The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-11-12
A THRILLING INCIDENT.

Ouf accounts, already published, have
contained but brief synopsis of the deeply
interesting testimony given on the trial Of
Brown, by Mr. Henry Hunter, in relation
to the killing Of one of the invaders named
Thompson. Mr. Hunter was a relative and
intimate friend of Mr. Beckham, who had
been killed, and it was to revenge his death
that the act was committed The follow,
ing IS the testimony as we find it in the
Herald:
Witaess-Thero was a prisoner confined
III the parlor of the hotel, and after Mr.
Beckhams death he was shot down BY a
number Of us there belonging to this sharp.
shooting band
Mr. Andrc~ Hntv-Will you allow
hlm to state, before proceeding furthur, how
he was connected with Mr., Beckham?
Mr. Green Certainly, sir.
V'faess-He was my grand uncle and
my special friond-a man loved above all
others; after he was killed Mr. Chambers
and myself moved forward to the hotel for
the purpos" Of taking this prisoner out and
hanging him: We were joined by number
OF other persons, who cheered US on in that
work, we went up into his room, where be
was bound with the undoubted aud undis
gulscd purpose of taking his life; at the
door we were stopped by persons guarding
the door, who demonstrated with us, and tie
excitement was SO great that persons who
demonstrated with us one moment would
cheer us on the next; we burst into the
room where he was, and found several
around him, but they offered only feeble
resistance; we brought our guns down TO
his head repeatedly-mysef and another
pcrson--tor the purpose of shooting him, in
the room there was young lady there,
the sister of Mr.. Fouke, the hotel keeper,
who sat in this mans lap, covered his face
with her arms, and shielded him with her
person whenever we brought our guns 10
bear; she said to us "For Gods sake wait
and let the law take its course " nv asso,
ciate shouted to kill him; HI4et us shed his
blood" were his words all around were
shouting "Mr Beckham's life was worth
ten thousand Of those vile abolitionists;" :"
was cool about it, and deliberate my gun
was pashed up by some one who seized the
barrel ani then moved to the back part
of the room, still with purpose unchanged,
but with a view to divert attention from me
IN order to get an opportunity, at some mos
ment when the crowd should be less dense
TO shoot him; after moments thought it
occurred to me that that was not the proper
place to Kill him we then proposed to take
hlm out and hang him. some person of our
band then opened way to him, and first
pushing Miss Fouke aside, we slune him
ont OF DOORS | gave him push, and many
others did the same; we then showed him
along the platform and down to the trestle
work Of the bridge, he begging for his life
all the time, very piteously at first blythe
by, before we took him out of the room
asked the question what he came here for
he said their only purpose was to free slaves
that he came heIe to free the slaves or
dlej then he begged, "Dont take my life
prisoners" but | puS the gan to him.
and he said, "Hou may kill me, but it will
be revengcd: there are eighty thousand
persons sworn to carry this work )" that
was his last expression. We bore him out
on the bridge with the purpose then of hangs
ing him; We had no rope, and none could
be found it was a moment of wild excite
ment; two of us raised our guns--whch
one was first do not kuow-and pulled the
trigger; before he had reached the grluld Il
suppose some;fve or six shots had been fred
into his body he fell on the railroad track,
his back down to the earth, and his face up;
we then went back for the purpose Of get
ting another one Stephens but be was sick
or wounded and persons around him, and II
persuaded them myself to let him alone; Il
SAID "Don't let us operate on him, but goI
around and get some more; we did this
with purpose, thinking it right and iusti-
liable under the circumstances, and fired and
excited by the cowardly, savage manner in
which Mr.. Beckham's life bad been taeen.
Mr. Anolye~ Haater-Is that all, gentle,
men?
Mr BottS-Yes, sir.
Mr. Andreac Huuter-- (To the witnassosl
Stand aside.