The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-05-19
from the Louis,iii- Joafnsi, May istL
TERRIBLk TRAGEDY.
n NEGROES EXECUTED BY A MOB

fgsN III. LOUISVILLE joafhsi, iAy t1IL
TERRIBLk TRAGEDY
NEGROES EXECUTED BY A MOB.
Yesterday afternoon the arguments Of
counsel were ,oncludet IA the case OF the
three negroes charged with the murder OF
III. Joyce family, ~ this county, several
mouths ago. Judge Bullock then charged
the jury, who retired and IN u short time
returned with n verdict VI No, guilty :"
u would have been impossible We are told
by lawyers, to render q different verdict,
the nature OF the testimony in.
,roduced by the prosecution. which consisted
ma,nly vi the state menss VI one Of the ne
groes Implicated ~ the crme Besides,
Judge bullock ia his charge, declared this
evidence IL be- entitled to but little, II say
credit.
Immediately alter the rendition of the
verdict, the greater portion oi the persons
ia the courtroom, LEI, aud proceeded toward
the Jall where the accused were confined.
The crowd was somewhat excited and man
Tested desire 10 satisfy themselves with
executing summary vengeance upon the
negroes who they conceived were improp
srly acquitted Arriving in front Vi the
Jail. they were met at The gate by the Chief
81 the Police and body VI his men, who
rss,sted their attempt to enter Fooled in
their efforts the excited crowd retired and
un'il night were gathered IN the vicinity.
but made no further demonstrations. In
the meantime the police force was strength
ened, and arrangements made for the de-
tense OF the Jail IN view OF a contemp plated
attack. By nightiall the multitude had
greatly swelled in numbers; and the excite.
ment was manifestly increasing. The
majority OF the persons present, however,
appeared 10 be merely spectators, taking no
part IN the disturbance. Appeals were
made OF highly infiammatory nature. and
the Indignation OF the people was naturally
heightened Finally desperate onslaught
was made, the prison fence was brok On, and
the large crowd rushed to the door Several
shots were fired, aud the force within ~
turned by the di charge OF blank cartridges.
TINS arm resistance further maddened the
already infuristed NIB A party OF men
aud boys forced an entrance into the build.
IN. whore the artillery il kept, and, procur.
ing n cannon, heavily iasded Il With every
description OF deadly missiies This was
n u
which was already battered down. and the
windo 10 broken ia. Threat. were made to
d,scharge the cannon into the ANAL anlss
charaber where Mr.. Thomss, the ja,lor. aud
his deputies, Mayor Pitcher. and about
twenty policemen. were stationed
Further resistance wosid have been ut.
terry futile. and st the imminent peril of the
life Of every ore OF the gentlemen who
we're attempting 10 defend the prison. II
would also have resulted in demolishing the
PRISON deienees and safeguards. and freed
more than nifty prisoners. Under these cir
cuuistances, 10. officials IA charge found
themselves fore ID {. the painful measure OF
delivering up thu negroes. Thes. ollcers
had during The evening conducted them.
elves with much msniiness, and for two
hours before dark had successfully Kept OF
bay the attacking mob. Had the crowd
been dispersed when II first assembled and
engaged Ia disorderly proceedings, the tor
rbie tragedy that ensued could have been
arrested.
Three al the prisoners being delivered |
up. razor was given the fourth in the Iail, |
Jack, the property vi Mr.. Samuels, Of
Builiu county, and he cut his throat, sever
ny the Jugular vein and w,nd. pipe and pro.
iucing instant death The wound wss Of |
he most horrible character. and . more
chastity spectacle was scarcely ever wit.
messed than the dead body when il was
brought 10 the yard aud ex nosed 10 the view
y the crowd Ropes were obtained. and
he other negroes msTahed IN 10 the ,osrt
rouse square. Al the west end George,
he slave vi Mr.. Ssmuels. MAS hung upon
! tree. amid the hootings and execrsti ms OF
he multitude. The other Two were then
marched through the square. and near Fifth
ucet we're likewise executed. One OF
hem. the slave OF Mr.. Brown, protected
rs innocence. and plead pileeusly 10 be
cisssed His agony OF mind and suffer.
aPs were very intense. Mr. Pendleton's
iiil, the one who VAS thu States evidence
= The case, was the last one executed. We
Understand that he aud one u the o,hsrs
"niessed their guilt
Fires were kindied uadef the suspended
od'es. but they were not CONSUMED. Large
uabers u persons fingered shout the scene
this awful tragedy until = late hour, and
was The universal tops vi conversation.
he excitement IA some degree subsidized, I
nd tbs turbulence gave way To q feeling OF Z
Ilent horror at the terrible scenes that
ere witnessed. Tn. rioters Themselves g
aslng sf~aked iheir .snRssnce upon the
teiins. appeared TO be more awe.strickeS
Ian e1ultant.
Mr. kirkpatrick, Chief oil the Police took
hsrge vi the bodies. |"
Mayor P,leher atten pied to calm the mob.
10 ~ss ontrageonsly assaulted, receiving . |
t.ere wound IN the face Oficsr J. A.
= es'hefio'd had one 81 HE nngcrs shot o..
heard Of NO other persona eing injured.
'ough there were rumors to that effect
JAs. J. LlspLxS. Ess A. this re n,le. !
'sn has become one Of our citissns and !
'"nsetsd with legal 6rm in this city, "
'As the liberty Of clipping from the Lyons
I'rrsr the following notice Of HE Srst an.
ssssnce before our District Court:
Among the number admit,e Il ~ -.
'hs prsssnt tern Of the District Court.
- Mr.. Lindlsy. Mr.. L. 10 ,ust from ~.
usi. IN which Sssts he wss elected sever. :,
terms " Congress. A better lawyer
ID mSrs sloqssnt spsaLsr hes not ssecsd
e bar 81 Citation sosniy. He was sn. !,
ovsd b the STATE along With Dillon aad I
sahs. Esqs.. 10 The proesestoa Of Daseer .
. murder A legal fnsal OF ouss seii 70 .
> '1s, he had hsssd "ble esns" Fest, bu. .
ess, heard AZ sbler afgamsat than Mr
inolsy made Lee, Saturday sitssssos 30.
'fs .ss Jury sitting ~ ths lsial Or Berger Z
y =. y |" Psftnssship With Cook 4 BIZ. :,
.. 1sqs.. DsvsnPer. A ssseae ss.n. u
To De Witt Cls,saian u sesskins Of ..
.. Asdlsys sppsssascs IN sAs cart - :.
sssiessd says: 3
-. Lls6ley % ~ part u u preaee.. Z
y. oeds - sels ard ssgsasssas,ve ~
eoeeM Of ths beAts. cd eoosiseo1 elI =
= eeese -. tees = y . CITED lssya. >