The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-08-09
TIE SMITHFIELD AND DUNN OUT
RAGE.

The Democratic Redshirts tried to
break up Populist speaking. Blood
shed followed. The Governors Guard
were ordered out to protect life, lib
erty and property. Mr.. J. D. Par
ker, of Smithfield, was in Raleigh
the other day and gave THE CAUCA-
SIAN the following statement:
ga speaking had been appointed
by the POpulls's for S;nilhtield on
July 3lst. After this was done. the
''emocr ats also appointed that day
for speaking The Fed shirts cam.
Into the township and the Demo
Gratis assembled at the Riv. r-ide
Warehouse. where e w Pou. the
solicitor Of this district. and others
mad. spec. hes. A joint discussion
had Deem asked by the Populis s,
which was refused. The Populls,-
put up stand near the Court
House, and Mr.. Massey, a candidate
TOR the leg stature, commenced to
introduce Mr. league, who was to
make the principal speech. Ab,,n.
who was the leader of the Redshirts,
assisted by others, pull. d Mr.. Mas
soy of the Stand, and he was drag
ged across the court house square,
ceing kicked and beaten as he was
dragged, and told to leave town
several Populis's were beaten, ,old
TO leave town, and soma cut wi, h
knives. Mr.. league tried to speak,
but Mr. Abell told him he could not
do SO, and The Red Shirts proceed
ed to pull down the stand Solici
tor POu's clerk, +. II. Brooks, was
smong the leaders o. the red shirts
a dtlu,y sheriff, in four feet, did
not try to prevent This, and said he
could do nothing Mr.. league left
with Mr. Parker and others, as it
was useless to contend with the
mob Threats were made to pull
down the Courier Office, but this
was prevented by determined citi-
zens.
Another mob later in the day as
| sembled to make an attack on the
Courier office, but hearing that an
appeal had been made to the Gov
ernor for troops, the attack was
abandoned
The sheriff of Johnston county
wired the Governor that he was mas
ter of the situation, and that peace
and order was restored in the county,
just as the Governors Guard was
starting from Raleigh on a special
train. We are informed that the
Democratic sheriff assured Mr.. Mas
sey, the candidate for the legislature,
that no other speakers in the county
would be interfered with. In spite
Of the assurance of the sheriff, on the
next day, Wednesday, at Selma, MIR.
Massey was dragged from the speak.
er's stand, kicked and beata by q
mob Of red shirts.
On Tuesday Mr.. league left Smith
field to fill his appointment at Dunn
on Wednesday. Solicitor Pou and
his gang of lawless red shirts got on
the train and followed him. He was
insulted all the way on the train by
this mob. He went to hotel in Dunn
that night, and went up to his room.
A little after midnight he was ava.
kened by an armed mob, who had
broken into his room, and stood over
his bed with drawn pistols. They
forced him to at the point of their
wea ions to get up and dress, and 20
down stairs, get into buggy and
leave the county. They also forced
him 10 take money out of his own
pocket and turn over five dollars for
what they said would be to cover
the expense of the trip.
This lawless outrage Is so infa.
nous that we forbear to comment
upon the above facts, but leave the
Christian, lawabiding people of the
state to pass their own verdict.
It happened that there was anoth-
er speaker to speak at Dunn on We'd