
1885, independent member of the Leg
islature.
1888 Claimed to be Republican and
voted for Harrison.
189c-Neutrai
18o2-y oted for Cleveland for Presi-
dent.
1S92-Voted for Crawford for Con-
gress against Senator Pritchard.
1893 Supported Cleveland in repeating
Sherman law.
Repudiated Cleveland and the
Democratic party and ran as an indie
pendent
1896 Republican on st. Louis bimetal-
lie platform.
1S97-Supported Reed for Speaker.
IS9S-Nominate for Congress on Re
publican platform.
SAYS CHARGES ARE UNTRUE.
Mr.. Crawford proceeds at great length
to show that the feeling against Mr..
Pearson all over the district was such
as to account for his defeat. He prints
letters and editorial extracts to show the
extent of the dissatisfaction, several Re
publican newspapers being quoted to
show that Parsons nomination was not
desired He denies that Senator Till
mans speeches had any effect upon the
voters of the district, and characterizes
the election as one of the most conserva-
tive, orderly, and quiet ever made. He
says that the joint debates were singu-
larly tree from personal difficulty. As
for the appearance of the letters pro0iis-
ing the payment of money at the polls,
Mr.. Crawford says that Mr.. Pearson )
use of money has been such in Dreviols
elections as to give color to the view
that the letters were actually sent out
in his interests. At any rate, Mr.. Craw-
ford denies any knowledge of them. Mr..
crawford also reviews in detail the
stories of the various rows ON election
day, and regarding one man who was
reported to have been very badly carved
he reports that he lis happy to add
that he has since married and is doing
well"
Senator Pritchard went upon the stand
for Mr.. Pearson, testifying that the
lynching already referred to had the eff