| Scope and content |
The collection contains mostly correspondence dealing with state politics between 1875 and 1880. A letter of April 22, 1875, from the Raleigh mayor's office asked Watts to be in that city on May 3 in order to prevent Democrats from intimidating Republican voters. Correspondence dated April 29, 1876, apparently from an Asheville African American, complained that African Americans were upset with state Republican politics and were disappointed that they had not received their share of appointments. An undated letter from the foreman of a grand jury directed the solicitor to insure that Ed Graham Haywood and T. F. Lee (Wake County politicians) appeared in court in connection with charges of bribery, which had been filed against Watts. Other correspondence pertains to various issues, elections and politics in general in the state and in Burke, Northampton, and Franklin counties. Additional materials include: legal papers (records of fees, court dockets, bills for transcripts, documents dealing with the settlement of various estates, various land sales and deeds, and legislation pertaining to the length of Superior Court terms), financial records, advertisements, and newspaper clippings. In addition, and of particular significance, is an undated affidavit sworn before Judge Watts by Luchien N. B. Battle, a prominent Nash County politician, charging county commissioners with malfeasance in the exclusion of persons from jury lists because of political opinions or race. |
