Ark. Gazette November 19, 1884: To the Editor of The Gazette: Sir: Our town was thrown into much excitement and indignation by two unknown persons shooting an old negro, Gus Martin, last night, about 11 o'clock. Old Gus was on his way home from a grand jollification meeting of the democrats and took an active part in making speeches and thanking God for the glorious triumph of the democracy. The deputy sheriff, with a posse of white citizens of this place, arrested two young negroes this morning, who tried to intimidate and threaten the old man by such words as: "You and all the damned democrats ought to be killed, as we hate the democrats more than rattlesnakes." Owing to insufficiency of proof, the two would-be assassins were placed under $250 peace bonds, and will be carried to jail tomorrow as they cannot make the bond. Gus Martin is one of the few negroes in this community, who has the courage to vote his convictions. This is how the negroes persuade and coerce their own color and kind to vote as they want them to. Hoping the apprehension of these two lads will suppress all such actions, I remain very respectfully, Citizen __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one Place. http://shopping.yahoo.com/