, 1864-04-14
TIE JuNEsBoElo E1EFICULTE.
From Our Special Correspondent

lAlVAt oA4 CPSEsAA No11S9P5A4GIt-1
JoSxsBoro. Union County, April II, 1854
On tic evening Of the 11th inst. Gen Bra.
man at Cairo, received a TELEGRAM from
Joncsboro that soldier had shot proml-
nent citizen and Copperhead, at the same
time asking fer help lest there should be
serious difficulty between the Copperheads
and the Union citizeua and soldiers, few of
whom were home on furlongh. Accordingly
fifty men were dispatched Immediately by
special t1air with orders TO report to Captain
Phillips, Provost Marshal for this Congress
ional district. The detachment arrived ut
Jonesboro' ,etation about midnight. and
found everything quiet in that vicinity, tie
excitement having died ont. although it was
reported that some men were seen lurking
around with shot guns, and it was known
that the Sheriff and his l1ote had gone in pur-
snit OF the murderer, The so1liers remained
at the station until morning. Before day
light they were Joined by one hundred men,
Which had just been sent down from Centra
Ha- These men belonged to the esd Illinois.
and had Just received tletr furlough previous
to their departure for home. But nothing
could exceed the cnthuelasm ot these men
when they heard Of the dlsturbance.i The
only difficulty was experienced in restraining
aportion OF them from proceeding r7ith the
others to Jonesboro. In the morning it was
osce1tained that the Sheriff had succeeded in
arrestiug the murderer about. six miles
above jonesboro. A detachment of
men was sent: to the JILL to
demand that the prisoner should be
given up to the military authori-
ties, which was complied with without op-
110e3firr The Ms of+ +hn
as near as ne could learn them are as follows:
It appears that an old grndge existed between
the soldier, John Ma}gh8n, OF tic Goth ILL.,
nois; and Provo, also between the former and
rroro's son. The murderer, assisted by an-
other soldier, had beaten young Provo on
the forenoon Of the day that the father was
shot. Dut it is said that Provo himselfknew
nothing Of the affair." A pistol was;taken
away by them from young Provo which was
the samc one with which The father Was shot
later in the day. About p. m tho father
proceeded 70 Anna In his wagon, in company
tanning some lumber. When nearly Opposite
the depot, the soldier, with little or no warn
Ing, fired two shots at him without effect.
Provo then jumped from Ills wagon md
ran Into store near at hand, followed by the
soldier, WHO presented the pistol to his head
dier wss allowed to depart unmolested. He
hired q horse at the livery stable, and pro-
cfeded to Golden, whittier he was traced by
Sheriff Rich and arrested abont midnight
He WAS asleep at the time Of the arrest, aud
made no resistance, but u man by the, name
ncar his head ard struck him with it'll u5on
the forehead, inilicting seyerc wound.
Dempsy Was afterwards arrested By the milf
tary antllorit,es.
The, prisoner was taken to jail BY
the Sheriff, but was demanded By
tie military authorities in the morn
ing and given up without Opposition.
Provo, although wealthy man, is reported
! to have been notorious scoundrel. having
/ himself killed one or two men. Another
| citizen, whose name We did learn, was iarres-
| ted for hourishing his revolver aud threaten
| the statement Of citizens, Jonesboro is fire.
1uently the seene.0t rows and murders, and
is somewhat celebrated for the dissolnte
character Of the citizens 1t is hardly to be
wondered at, considering the course taken By
some Of the prominent citizens Of the county.
| were present that within less than gear a
meeting has been addressed By q prominent
political leader, during which he nd
vlsed them to resist the Govern
| uacnt; that resistance to the Government was
not perjury, since he considered It of no bind
down. It is needles to say that the z. g C's
flourish In this region, in all their glory.
There has been great change, however, in
olitica1 sentiment within the past year, and
the prospect is that 1t will not be very long
ere the sun of liberty will dispel even Esyp-
tim darkness. Everything being quiet, the
soldiers returned on the afternoon OF the ETH.
The conduct OF the soldiers thronsht was
most exemplary, and Capt. Phillips deserves
t great deal of credit for his promptness and
decision. When the people see the Govern
ment exhibit such earnestness in sustaining
law and order there 10 but little danger OF
! popular outbreaks.