The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-15
TOhBEERRT AGAIN.
dIS DENIAL OF AN INTERVIEW WITH
EDITOR CARPENTEK.
Carpenter Keplies-Proof Of Intervi tw-Tol
bort IA Warned-Must Set Himsclr
Night With tho People,
(Greenville News, 12th.)

be over. There have been no new
features in the relations of the peo-
pie Of that section with the Tolbert
family and their colored republican
following for tho pas Gew months,
and it has been generally thought
white winged peace would brood
over the scene. But r. II. Tolbert's
Washington interview disturbed all
dreams of peace; and it looks as if
the people of Greenwood and Abbe-
vile counties will carry out the con,
clusion arrived ut last fall bui sus-
pended during good behavior, to wit,
forcing Red Tolbert and others of
the family to stay away on pain of
death.
Red Tolbcrt's recent denial of hav
ing had an interview with A. NJ.
Carpenter, Of tho Greenwood Index,
in this place last April has called
forth from Mr.. Carpenter particu-
larly salty article in which it is vir.
tually declared that leniency toward
Tolbert is now thing Of the past
and that If he comes back there will
be trouble. It seems there is q de-
termination to run no risk of a recur-
renee of such scenes as those of last
November.
Mr.. Carpenters article in The In
deA this week is lengthy, but the fol-
lowing extracts will show it's purport.
He says:
"In writing and publishing that
interview I believed l was perform
ing service not especially to Tol-
bert but to the people of Greenwood
and Abbeville counties ynd no
man knows any better than r.. Red
Tolbert himself that that interview
was correct in every particular It
contained nothing that he did not
say and omitted no essential thing
that he did say. His motive in 60
ing to Washington at this late day
to deny that he made any promises
or concessions or that he had any in
terview at all ls best known to HIM
self.
"Mr Tolbert may not fully rea-
lize it, and it may not be generally
known to the general public, but the
publication of that interview not
only secured for him The privilege of
returning to this section without fear
of molestation, but, firmly believe,
saved his life as we'll. The people
of this county soon after the Phm-
nix riot decided that il would be bet
ter for the future peace and safety
of the county if the Tolberts were
not allowed to return. The peo-
pie had made up their minds, and it
seemed that nothing that anybody
could do would change their determi-
nation. The demonstration against
Joe Tolbert is still fresh in the minds
of the public. Governor Ellerbe's
proclamation was issued little
later, but this of itself had no effect.
The Tolberts would have been driven
from the county Immediately upon
their return if tho argument had not
been used that the trial of the citi-
zens Of Mccormick on the charge of
conspiracy would soon como up in
the United States court and that any
demonstration against the Tolberts
at that time might prejudice the
case. This argument was the only
one that had any effect, and it final
ly prevailed. The Tolborts were al
lowed to remain, although their pros
once was CALLING to a large majority
OF tho people, and everyone folt that
it was only question of timo until
the expected would happen.
"The interview with Tolbert ap-
peared few days after the trial Of
the Mccormick case and created a
sensation not only here but through
out the State.
"Tolbert's denial of the interview
is not his only oifense. There was q
negro meeting at one on the negro
churches in Greenwood two weeks
ago and Red Tolbert was there. |
do not know what the object of this
meeting may have been, nor do I
know that Tolbert's purpose in going
there was an evil one, but the nero
fact of his going to negro meeting