The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-08-07
| RIOT IN CHATHAM
Defeated Fusionists Burn
The Ballots
\ Mob Wanted TO Help the Poll Holders Count
the Votes in Williams
Township.

Congressman Atyvater was in the
cnty Yesterday. He says Chatham
has certainly gone Democratic by a
small majority probably from 80 to
100.
There was in his precinct, Williams
Mill township, what amounted to a
riot. and came near resulting in
burning and bloodshed.
Mr.. Thomas Horton. chairman Of
the Democratic township COMMITTEES,
and Mr.. L. +. Williams. one Of the
poll-holders. who were also in Raleigh
Yesterday. gave the News and Obser-
YER the following facts in regard TO
the trouble:
On Thursday Of last week the Dem
| Ocrats learned. both by a letter that
came into their hands and from
one whom the F~usionists trusted,
hat q plot had been made to capture
the ballot boxes and registration
books at the close of the polls. in case
it was found that the E~usiOniSts had
lost this precinct. Williams township
being regarded as the one on which
the result Of the election in the county
hinged.
Ia proof Of this. Claude Pearson.
ne lOtctI j tiSIOil IildIit2tl. dlil 81. >.
Jenkins, Who was defeated by Mr.. At
| water for Congress. had several fines
visited the township and held CONSUL
t~ations with the Fusion leaders. II
was believed gen lily that they had
advised violence in case fair means
failed them III carrying the election.
The Democrats were therefore pre-
pared for trouble and expecting it.
But the day went along quietly
enough. and the voting proceeded
~peaceably and without interruption
until about an hour before shutdown.
Then the F~usionists. almost to a
man, began 10 leave the voting place.
after Il consultation with Jenkins,
who had come there and called them
aside for n caucus.
Most Of the Democrats. believing
that all Ganger Of trouble. If any had
ever existed. was ct an end, now also
left for their homes. When they had
gone the Fusionists began 10 return
in great numbers. and armed.
Cursing and threatening to burn
the building and do other acts Of vio-
lence they rushed into the polling
place and demanded that they be al
lowed 10 assist in the count.
I'VE declined to permit this said
Mr.. Williams, who was one of the
p~oll-holders, and their language be-
came more abusive and the disorder
greater. They were heard a mile
away We tried to count the vote but
could DO little at if. so great was
the noise and confusion. They were
calling rs vile names and threatening
to burn down the house unless We
permitted them to come in and help
count. Finally the disorder became
50 great and the threats against III
50 bitter that we decided to Give ii,
the effort TO count the vote.
In the turmoil somebody no!rad
out al the tickets on the floor. and
they We're so mixed that thew never
could be counted. and then a Fusion
ist. the one that had been bitterest
N his threats and denunciationS. car
ried them out and set fire to them
declaring p a that was what they
wanted 10 hapnen."
Bofh Mr.. Williams and Mr.. Atva-
Both Mr.. Williams and Mr.. Horton
say that the precinct was Demo-
cratic by from 80 to - majority
Many Of the Fusion votes and naariv
al the negro votes had been danos;tad
u the wrong boxes and Of course mn
der the law, could not have been
counted. 49,
The registrar in this precinct wac
Mr.. I. F. Carter. q very estimahlo 81
zen. and the poli-holdcrs we're m,
J. NlilialaS, one of the best men in tho
county, also Mr.. Neal johnson . POI
ulist, and nephew Of rev Ma+tbop-
I. Yates, the Well knoyvn Taa+is4
missionary to China.
"