The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-08-17
PEARSON VS.. CRAWFORD.
Some spiey Testimony Introduced Into the
Contest

Inc ercrt CT Richmond PEARSON Of
'He Asheviue Congressional District. IN
Ncith Carolina, to unseat William T |
crawford, who holds the certificate @, |
e. .tton, has Ics sulted IN some very |
pia.h talK between th sc two genie |
men. Mr.. Pearson charges that Cray-
lo:d secured the election through "in-
limitation. violence, blJcdshed. de-
bauchery. corruption Of voters, stulfing
bi ballot boXe3," and al, Othe. kinds OF
robbery, while Mr.. Crawford retorts
mat Mr.. PearsOn's political somtr-
sault5 have never inspired the people
Of the district with confidence in his
political integrity. Much more " ord
singing to the same effect IS found in
the printed copy Of the testimony in
the case, which has Just been issued.
Crawford was d, arad elected by the
narrow piuralit! of ,,;3 votes. Pears on
claims that this number and a great
many more, were fraudulently cast and
counted. lie claims, too. that he was
the victim Of plan Of campaign Which
ystematically intimiGated the Repub-
lican 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 keyLCte of the
| c1mpaign. Mr.. Pearson sarcast.cally op-
| serves, was the declaration of a di5t.n-
| gOished Senator from South Carolina,
"an expert in elections who advised
tho North Carolina Democrats to come
cut and shoot. This bloody advice was
accepted" says Mr. Pearson. ''and
| within a few days after the remedy
was prescribed by this eminent special
it, three Republicans were killed j.,
the county in which it was delivered"
| Mr.. Pearson says that the campaign
was CEe Of passion, rancor and terror
biCGdshed. and breaches OF the peace.
! His bill Of particulars fairly reeks with
| sensations. In one precinct man wls
hit senscless with stone. two more
were badly injured by pistol shots, and
others were wounded by pistol shots
knives, sticks and stou This bloody
alfray cost Mr.. Pearson fully fifty
votes he says. In another place man
was lynchel Cn the night before elec-
ton, and in another precinct Repub-
lcan was terribly cut. Not the least
thrilling event was the fact that al
Murphy rcgro shouted "Hurrah fol
Pearson and without further offens'
he received a violent blow in th'
mouth. Complaint is also made tha
= | the ramOcrats. Cn election day. sen
around forged letters to various Ike
publicans. telling them that other lie
/. | public1ns had various sums to hand t.
, | them for use at the polls. Mr. Pearsol
| admits that the effect of these letter
cannot be stated with absolute certain
ty, bat il is safe to say, he remarks
5 that they made a difference OF not les
@ than 500 votes in the precincts i
which they were used. Mr. Peafso
!, also objects because the DemoGat
\ hired negroes to run for office, thu
, shifting the Republican ticket.
@ Mr.. Crawford, OF course. denie-, d
=, the charges made by Mr.. Pearson, i'll
:, he gees further. He enters into di;
;. cuss:on Of the political situation
Ncrth Carolina, and the analysis of M
~ | PearSCl'S career.
Mr.Crawford proceeds at great lengt
to show that the feeling against M
p | Pearson all OT2f the district was sue
as TO account {or his defeat. He prin
70 letters and editorial extracts to sho
- the extent of the dissatisfactiQ1, seve
y, 81 Republican newspapers being quot,
- to shCw that Pearson's nomination w
not desired. lie denies that Senat
- | Tiliman's speeches had any effect up(
- the voters Of the district and cnara
: terizes the election as one OF the mo
conservative. orderly. and quiet ev
made. He says that the joint G2bat
were singularly free from personal q
:. ficulty. AS for the appearance or L
~ letters promising the payment
money at the polls. Mr.. Crawford sa
~ that Mr.. PearsOn's use OF money II
-, heen such N previous electlcns as
- give color to the view that the lette
- were actually sent out in his interes
80 At anv rate, Mr.. Crawford also itvle'
~ in detail the stories CT the various ro
On election day. and regarding one m
- who was reported to have been We
4. badly carved. he reports that he
hacpy to add that he has since marfl
and is doing we'll"