The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1909-12-10

offices. Some OF the negroes who
held Office and consequently those
considered leaders were the
following: Bill Holmes was once
treasurer of the county (informa-
ton given by d. A. Beeks) Joe
Spencer Watkins ID. A. Beeks)
was coroner and ranger, and was
one of the first negroes to serve on
the board of police. He later be-
came sheriff upon the death of j.
c. Anderson. Arthur Brooks was
legislator. Ches Young was a
mem Der of the board of supervisors
and so was James Smith, also
George Strong and William Wat
kins. 1t was To the latter that a
$1,000 contract was let to build a
bridge which was built for 500
Neftwich and others. J Howart Set
tie was deputy sheriff under J. w.
Lee but was allowed the executive
process on negroes only. Capt Lam
and Leftwich give this information.
Ed Williams was on the police force
of A berdeen. Other negroes held
the Office of Justice of the Peace in
parts of the county. j. Z. Hogan
was a member of the board of po-
lice several times and was even
president of that body. He, like
all the rest of the negroes here
named, had been an ignorant slave.
He could scarcely scrawl his name,
more often making a cross mark
for his name. or having some one
to write it for him. He is yet liv-
ing. and is a preacher claiming to
be trying to uplift his race. He is
an honest negro. He says he made
money in politics, but lost it by
lending it to political friends.
Leftwich and Lam tell the above.
One white democrat deserves
special mention here, although hav-
ing been alluded to several times
before This man is Mr.. j. ID.
McClusky. He was from near Yer
non, Alabama, He began life as a
printer. After the Mexican war
he got up all his possessions. a
family carriage and a pair of ponies,
and started for Mexico. On his
way he stopped at Aberdeen to see
his brother-in-la law and while there
he changed his mind and sold his
property and began the study of
law. Being of Scotch-Irish extrac-
ton he was great wit and practi-
cal joker. was never excited Left
wich. Pamphlet Edition, 80 ex-
cept when he shaved Woodmansce'
head. He was a terror to foreign
politicians, but had the ability to
side with them just enough to OBJ
tain their good favor, then he
would spring one of his jokes, tor
ment, even humiliate the fellow,
and of course enjoy seeing him
suffer, He was bold to do and in
genious in devising tricks. At
Whites store he and some others
had met some Republican speakers
and were refused the time. Dur
in the speaking he jumped upon a
wagon To speak and when the
speaker was through he pulled out
a couple of pistols in each hand
and, waving them in the air. said
And maybe these will speak
also" One night in Aberdeen a
saloon was over full of negroes,
carousing and drinking. He got
some fire crackers. pulled off tin
water pipe, one end of which was
stopped with ice. set the fire.
crackers IN fire, then showed the
rough cannon through a window
pane squarely towards the negroes
The explosion created quite a dis
turhance among the colored fellows.
and they sought all means of es-
cape, some running outside, others
going under counters, others jump
ing through window sashes. He
loaded his tin gun again and broke
up negro ball in the same way
the same night. He was fined for
such actions, but these We're only
placed. never paid. These and
other incidents reveal the character
of McClusky and show how he
delighted in tormenting and humil-
iating those oppressors OF the Sonth.
Other leaders were mentioned,
but their characters and actions
have been seen and will be seen as
opportunity to present them APP
pears. Leftwich. Pamphlet Edi-
ton 1888. A Pickett. r. f. Hous-
ton, +. o. Sykes.
The parties were well organized |
and thoroughly understood the
workings of each in their own
spheres. Among the democrats
there was one political organization
known as the Robinsons. This was
a secret organization. the purpose
of which was to influence people to