The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-03

during the period referred to. The de-
mand for small firearms was greater
than usual md he should say that for
a like period the demand was never
equalled for the period during the last
campaign, The sales by his house
were mostly 10 whites.
Mr.. Springer, were you a member OF
what is known or what was known as
and denominated the White Govern
ment Union2
Objected TO by counsel for the con-
testee on the ground that il assumes
that a White Government Union 'ex-
these dispositions OF such a fact.
Notary Howell sustained the objec-
ton and Notary Wallace overruled il.
The witness then answered the ques-
ton, saying: I a
There was then an organization in
the city OF Wilmington known as the
White Government Union?
Answer: There was.
Mr.. Springer, was there or not any
purpose on the part Of the members OF
the White Government Union 10 pre-
vent in any manner, peaceable or 9TH
erwise, the registration d republican
voters in Wilmington or elsewhere in
the Sixth congressional district of
North Carolina?
Witness was directed by the court TO
answer only as to the county Of New
Hanover, including, Of course, the city
Of Wilmington.
Answer: AS far as I know, there was
not.
Mr.. Springer, what are your politics.
and whom did you support as the can
didate to represent the Sixth congress
sional district in the Seth congress Of
the United States during the cam
paign of 1898, and for whom did you
vote in the election that occurred on
the Sth day of November 1898, as such
candidate?
Answer: First, 1 am a democrat. Sec
ond. l voted for Mr.. Bellamy.
Whom did you support?
Answer: I naturally would suppose
the man I voted for.
Question:: Did you support Mr.. Jno.
D. BeIlamy as such candidate during
the campaign mentioned?
Answer: 1 did.
Mr.. Springer, did you ave any col
ored men, republicans. in your employ
ment during the month of october,
1898?
Will you please state how many and
give their mans?
Answr: Btween 80 and 40.
Did you discharge or direct the dis
charge of any such employees of
yours because of their registration or
on account Of their political views, or
for their having voted at the election
named, and, if so, please state for
which of such reasons such discharge
was made.
Answer: Did not.
Mr.. Springer, were you at the opera
house in the city Of Wilmington on the
occasion in October, 1898, when Col. Al
fred NJ. Waddell, the present but not
then mayor of the city of Wilmington,
delivered a speech in which was used
by him substantially this statement:
We, the white people, will carry the
coming election by peacable means if
possible, but we will carry it if it re-
quires that Cape Fear river shall be
filled up with the carcasses of bodies
Of dead negroes?
Answer: I was there.
Was there or was there not present
a large audience, and if so, state What
race exclusively, or most largely, COM
posed the audience.
Answer: There was quite a large
crowd there. 1 have seen much larger
crowds. I didn't consider that it was
an unusually large audience. Most Of
the people were white people.
Mr.. Springer, what number do you
estimate to have been present on the
occasion spoken OF at the opera house?
Answer: I should judge anywhere
from six to eight hundred.
WdS IL uOl a representative DOuy u
the democracy of the city OF Whining
tor?
Answer: l should say it was.
Mr.. Springer, did the speech of Col.
Waddell on that occasion receive hearty
and demonstrative applause or not?
Answer: Some portions of it did.
Please state, MI. Springer, how the
audience received and seemed to ap-
preciate hat portion Of the speech re-
ferring to the carcasses and bodies Of
dead negroes in Cape Fear river?
Answer: So far as I was able to dis
Germ it was not received f~avorably at
all.
Mr.. Springer, did this portion of the
speech of Colonel Waddell appear dur
ing the first part or middle or latter
part of the delivery of his speech?
Answer: I don't recollect just now at
what stage Of the speech it was.
Mr.. Springer, were you present on
the morning of the 10th of November
1898, in the city of Wilmington, or the
occasion of the mob and riot at or near
the Manly printing office and at and
during the riot?
Contestee's attorneys objected on h
ground that the question was incorn-
petent, as nothing that happened two
days after the election could lave any
effect whatever upon the result Of the
electlOn WAlCn mao Cnen Deen deter
mined.
Notary Howell sustained the objec-
ton, and Notary Wallace overruled it.
Answer: No, sir; never was there in
my life. Don't know where it is.
Did you see and hear the shooting
of fire arms in the city Of Wilmington
on the date named, and if so, state in
what measure, and by whom such
shooting of fire arms was made, wheth-
er white or black?
Contestee's attorneys made he OBJ
lection as just made above and the
ruling was the same.
Answer: Yes, 1 saw fire arms in the
hands of people, but they were in the
hands principally of the military,
Light Infantry and the Naval Re-
serves. I did not hear any shooting
o did / see any.
Did you see fire arms in the hands Of
any other persons thar the regular or
ganized military or naval reserve
forces on the date and occasion men
toned?
The same objection and ruling above
was made.
Answer: Yes, I saw them in the
horIC 80 1,,~ 4;&;-o-- It, Ia+n M