Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-19
LOCAL MATTERS.
1HE DIFFICULTY ON BEAL STREE
SATURDAY NIGHT.
Interesting and RerIasre particulars.

The imp0Sibuity Of gaining anything Ike
the truth. regarding the difficulty between the
pouce and negro soldiers, on saturday night
last promptedu us to abstain from giving any Of
the details concerning the affair. We are eua-
bIed to lay the following particulars before our
readers, gathered from various aud reliable
sources, together with q brief synopsis Of an
interview by Mayor Park, Aldermen Beckrel
and Toof with MaJ-Gen- smith, respecting the
difficulty on Saturday night, and brittle purpose
Of making adequate provision to guard the
oea-e and qUiet Of the .s,tg during the ap-
pruaching holidays:
How the DiEscuIty Originated.
negro, dressed in tie uniform OF an United
states soldier. with a bayonet on his person,
approached hestallofN LacroiEln The south
Marketon saturday evening. between thehogus
DISK and seven o'clock. and stealing a piece Of
meat from the stand made OF with it, and while
attempting to escape through a side door OF the
Market near the stall, was ove-taken and cap
Vurel by Mr.. Lacr0lx. Owing % the excitement
ofthe movement, and the obstreperous con-
duct Of the negro. Mr. Lacr0iX picked up q
cleaver, aging close by, and demanded the
stolen meat from the negro. which was per
sisteuty refused by him, denying all the time
that he had stolen IT, By this time q large
crowd OF negro soldiers had gathered abOu. the
place, some Of them armed with r~evolvers and
other FIRE arms. and one with a loaded hickory
stick, about eighteen orrweuty lnchesiu length,
which he had kept for some time hid in his
coat sleeve. Mr. Lacroix stu holding the ne
groiu his possession, very prudenuy sent af-er
. the Market Master, Mr.. Jas Ryan. into whose
charge the prisoner was delivered Urged on
by the clAmor FOR rescue, raised by the negroes
around him. the prisoner pulled his bayOuet,
and thrustlng u Unfortunately IN every d.
reclon about him, was frequently asked by
NJ p. a-- .-- - -H. -
10 purpose. Mr. Ryan, fearing that somebody
would be hurt. should the weapon remlin
longer In the hands ofthe nero, whose coud1ot
Lad, By this time, become utterly ia toleraaile
attempted 10 get the weapon by persuasion and
falling in that, very properl- dealt him several
blows on the head, with the butt Of a pistol,
which feled him TO the ground, though not
rendering him insensibIe. At this iunctlre Of
Affairs. Nj Mower, OF the police force, arrived
on the spot, and with his assistance the negro
was taken along BsaI street. as far as the store
OF Aldermen BeckteL, near 81 Martin street,
followed by a large crowd OF citizens and ne
g-oes. Al that time The excitement along the
street ran high, the officers and their prisoner
being surrounded by a large crowd, and
The Difficulty Beginning 20 Assume
Rather serious proportions.
thsoIcsH here urged the negro. 70 90 in and
deIvsrup his bay0ue- % Alderman BeckteI,
anu N-4aA @A4aAAaA hEaalA -AaaNAaEE AAA LLLa J
ne should not In anywise be hurt. Alderman
BeckteI. who certainly had the right to receive
the bayonet from the soldier, being clothed
with the police powers Of an Alderman. did
not ask for the bzyonet, but assured the negro
that nohsrm would be done him. il be would
only 20 along peaceably and orderly with the
officer who Rad him under arrest some eight
or ten negro soldiers now made their appear
auce, armed with muskets, and ii is believed
considerably under the influence ofIquor, and
demanded, with violent oaths and threats, the
release ofthe prisoner. This the officers refused
% DO. and appealed TO the citizens for aid to
prevent the rescue Of uheir prisoner. The
negroes. led by a most depraved looking
character, who was Afterwards wounded in the
hand, attempted an assault upon The officers,
and succeeded in releasing the prisoneri
The storeO Alderman Becktel. had by this time. I
become somewhat crowded with I0okers-on I
and customers who were unable. from the
crowd 0uusde, 10 make their exit, and thus
Afforded q good opportunity, which they did
not fan TO improve. for the officers TO escape
the threatened violence offered against their
persons by the negro soldiers, who were in the
highest pitch OF excitement. from the fact that
some one fred a shot, which one OF the
negroes said took effect in his hand.
They wanted Ryan, and rushed
into the store Of Alderman BeckteI
who tod them thai the officers were not there
the negroes knew id well they were there.
and they were going 70 have them. Alderman
Becktel told them TO look and satisfy them
selves, which they did. and not finding the OIL
cen, leH the store. Beal street was nov de-
serted by white persons, and most Of the stores
closed up. The negroes, upon perceiving two
white persons walking down on the opposite
side Of the street from Alderman Becktels
store, leveled their muskets and d-ed three OF
four shots al them. compelling them 70 seek
refuge in the store Of Mr.. Hollywood, which
was Immediately after burstel opened and en-
tered By a squad o. the soldiers. who insisted
that the officers were secreted IN the store. aud
accordingly made search through every portion
oftEs house. Not finding the officers they re-
turned 20 the store Of Alderman Beck1eL say
ing they knew Cd id well the officers were
hid In that store, but Alderman Becktel as
Sured them that the officers had went out the
back way some time since. They then de-.
parted and simultaneous with their departure,
some three or four coats were missed from the
store. i is known who took them. This is the
only case Of robbery known 10 have occurred.
Again On The street, they fred some ten OF
twelve shots. al whom or what. we could not
Ascertain, and threatening 10 burn down the
store Of Aldermen Beckel, len by the way OF
g. Martin street, 70 ind, ashley said, the house
Of Ryan. the market master.
- Troops Sent By Sen smith
The most exaggerated reports reached the
headquarters Of Gen. smith, and he immsdI-
ately despatched two companies % the scene or
disturbance, which had a very benedceut and
timely effect IN clearing the streets Of al the
turbulent negroes, before the arrival OF
Capt Grsy's Police Force.
who wereimmediately surrouned By The troops
sent there BY Gen smith, under the ap-
prsh-nsiou that they were lsWiess body Of
white persons coming there 10 proiong the diff
nculcy OF iucite the neighso-1Ood 70 riot. As
so0p a. the misunderstanding vas cleared away,
the police force were instantly released, and set
about f~eretting out the guilty parties, without
however, the slightest success
U~Bfounded Reports.
number Of reports gained crsdcace on sat
urdag night and Sunday last, many Of which
proved. after diigent inquiry, entirely ground
less.
Breaking into M. MerriII's HOuse.
The house Of sIr. Merrill adjoining the store
Of Alderman Becktel, was broken into, and
three OF four doors forced open In their search
Tor Messus. Ryan and Mower. the daughter Of
Mr. Merrill, who was in a very delicate condi-
ton al the time, and in bed, was seriously in
lured by their entrance 10 her room, and their
disgracefu1 and cowardly conduct while there.
Wounded Negroes.
Three negroes were wounded duing the dif-
hcuity- Onein the head, by The application OF
the butt % Nr. Ryans pistol, another IN
the head by some stray shot, and the third
witha slight flesh wound in the LEFT hand.
An Interview with sen. smith,
lu view Of the fact that threats had been
heard made, by uegroes, Of a repetition In q
worse form o. saturday nights proceedings
Mayor Park Aldermen BcckteI and To0f via-
ted Cen smith, yesterday, al his headquarters
N order 20 procure scme assistance ia
preserving peace and order around the market
house, and 10 obtain also the cooperation or
tie military authorities duTiug the approach
Ing holidays, Gen Smith furnished a COM
pany for guard and patrol duty about the mar
ket house he also requested Alderman Beck
tell 20 accompany AN officer. which
he would send for the purpose. and aid him
in Identifying some Of the parties
connected with the Saturday night affair.
he also expressed an earnest desire 70 co-operate
with The civil authorities in The suppression Of
Iavqessness or crime Of any description. ana %
this end be proposed establishing a military
patrol throughout all portions Of the city.
curing the Christmas week This interview
seemed 10 be a very satisfactory one, all present
being highly pleased with the frank, out-spokeu
manner Of the General
Increase Of the Police.
As tonight the Board Of Aldermen met, s. e
suggested that the police force be doubled in
numbers, and that especial police corps, num-
berng from one hundied and hfty to two hun
dred men IN each Ward, be organized and Of
hcered by the Aldermen Of their respective
Wards, to be called out only in cases OF emer-
gency. The idea isa good one, and we hope It
VIII meet with the favorable action Of the
Board.
CHANCEEY COURT-We were misinformed
regarding the decision Of Judge smith, rem
dered IN the Chancery Court on Saturday last
The note was not payable IN Confederate
money, but it was an ordinary promissory
note, voluntarily executed by Jones, the con-
Haeraaon for which was Confederate money,
which Jones borrowed Of Simon. The decision
was that O. Jones had Voluntarily entered into
the c~ontract- and had used the notes as money,
ne consideration being valuable 10 him at the
time, he cannot now be permitted 10 repudtste
The contract The decision was based on the
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