Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-17
MORE BLOOD.
A Planter Cut 10 Pieces by
an Infuriated Negro.

Yesterday afternoon few particulars
of another bloody affair in the country
reached the city. Mr.. Benjamin Branch,
planter, residing six miles out in
Hatchie bottom, had in his employ q
negro known as Adam, to whom last
year he rented piece of land, with the
understanding that he was to receive in
payment certain proportion of the
crop. Saturday last the two met to di-
vide the crop, mainly corn. 1t was
measured in wagon bed, at Mr..
Branch suggestion; but Adam was not
satisfied, and commenced INDUCING in
harsh words at the formers expense.
Not desiring any trouble, Mr.. Branch
procured bushel basket and suggested
that the corn be measured that way.
Adam refused to assist in the measure
ment, and seemed determined TO be
displeased, no matter what method
was proposed. Finally, Mr.. Branch
asked Adam what he intended doing
about it. The latter replied: al
l had an ak I'd show you; I'd chop your
id head Off. Not knowing what the
negro, now trembling with anger, might
do under the excitement of the moment,
Mr.. Branch looked about for something
with which to defend himself. He
stopped to pick up billet of wood but
before arising, Adam, who had been
closely watching his movements, sud
denly drew butchers knife aud sprang
upon him, He plunged the weapon into
Mr.. Branch's side, the blade penetrating
to and severing the kidneys. Not con-
tent with this, the black monster, with
drawing the knife, again sank it to the
hilt in his victims body, the weapon this
time entering the right side below the
ribs. Adam then disappeared, and later
in the day Mr.. Branch was found weller.
ing in gore. Yesterday he was still alive,
but no hopes were entertained Of his
recovery.
This black monster was but practi-
cally asserting his rights in the
manner pointed out to him by those
white friends, who, to secure his politi-
cal support, are urging him to every
crime against Southern white mon.
There can be but little doubt that he re-
ceived his inspiration from some
prowling agent of the Freedmen's Blu
reau, or Radical politician seeking for
negro votes. 1t is the chief vocation of
these classes to embitter ignorant blacks
against white men, and the crimes by
negroes with which the newspapers are
filled, are but the legitimate results of
their teachings.
The MAYoRALTY QUEsTIoN-FAoTs VS.
EMPTY ADMINISTRATION Ledger ::
Touching the Mayoralty the public hear
a mass of general assertion and precious
little specific statement. 1t may be all
very we'll for your Sc cond street cotem-
porary to say e Mr.. LoAand's admins
tration is failure" That is a broad
statement, and many, without thought,
will echo, certainly" But why is it
a failure; and il so, whose fault is it I"
are questions thinking people ask. |
am writing in the interest of-not Lof-
land-but fair play, and should like to
have journals or correspondents making
charges sustain them. If Mr.. Lohand's
administration is a failure, why ? Is it
through his or the Boards incompe-
tency; or because neither could over.
come impossibilties Let somebody
point out wherein the administration has
failed, and then demonstrate that Mr..
Lohand or any one else could have pre-
vented the disasters which befell the city.
This done, case can be made out
against Mr.. Lohand. Otherwise his ad-
HllulhJTdllOu must hLduu 40 having az
complished more for the public good in
fifteen months than previous admin
istrations accomplished in half that
many years. Mr.. LoAand devised
two financial schemes, either of which,
if given chance, would have
brought city money to the green
back standard. Because, through diff
ferent influences, his efforts we're rem
dered futile, are we to make him the
seapegoat for the failure and say
" Down with Lohsnd ?" No one else in
Mr. LoAand's place could have averted
the calamtiCs which have befallen the
city. 1t may be just to censure Mr.
LoAand because the Board of Aldermen
in one instance, and the jealous inter.
ference of banking organization in
another, prevented the workings of a
policy which would have rendered city
warrants par, but fail to see it. If Mr..
LoAand failed, give us the facts and
figures. Mere assertion is a FOOLS argu.
ment MAIN STREET.
neoar,har TX 1887