The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-09

Nnale ueiegateS spoke out boldly, con-
dennng the conduct of the Judge and
by their urgency the negroes all returned
TO the car they had left
Sumter county was selected by the re-
publican managers as "the dark and
bloody ground in the scheme for an out
rage campaign. It was convenient To-
cality to both Hays and jones' Hester
was the chief United States deputy sent
there. He selected his on assistants.
These were paid fees. They were paid
mileage. No men in the land were held
by the people in SO great contempt as the
deputies of Hester. Unremitting atten-
tion was paid at party headquarters to
the organization of clubs of negroes In
Sumter and the western part of Greens
counties and arming them.
A northern man named Billings. of fair
education and some fortune, purchased
tract of land in the county and estab-
lished his residence there. He was a
union veteran of the war and an intense
republican. He left home in the morning
TO address republican meeting al
''Parker's." several miles distant His
wife did not expect his return the same
night, but was under the belief he would
stay in Livingston. He did not return
home, because he was waylaid near by
and shot to death by buck shot fired
from a shot gun. Hays wrote to Senator
Hawley of Connecticut that the demo-
Gratis assassinated Billings-a political
murder
The murderer was not discovered l1il.
lings said in his speech, slapping his poclS-
ct. that he had $1,000 there to carry
the election. AS soon as he finished his
speech negro whispered in his ear that
his wife at home had been stricken Ill
suddenly and desired his return. On that
message, entirely false, the victim
changed his plan for the night.
Ivey, a mail agent was shot and killed
on his car in Sumter county. the muir
derer unknown. yet Hays reported he had
been killed by the democrats.
In the extreme western part of Greene
county Warren Dew, negro. organized
large force of negroes to murder the
whites and lay waste the land. The
female cook in the employment of q
| farmers family divulged the secret and
was killed by one or more of the insur.
gents The sheriff. Cole, of the county
dispersed the mob. In the expedition
three white men and John Little, a dem
ocratic negro, were fired on by band o.
negroes on the roadside. Adrian Robin
son. one of the whites. was killed ant
| John Little was wounded The thre,
charged the mob that fled to the swami
| of the Warrior river near by One o.
wounded on the edge OF the SWAMP
they formed a line and refused to sur
render to the sheriff's posse. Arer som,
parleying half dozen came forward =
meet Deputy Sheriffs Cole and Bulloct
on neutral ground. The six returned t,
persuade the mob to surrender, ostensi
bly,. The mob heard the officers terms
and all fled rapidly Into the swamp
where they found safety.
| Williamson, sheriff of Sumter county
was arrested and taken before a Unite,
States commissioner at Mobile. Thomas
| b. Wetmore, one of the first citizens o
the state, residing in Livingston was ar
rested and carried to Mobile for trial
Both arrests were absolutely on ground
| less charges. w, II. Jones was Unitel
| States commissioner at Demopolls, q
miles away. but the prisoners were ear
ried over 250 miles of railroad to Mobil,
for preliminary hearing.
| In this campaign w. =. Jones ran fo
probate judge of Marengo lie had no
the slightest purpose of attempting Il
| hold the office. although he knew HI
would be elected. He was opposed bl
his ykinsmai, j. w Taylor.
| Jones, for Il fair consideration. omitted
| to obtain securities on his official bon,
and therefore failed to qualify. Afte
| this he quit the state to live in the south
ern part OF louisiana. where after
while he was murdered by a negro.
The democrats nominated James Tay
lor Jones, brother of Billy, a gentleman
of rare attainInents. to contest the elec
| tion of Hays for Congress. James Tay
| lor Jones and Mr. William L. Clarke o
the state committee went together owe
| the wagon road to Eutaw Sunday after
noon. Jones was expected TO speak a
that point on Monday. Negroes watche,
the roads prepared TO assassinate then
on their return. q
| The facts are worthy of record to sho7
| how necessity acted its part in the grea
victory the whites won in the campaign
of 1874.
JOHN WITHERSPOoN DUBOSE.