Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-07-29
ToLBERT IN TROUBLE AGAIN.
Mixing Too Freely With Negroes He
Is Requested 10 Leave Town. /.
(Greenwood Index, july 2s.)

waited upon Monday afternoon by a
committee of citizens and ordered to
leave the town of Ninety-Six and
never to put his foot back there as
citizen again. He was escorted to
the train for Columbia and his de-
parture was watched by about every
body in the town of Ninety-Six.
The action of the citizens OF Ninety
Six was the result of some trouble
which Immediately followed the close
of the voting on the question of vot-
Ing bonds to build new graded
school building. The issue was close
ly contested, the final vote being 1O3
to "a. Tolbert, along with others,
was opposed to issuing bonds and
worked against the issue 1t was
reported here that he was very active
In getting voters to the polls who
would vote against it. OF course
this was resented . but nothing would
have resulted from this, but 1t ap-
pears that late in the afternoon a
negro with a regulation registration
certificate appeared and voted against
the bonds. Having the registration
certificate, 1t was, of course, neces-
sary to allow him to vote, but the
citizens resented this action, which
they attributed to Tolbert's activity.
How the alteration which preceded
the notice to Tolbert that he must
leave began is not known here, as re-
ports are conflicting. Tolbert was
knocked around pretty considerably
in the melee, but was not seriously
hurt. 1t was first reported here Mon
day afternoon that he was badly shot,
then later that he was fatally cut,
but he was neither shot nor cut.
He went from Ninety-Six to CO.
lumbia. Yesterdays State had the
following local story about Tolbert's
being in Columbia:
N Joe w. Tolbert, Of Ninety-Six, who
was called upon by committee of
his townspeople on Tuesday and told
to leave town, after having been bad
ly beaten up, is in Columbia. He
left Ninety-Six a few minutes after
the committee ordered him out OF the
town and arrived in Columbia Tues
day night. Two or three citizens Of
Ninety-SiX came along on the train
with him to Columbia. Yesterday
some of Tolbert's friends Joined him
here, and some iothers from Ninety
Six who are not Tolbert's friends
came in.
Tolbert declined to make any state
ment for publication yesterday. He
arrived in Columbia minus his coat
and had to purchase one early yester-
day morning. He appeared on the
streets yesterday, looking as well as
ever and looked none the worse as
result of his exciting experience of
the day before. 1t is said, however,
that he is badly bruised about the
body and arms and has some scars on
his head. ....... ....
To friend yesterday he denied
trying to register negroes to vote In
the bond election. He denied that he
had aided any negroes in securing
registration certificates for the pur-
pose of voting them In this election;
in fact, did not vote himself. He said
he was opposed to the bond issue, as
were some Of the oldest and best
Democrats of Ninety-SiX, and there
was no occasion for working politics
into the bond issue fight.
1t is understood that Tolbert has
employed attorneys and will take
some action in the courts concerning
the treatment he received, but as to
this he would have nothing to say.
He says he has lawyer in Green
wood, but 1T is understood that he
consulted another here yesterday.
Joe Tolbert was reminded by the
reporter that 1t was just ten years
ago this November that Tolbert paid
hurried visit to Columbia. At that
time he came with Col. John r. Toll
bert, who mad been sprinkled with
birdshot in the terrible Phoenix riots.
Col. TOlbert at that time was a wolf
at bay, fearless and full of fight, but
without strength to fight any longer.
No Truth i'm RumOr.
A prominent citizen OF M!ncty-Six
called up the Index yesterday and
stated that there was no truth in the
report that there was any general
arming Of citizens, etc. He said the
people could have killed Tolbert doz-
ems of times IL they had wanted to.
He also said the trouble had been
hroWinq for Coma tima. that Iolhort