The true Democrat., 1854-12-20
From the Cairo City Times. Nov. q.


 UT most unhappy event occurred here on last Monday, and as exaggerated accounts of 1t may go out to the public we deem it our duty to state things as they existed at the time. On Monday morning last Joe Spencer negro who kept hotel in the cabin of the wharf boat Pat rick Henry, was brought before Judge Shan messy on the complaint of G. D. Gordon, a worthy citizen of Cairo, for trespass upon per- sonal property. Upon being visited by the of ticer who had charge of the writ, Spencer be- came excited, and refused to obey its summons, -resisting, legally at least, the officers of the law He was prevailed upon finally to % to court, but took along with him a keg of powder and aloaded revolver. When he arrived at the justices office, which by the way is the Cairo Hotel, the rooms of which were occupied by persons unconscious of any danger, many of them being ladies, he cooked his pistol and pointed 1t into the open keg of powder, and loudly threatened that if justice was not done hlm he would blow the hotel up. All who knew his determined and reckless character can well imagine what the situation of those were, who ln the court and hotel, were exposed 10 instant death, and dependent wholly on the mercy of hend. He did not carry his mur- derous design into execution, however. and he was permitted to depart
 The news of this affair travelled around the city, and men became incensed more and more as they reflected upon his high handed assault upon the laws of the State. Presently 1t was proposed to administer to him ''a C coat Of taa o1M Jedthers, a1ad run him out of toaO7a' Several of our cltlzens, joined by large proportion of strangers, and nver men, who were in town, re- pared to hlS boat to execute their sentence up- on him. He demured to it and again resorted to hls keS ot powder as protection against the crowd, rammlng the face of the pistol deep in- to the keS oi powder, and holding his finger upon the trigger, With his piece cooked. He soon repaired to hlS own boat, which was lying below the wharf boat and was given by the crowd one hour and half to leave the State He refused to answer the appeals of some who were anxious that he should leave unhurt, and was aullenly silent. In few moments after this he commenced firing upon the crowd from his boat, having previously provided himself with two shot guns and revolver for that purpose. At this all efforts at pacitcation ceased and steps were taken at once to remove him. His boat was set on fire, by citizen, we believe, and then cut loose by himself to float put into the nver. lie kept up strong fire from the boat all thus time, and remained on board of her until the last. She was soon enveloped in flames, and after enduring the heat of his burn Ing boat as long as he could, he was seen to leap into the river, never to rise agaia He had secured himself against the vengeance of the friends of the wounded parties, who sur rounded him in yalws and skiHs, by fastening an iron crowbar round his neck, which prevent ed him from rising to the surface. Some four or five men were shot by him during the fra cas. Mir. EDWARD WILLET, young lawyer of our city, who had recently settled here, was wounded in the left breast by number of buck shot, one of which penetrated to the cavity of his body. We sincerely trust that he is not dangerously hurt-our latest tidngs from him are that he was improving He is a young gentleman of commanding talents, and during his short residence amongst us has endeared himself, by his courteous manners and pleasing address, to large circle of friends. He was busy in trying to rescue the negro, and deserved better fate for his humanity. Capt. CHAs THRUPP, an accomplished gentleman and esti- mable citizen, also received three buck shot, one just under his left eye, another in his fore head and third in his right hand We learn that his wounds are not very serious unless bad effects should ensue from the wound in his hand. The mate of the Matte Wayne receiv- ed large charge also-some twenty y-fve shot having entered his person; he is reported as dan- gerously wounded. VIM. MORGAN, and a painter, whose name we do not know, were al- so hurt, and probably some others but not seri- ously, we believe.
 There are many incidents of the transaction that we have neither time nor space to notice this week. We saw nothing of the matter, and have our account entirely from the lips of oth- CTS. We may have made some errors in the statement but it will be found to be, ln the main, correct We have no comments to make The people when once aroused have sover- eighty which all are bound to submit to- Spencer deserved death for his act at the J us- tice's office, as matter of self-preservation to the inmates of the house, who were uncon- sciously exposed to his fury. It ought to have been inflicted at the time and upon the spot. We presume no one intended that the thing should go as far as it did, and all are sorry that } it eventuated in his death.
 P.S. We are glad to hear that Mir. Willet is