The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-17
THE OLD GANG CONSPIRING TO
GET BACK.


There was not a new name among the
Radical cohorts who controlled the State
Convention at Greensboro. There were
five delegates present, who had been
Democrats, but they didn't have any in
fluence and had nothing to say Charles
Price and Day and Skinner. who went
over to the Radicals in the Liberal or
Fusion movement were there. But they
have been, with slight variations, good
Radicals for ten years.
The same old gang was in the saddle
there. The same old gang is in the sad
die in the several counties. though in
Independents. Yesterdays Goldsboro
Argus told of a conference between two
noted Radicals of 1S95-19OO. who are now
doubtless getting together as "Inde-
pendents." The Argus says:
Ex-senator Marion Butler was in the
city today between trains, and was met
here by and had long conference with
John r. Melton. of Wilmington revolu-
tion notoriety. who is running a whiskey
distillery in this county, and who was
recently in trouble for violation of the
revenue laws. as noted in these columns
at the time"
1t is well to keep history straight as
we move along Melton was the head OF
the Radical city government in Whining
clearest statement of the sort of govern
nent Melton & Co. gave to Wilmington,
is in sworn statement of Hon. John d.
Bellamy in the contested election case
of Dockery VS.. Bellamy Replying to the
testimony of q Dockery witness, Mr..
Bellamy said:
Il stated that as result of Fusion
legislation the city had been put under
negro control, substantially; that al
though the white people owned about 81
per cent. of the property and paid that
much of the taxes of the city. that we
had a Board of Aldermen. with a white
man for mayor, who didn't own foot
of land in the county. and paid compara-
lively little or no taxes; that three or
four of the Board of Aldermen were ne
groes; that forty of the magistrates
were negroes; that from fourteen to
seventeen of the thirty on the police
force were negroes: that nearly all of the
deputy sheriffs in the county were ne
groes; that the register of deeds of the
county was a negro; that every health
officer of the city, a very important po-
sition was held by negroes; that one of
the three county commissioners was a
negro and the result of it was that a
horrible state of misgovernment had
been brought about: that night after
night burglaries and robberies took place
in town without any detection; that
within about eight hundred feet of the
city hall six burglaries had been COM
mitted within ten days without a detec-
ton; that one burglar had been arrested
in a ladys residence, a negro burglar
was captured and held by the ladies until
a police officer arrived, and that, al
though the offense was punishable by
death and not bailable, he was let off on
his own recogniZance, or straw bond,
] have forgotten now which, and the ne
gro escaped; that murders and crimes of
all character were of constant occur
renee; that within about year six MUIR
ders had taken place in the county; that
the negroes showed an utter disrespect
for and defiance of the law; that the city
authorities. in the exercise of their dis
erection upon sanitary matters, had To-
Gated a hospital for infectious diseases
on the outskirts of the town. and the
negroes. several hundred in number. a
complete mob, armed with guns pistols
and others weapons, went out attacked
shot into. and burned it down, and the
mayor and policemen, although remon-
strating, were powerless TO resist it, and
none of said negroes were ever arrested
or tried for the offense; that in the trial
of the causes in the court house it was
impossible to convict a negro of crime
where a question of credibility arose be-
tween white witnesses and negro wit
nesses; that the juries, composed par
TALLY of whites and partly of blacks,
would retire and hung jury was the
result the negroes always voting solidly
in the jury box in favor of the acquittal
of the negro. if negro was on trial.
Il recollect especially recitng an in
stance of my own experience. where told
them that / prosecuted for Mr.. Hamme, "A
very gallant and reputable citizen, a hat
merchant OF this city, who was assaulted
in broad daylight in his store by Richard
Holmes negro policeman, and struck
over the eyes with a pair of brass
knuckIcs aud fell scnselcss to tho floor,
and that on three trials. although the
defendant himself, Holmes. did not take
the stand that the jury. although the
neyldence was uncontradictcd, failed to