Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-17

A most atrOciouS murder was committee
in our city yesterday, at half past eleven, a
the Charleston depot, wherethere was gov
ernment sale in progress. c. M. Dyer, lat
Lieutenant Colonel of the LIST Tennessee Cav
airy, one Of Tennessee's best soldiers, an.
one of our best citizens, was deliberatei,
murdered by negro soldier.
So far as we are able to learn, the facts ar,
as follows:
The Colonel in company with Capt Sharp
having completed his purchases, went to III,
rear of the building, which contained III,
property they had bought; at this place ,
negro guard was stationed, with orders t.
allow no person to enter the building ercep
on business. Each of the gentlemen had III,
necessary papers in hand, to show that h,
was entitled to entrance, and Capt SharI
did enter unquestiOned but Colonel Over
who was Immediately followingthe Captain,
was ordered by the guard TO halt the Col
onel told the guard he wis after his
property at the same time showing hi.
papers, and then stepped in the building
when the guard fired upon him, shot him
through the breast and killed him in
stantly.
The body of the murdered man was i'm
mediately taken possession OF, and placed in
a metallic coffin, preparatory to sending him
to his home at New Market. In the death
Of this gentleman, we have to deplore the
loss of one of Tennessee's first defenders,
and best citizens. He left his home and
Joined the Union army as private, in Ken
lucky, as early as 1862 Shortly thereafter
he was promoted to First Lieutenant, in his
regiment, and then again to Major. in
August, 1868. At the time of the Wheeler
raid on Nashville, in 1864, he was promoted
to Lieutenant Colonel, from which time he
was in command of his regiment until mus
tered out of service. Since then his course
has been marked by his efforts to restore
peace and harmony to the people of his
vicinity, and in every manner, indicative Of
good citizen of Tennessee devoted himself
to her best interests.
That the life of any man, and especially
OF one so well known and beloved rs he,
should be thus wantonly sacrificed, we, in
unison with the voice Of the people, take
occasion to deplore that mems lives are to
be continually endangered by set of men
in authority, utterly ignorant of the faculty
of discernment between right and wrong. we
emphatically protest against. We do not
WISH ~ AAAhCActOOQ VIC HEC among IleSG
that are of the opinion that mob law is in
any case justifable
What the world may think of us from
the developments of later period in the
day, we are not able to predict. Whether
1t will make allowance for the feeling of
those who knew the murdered man best.
associated with him through the trials of
four years terrible war, experienced Al his
hands the ministrations Of an excellent Off
Ger and almost brother, and who in their
rage at his tragic fate, took the law into
their own hands, and punished the muir
derer, or judge those who participated in
the summary punishment, ms men utterly
unused to recognition OF civil law, we
cannot venture 70 say.
We are inclined to the belief, that the
sober second-thought of a people, will SCI
yerely. condemn this usurpation of civil
law, which attaches TO rs an unenviable
reputation.
The guard, after having done this horri-
bic deed, was arrested by Capt. Wainwright,
and sent under guard to his office, there to
be placed in custody Of Capt. Abdill, who
the negro's company. IL seems.
that before reaching the Office, the guard
quilted him, and he was met by his officer,
who asked him what he was doing away
from his place Of duty, to which the negro
he had been ordered TO his quar-
ters under arrest. The officer then ordered
him to go into his quarters, to await a
urther development of the fact, Of which
he negro availed himself to make his es-
ape.
By this time an Infatuated mob had gath
red, and proceeded to the Office and de-
handed the negro, but the officer being
Unable TO produce him, was menaced with
hreats OF hanging, for being accessory to his
'scape. Through our intercession, the mob
greed that we, in company with the officer,
hould seek him, but our search was in vain.
Returning to the mob, we informed them
# the fact, when three or four Of them again
ook the officer, to renew the search, making
he success Of sie search a condition of his
,wn life. At about two o'clock, the muir
Ierer was found at the government corral,
There he had secreted himself.
In attempting to make his escape, about
ozen shots were fired at him, three Of which
OOIs effect, but none seriously disabling him.
lie was at length captured and dragged
0 the corner on which the office of the
freedmen's Bureau stands, where an at
empt was made to hang him. Up to this
ime he had exhibited little or no sign
{ life, and it was generally supposed that
he rough treatment he had experienced
ad proved fatal put upon being pulled up |
y the rope, he struggled so violently that
he rope broke, and he fell to the ground.
Jumping up, he made desperate attempt |
escape, but was soon overpowered, and |
len taken to the yard in front of Capt
Vainwrighfs Office, where, after procuring
stronger rope, and allowing the wretched
ian few moments to appeal to the Source
all Mercies, the memorable mob hung
i'm to tree. 1t was full twenty minutes
sfore he ceased to struggle, a,d fffteea min
les moro before judges pronounced the fact
lat his guilty spirit had taken leave Of its
hastily tenement.
That we may never again have occasion
chronicle the repetition of so dastardly a
urder as was committed by this negro, we
ray not to occur, and that our people may
ever again take the Jaw into their own
lnds, we do as earnestly hope.