5 the election. The results sought for were in a large degree attained. (6.) Following the. riot at Clinton the country for the next two days was scoured by detachments from these democratic military organizations over a circuit of many miles, and a large number of unoffending persons were killed. The number has never been ascertained correctly, but it may be estimated fairly as between thirty and fifty. Among the innocent victims of those days of horror’ and crime was Mr. William P. Haifa, a white man, a teacher by profession, a justice of the peace by the choice of his fellow-citizens, and a candidate for re-election upon the republican ticket. He was a resident of Philadelphia with his family until the year 1870, when he emigrated to Mississippi for the purpose of planting. The story of his assassination, as related by his wife, is here given in full : ASSASSINATION OF MR. HAFF A. Washington, D. C.. July 7, 1876. Mrs. Elzina F. Haifa sworn and examined. PERSO' AL STATEMENT. By the Chairman : Question. Have you lived in Mississippi; and if so, how long ? Answer. Yes, sir ; it will be seven years next February since I went there. Q. Where did you live before that? A. In Philadelphia,, my native place. Q. What was your husband’s name ? A. William P Haifa. Q. Did you go to Mississippi with him ? A. Yes, sir. Q. He is not living now ? A. No, sir. Q. Will you state to the committee the time when he died and the circumstances of his death? A. Do you desire me to state anything previous to that? Q. You can state just what took place in Mississippi that you think important. A. We were there about two months and a half or three months----- Q. When did you go there ? A. In February. Q. What year ? A. Eighteen hundred and seventy ; seven ' years next February. Mr. Haifa went there for the purpose of raising cotton and corn. Q. Where did you live ? A. In Hinds county, third district. visited to define his politics. Q. Near what town ? A. I cannot tell you how many miles from Vicksburgh, I don’t remember ; but we lived within a few miles of Auburn, Mississippi; I think it was two or three i miles. After we had been living there I about three months we were waited upon by the owners of the land, and they asked Mr Haifa whether he was a friend to the white people or to the nigger, using a profane word. They called him outside and I followed him and stood at the door and heard what they said. Q. Do you know who these people were? A. Frank and William Bush, the owners of the land. William Bush was not an owner, but Frank was. William Bush was the agent for his wife and did all the business connected with the estate, which be- belonged to his wife. Her name was Mollie Bush. Mr. Haifa said he was a friend to any one, be he black or white, that was deserving of his friendship. They then said to him, “We understand that you are a friend of the nigger,” using profane language ; and they made some other remarks, I don’t remember what ; but they went away, and a short time after that they came back and inquired for him. He was not in ; he was out in the field. They went out there where he was, and my little boy, who was out there, said that they used some insulting language toward Mr. Haifa, and that they threatened him. He came in very much excited from the field and said to me, “Mamma, I am afraid there will be difficulty here.” ELECTED JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. Then the colored people nominated him for squire—magistrate—and he received his appointment from Governor Alcorn, who was then Governor of Mississippi. That raised the indignation of the white people. They declared no Northern man should come down there and rule them, so they sent up a number of petitions to have him removed. Governor Alcorn said there was nothing against him that he could find out, and unless there was something else against him than his birth he could not do anything, as long as it was the desire of the majority of the people, who are colored people. So then he fulfilled his office for two years, and the first election came on and he was renominated for the same position, and he was elected by the people at that time. Then he had occasion to have s- me business with these people, the Bushes. MR. HAFFA LASHED. Q Was it private or public business ? A. I have forgotten now; I cannot say. They came to the house one Saturday afternoon; I don’t know what time it was, but anyhow they got the colored people all to leave the premises except one, an old colored woman; she could not get away. They came to the house and asked me if Mr. Haifa was in. I said yes. They said they wanted to see him. 1 went to the door as
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