New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-18
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
NEGROES EXECUTEp by A NO
Ffoss he Lssissille JoHTaaI, I5sA

|
months ago. Judge Bullock then charged th. Jury,
who retired ard in short time returned with verdict
Of Not guilty. II would have been imposs Die We
are told by lawyers 20 render different verdict con-
side,ps the nature Of the testimony introduced by tbs
secon which consisted mainly Of the statements
If one of the negroes implicated in the crime Besides
Judge Bullock in his charge declared this evidence 20
| be entitled 10 but little, if any credit
linn, diaicy after the rendition OF the VERDICT the
greater norton IF the persons in the courtroom left
and proceeded tewarl the jail here The accused wers
confined. The crowd was some eA.sn' and nan
| Tested desire to satisfy themselves with executing
summary vengeance upon the negroes, who IN y con.
ceiyed were improperly acquitted. Arriving N irons
ot the Jail they met az tie gate by the th'i of
the Police and body Of his men, who resisted ineir
ATTEMPT 20 enter. FOilCd in ;hcr efforts, ;he ~ ed
crowd retired ard until night were gathered n me
vicinity, but made 10 further demonstrations IN tne
mean time, the police force was sirrrShen'd anu ar
en;s made for the defense Of the jail in view or
contemplated attack. BY uigh'fa'l, the multitude
had greatly ,welled in NUMBERS, and the eNol1s nsnt
was ami>iy Increasing. lne majority oi me persons
present however appeared to he merely spec, 'storS
taking no part in the disturbance. Appeals were
made of a highly nfammhtory nature, aud the IN
di,uaiiun of the people naturally heightened. BIZ
nalv desperate onslaught made, the prison fence
WAS br ken aud the large crowd rushed 10 the door.
Several shots were fired, and the force within returned
by the discharge OF blank cartridges. This INN resls-
| tancc further maddened the already miuraied MOB.
party of men and BOYS forced an entrance INTO 10
building where the artillery Is Kept anu procnrhss
cannon, heavily loaded il with every description OF
of the prison door, which already battered down
| and the windows broken in. Threats were made ID
| discharge the cannon into The small ante-chanper
where Mr.. Thomas, the iaor. aud ms deputies, Mayor
Pitcher aud abnnt twenty policemen, were statoned.
4 Further resistance would have been utterly irtile,
and at the imminent peril Of the life Of every one ol tho
gentlemen who were attempting TO defend the PRISON.
Ii would also have resulted in dcnosing the prison.
detenses and safeguards and freed more than hfty
prisoners. Under these circumstances, the officials IN
charge found hemselve forced to the painful measure
al, tHsnr haH
ing the evening conducted themselves with much man
lness and for two hours before dark had successfully
kept at bay the attacking mob Had the crowd been
dispersed when first assembled ana engaged IN dis.
orderly proceeding the terrible tragedy that ersued
could have been arrested.
| Three of the prisoners reng delivered up, razor
was given 10 the fourth in the Jail Jack the property
| Of Mr.. Samues OF Bullitt County, and he cut his
throat soyerng the jugular Vein and wnd-ppe, anu
producing instant death. The wound was OF the most
horrible character, and more CHASTITY spectacle was
scarcely ever witnessed than the dead body when It
was brought to the yard and exposed TO the view OF
| the crowd. Ropes obtained, and the other ne
gOes marched off to the Court House square Az the
west end George, the slave of Mr. Samuels was hung
upon tree amid the hootings and excavations OF tho
multitude. The other two Were then marched through
the square, and Fifth street were likewise exc
cuted. One Of them the slave of Mr. Brown protested
his innocence, and plead pteously TO be released Ills
agony Of mind and suferings were very intense. Mr..
PendetOns Bill, the one who was the States evidence
in the case the last one executed. We understand
that he and one of the others confessed their guilt.
Fires were kindled under the suspended bodies, but
| they were not consumed. Largo numbers oil persons
fingered about the scene Of this awful tragedy until
| late hour and il the universal topic OF CONVERSE
| ton The excitement in some degree subsidized, ana
the turbulence gave way 10 feeling OF silent horror
at the terrible that were Witnessed The rot
ers themselves having wTeaked their vengeance upon
| the victims, appeared to be more awe-stncken than
| eXultant.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick Chief Of the Police, took charge
| of the bodies.
Mayor Pitcher attempted 10 calm the mob, and was
ontraceously assaulted receiving q severe wound in
| the face Officer j. A. WeaiheTford had one Of his
fingers shot o1 We heard of no other person. being
| injured, though there were rumors To that elect
| We hardly need say that we regard tals proceeding
as one Of the ostdepoable in all the history OF Lou
sylle Wepresume the negroes, or at least portion
| of them Were guilty but there were no Legitimate
| grounds for their conviction, and the jury when pro-
nounccd the verdict of acquitta was remarkable for
s intelligence and respeotabjlity Under these CIR,
| cumstanccs the violent Uprising of the mob against
the civil authorities and the putting OF the negroes TO
| death, outrage which cannot be too severely
condemned. II has done an injury to the good name
Of our city which years can hardly wipe out. IL has
caused feeling of deep grief and poignant regret in
the breast of every good and caml yreectng citizen.
Some may think that the lives Of four persons are
| matter of little consequence; but the law has been
put to death, and that's matter of momentOus eonse
| quence. Good men have been Zealousy laboring To
eestabish the prosperity Of Louisville by reestablish-
| ing her character for law and order but by The vo-
lence of mob the results Of their abors have been
| swept away in q single night as by whrwind. These
are some OF the hoid fruits of the bitter seed that
| was planted three years ago.
II Is sad thing to have TO state that in the midst OF
themOb there were scores fboys, Of them scarce
| ly ten years of age all shouting hang en- burn
EN- - with fury surpassed by that Of their elders
Such exhibition Of boodhirsy rage on the part OF
mere children il, indeed, shocking to contemplate.
| II IL deplorable augury for the rising generation.
| We cannot but think that, if the acts Of the mob
had been anticipated, the police would have made
efficient arrangements for the maintenance OF order:
We are willing and anxious TO believe that they did
all which they could properly be- expected to do under
the circumstances. And yet il is difficult TO UNDER
stand how all the preparations could be made for ne
raising OF so large mob or how foeling violent
| enough and extensive enough to impel 40 many men
TO an unprecedented and unorganiled outbreak can
have existed without being manifest not only 10 the
| civil authorities but to the entire community.
The following il the charge of Judge Bullock 10 me
Jury upon delivering the case To them Tor maj con-
| sideration
| The Court instructs the Jury:
l. That 1t is incumbent upon the State TO make out
the guilt of the accused by competent and credible
| testimony beyond q reasonable doubt
.. That such doubt in reference 10 any material
fact or Circumstance necessary to establish the guilt
OF the accused entities Them either Of them 70 an
| acquitial.
timony Of an accomplice with great caution, having
reference TO his moral character 10 the circumstances
in which be il placed, his condition in life, aud the
manner in which his testimony has been elected.
| A. conviction cannot be had upon the testimony
Of an accompice unless corrobora,ed by other eyi.
derce tending TO connect the defendants or either OF
| them with the commission Of the Ofense; and tho
corroboration is sufficient if il merely shows that
the offense was committed and the circumstances
thereof The cOroboratng evidence required by the
aw NUT connect the doing Of the deed itself beyond
reasonable doubt.
s That if the jury find that Bill the accomplish
deliberately and willfuy swore falsely to any mate
rial fact upon the trial. his testimony upon the whole
case -hould be disregarded That, although they