Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-19
Terrible Tragedy-Negroes Executed by
n Mob.


Yesterday afternoon the arguments of counsel
were concluded in the case of the three negroes
charged with the murder of the Joyce family in this
county, several months ago. Judge Bullock then
charged the iury who retired and in short time
returned with verdict of "Not guilty" Il would
have been impossible, we are told by lawyers, to
render different verdict, considering the nature of
the testimony introduced by the prosecution, which
consisted mainly of the statements of one of the
negroes implicated in the crime. Besides, Judge
Bullock in his charge declared this evidence to be
entitled to but little, if any credit.
pdiatey after the rendition of the verdict, the
greater portion Of the persons in the courtroom left
and proceeded toward the Jail where the accused
was confined The crowd was somewhat excited
and manifested desire to satisfy themselves with
executing summary vengeance upon the negroes
who they conceived were improperly acquitted.
Arriving in front Of the jail they met at the
gate by the Chief of the Police and body of his
men, who resisted their attempt to enter Fooled
in their efforts the excited crowd retired and until
night we're gathered in the vicinity, but made DO
further demonstrations. In the meantime the pO-
ice force was strengthened, aud arrangements made
for the defense Of the jail in view of contemplated
attack. BY nightfall the multitude had greatly
swelled in numbers, and the excitement was mani
festy increasing. The majority of the rsons pres
ent however, appeared to be merely spectators, Ia
king no part 10 the disturbance. Appeals were made
of highly in6ammstory nature, and the ndigna-
ton of the people was naturally heightened Final
" desperate onslaught made, the prison
fence was broken. and the large crowd rushed TO
the door. Several shots fred, which the force
within returned by the discharge of blank cartrd-
ges. This firm resistance further msddened the al
ready infuriated mob party of men and boys
forced an entrance into the building where the
tllery is kept, and, procuring cannon, heavily
loaded it with everg description Of deadly missiles.
This was planted within a few feet of The prison
door, which already battered down, and the
windows broken in. Threats were made to dis
charge the cannon into the small ante-chamber
where Mr.. Thomas, the jlilor, and his deputies,
Mayor Pitcher, and about twenty policemen, were
stat o1ed
Further resistance would have been utterly futile
and at the imminent peril of the lite Of every one
of the gentlemen who attempting to defend
the prison. It would have also have resulted in de-
molshing the prsion defences and safeguards and
freed more than fifty prisoners. Under these cir
cumstances, the officials in charge found them
selves forced to the painful measure of delivering up
the negroes These officers had during the eve
ing conducted themselves with much manliness
and for two hours before dark had successfully kept
at bay the attacking mob. Had the crowd been
dispersed when it first assembled and engaged in
disorderly proceedings, the terrible tragedy that
ensued could have been arrested.
Three of the prisoners being delivered up, a ra-
zor was given to the fourth in the Jail, Jack the
property OF Mr. Samuels. of Bul.itt county, and he
cut his throat, severing the juguar vein and wind
pipe and producing instant death The wound was
of the most horrible character and more CHASTITY
spectacle was scarcely witnessed than the dead
body when it was brought to the yard and exposed
to the view of the crowd. Ropes were obtained,
and the other negroes marched off to the Court
Honse square. AT the west end George the slave
of Mr. Samuels, hung upon a tree, amid etbe
hOotngs and execratons OF the multitude. The
other two were then marched through the sqaare,
and near Fifth street were likewise executed. Ole
of them, the slave Of Mr. Brown, protested his in
nocence, and plead piteously to be released. His
agony of mind and sutferings very intense
Mr.. Pendletons Bill, the one who was the States
| evidence in the case was the last one executed.
We understand that be aud one OF the others con-
fessed their guilt.
Fires were kindled under the suspended bodies,
but thew were not consumed Large numbers of
persons fingered about the scene of this awful trag
edy until late hour, and it was the universal topic
of conversation. The excitement IN some degree
subsidized, and the turbnrence gave way to feel
ing OF silent horror at the terrible that
witnessed. The rioters themselves having wreak
ed their vengeance upon the victim, appeared To be
more awe-stricken than exultant-Lou. Jour-, l5tl.
The Journal of the 16th adds:
We have been informed that the leaders and
promoters of this mob violence to the number Of
four or FIVE bundled persons from Jefferson
and Bullitt and Spencer counties. This fact
counts for the unprepared of our city author
ties to- resist such an attack aud to supprePs such
riotous proceedings. They did not originate with
our citizens. They were begun and carried out by
persons from the counties adjoining Louisville, and
such uprising Of the populace not anticipated
We regret most deeply that these citizens Of this
and the adjacent counties have made our city the
scene oftheir violence. 1t would have been better for
them to have taken the objects Of their vengeance.
after their liberation from the legal authorities, aud
to have inAictep punishment upon the spot where
the Grimm committed. We are glad that the
citizens OF Louisville are not responsible for this
tramplng under foot Of their laws aud their consii-
tuted authorities, and that whatever may be or
may have been the faults OF Louisville. she is guilt
less Of this outrage.
Undoubtedly We have very exeitable popula-
ten here in the city, but altbodgh the scquitta OF
the negroes, are told by some Of the lawyers,
had been for some time fully anticipated, not a sin
gle symptom Of mob violence, so far as we can
learu, manifested until the fiery words and acts
Of the men Of Jefferson fell like sparks upon the
iuhammable portion Of our community. If in what
We have here aaid We have done Injustice In anV