Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-21
THE WILLIAMSON TRAGEDY.

Il
On Friday We announced the SHOCKING
outrage Of rape upon the person Of Mis-
Eel, Of Williamson county, by a negro BY
the name Of William CASTOR, alias William
Guthrie, alas Blank, with the horrible cir.
cumstance attending the crime. On Sun.
day we stated that the black demon had
been captured, and subsequently, taken from
the Jail, at Franklin, and carried four miles
from the town and shot, This act was ap-
proved by every person in the country and
elsewhere, who read the account, who re
spected virtue and Innocence.
d But few mean whites instigated the
negroes to aveuge the death Of one of their
race, who had put himself out Of the pale
Of law by the most hideous crime known
to civilization, and characteristic only OF
the savage, Accordingly company was
raised TO Eaylay the road for the purpose
Of wreaking vengeance on those supposed
to be concerned in the death Of the erimi-
nal. On Saturday, the brother Of the out
ragged girl was in franklin, and leaving
late in the afternoon, with Eve or six others
living in the neighbOrhood, proceeding
quietly 10 their homes, we're ambushed on
the road by party of armed negroes and
whites, numbering from fifty to seventy
I've and fired upon. Young Ezell was
MORALLY wounded, and died on Sunday
evening. Two others Of the party were
also wounded, one slightly in the foot or
leg, and another, il is stated, severely, and
is feared MORALLY The boar was nearly
dark, but light enough remained 70 dis
cover among the ambushing party
sprinkle OF incendiary whites, who are
known as the ringleaders Of the worst ne.
groes, and avail themselves Of every occa-
sion to foment strife and create eBmity and
violence between the races, who would be
otherwise harmonious.
These facts show that there is an element
in this State who are determined, If pos
ible, TO first incite the negro TO laBless-
ness and crime Of the most hideous charac-
ter, and then to uphold and sustain them
in IL that the innocence and virtue Of the
white woman may be violently assaulted and
outraged by the most evil disposed OF
negroes, and when justice overtakes the
iends, their blood is 10 be avenged by
armed mobs smbushing the high roads and
numbering the white men of the neighbor-
hood. This is bringing matters to fear
full crisis, and throws upon the public the
question, whether they will permit society
10 lapse into this barbarous condition, or
save il by all the means which nature has
bestowed for self protection. We confess
that we cannot reason, upon such a theme.
The decree Of Heaven written in the hearts
OF most men is, death TO the destroyer Of
female purity. Where communities are
involved, the law is still binding, and we
say TO the fathers, and sons, and brothers Of
protect and defend your
wives, and mothers, and daughters at all
hazards, and to the last extremity The
white people Of Tennessee will sustain you.
Heaven will smile on you. Do nothing
stand on the defensive but
when a crime like that Of last Thursday is
let not the sun set upon your
wrath, but let it be satisfied at once. Be
sure that none but the guilty suffer, and all
will be we'll.
FEELING IN THIS CITY AND RUWoRs FROM
FRANKLIN YEsTERDAY.
Comparatively few Of our citizens knew
Of the murder of young Ezell till the morn
ing train arrived, when the facts were
rapidly communicated from mouth to
mouth. They created a profound sensa-
lion, and the universal sentiment was, that
he murder Of the brother was no less afro
,ious than the deflement Of the sister. BY
noon or a little after, il was rumored that
lreadful riot was raging in the town of
Franklin between the whites and blacks
these could be traced TO no
eliable source, the excitement increased,
md the universal inquiry was, what news
rom franklin A telegram from Franklin
exported all quiet at P. NJ, but no Eek
ras' being issued, the inGuiry was still on
very lip.
The interest was not abated by the ar
ival al intervals, Of sweating and dust
covered negroes, who related that fearful
var was going on at Franklin, and they
we're forlorn fugilive5, barely escaping
With their lives. One Of these in our hear
ng said there were a hundred thousand
Ku-Klux at Franklin, and he "know'd
nore'n half on EN-" His eyes shone like
he full moon aud his teeth we're like mar
lie tomb-stOnes. Another said he left
franklin an hour and half ago, and
'run'd all de way" Still another said he
vas shot a hundred times, and lifted his
laughing rags 10 prove how the balls had
iddled him A few struggling whites, the
ell-couYicted rascals who were trying 10
scape the fortunes OF a rudimentary CON
cience, came, without pursuit, from the
,loOdy sCene--one or two of them known
0 have been behind the rock fence when
lzell WAS killed. They we're all inquiring
or the Press and Times, and the over
inKious may find all they had to say in
hat sheet. -HH.
Alter the arrival Of the 5:45 P. N. train,
passengers reported that great excitement
PREVAILED in Franklin on Sunday after the
murder Of Ezell was known That negroes
Tere arriving and sending runners into the
ounlry for reinforcenents. That the ciii- |
ems Of Franklin felt the utmost indigna-
lon and were determined to defend them |
elves. That in the afternoon of yesterday, |
body Of armed negroes appeared on this
ide Of Harpeth river, near the railroad |
ridge, and that soon after a party of |
Whites from the town came to the opposite
Idle, both armed y That after remain
ng some time, the negroes proposed an ex-
'hange OF hostages, twenty each, for what
purpose Was not reported, but that no ex-
'hange was made That negroes were
iOcking from all quarters to the scene of
trife. That the people of Franklin were
'eceiying reinforcements from surrounding
That the telegraph wires had
,een cut That United States soldiers were
eaving Nashville by special trains. That
everybody and everything was war. This
Ill came by 71 O'Clock, with an in6nity
Il variations and additions 60. the story,
which may be found at least IN one Of our
contemporaries in full this morning.
q THE TRUTH.
At halfpast P. NJ, we received The fol-
owing special telegram: ...
FRANKLIN, July 20.-Uaion and Dis,
,ateh Ezell, the brother Of the girl who
vas rayished, was murdered on his way
lone from this place on Saturday night
No. fighting since then. All is quiet now
This dissipates the bulk Of the reports or
he. day. But we place credence in the re-
'ort that affairs are still threatening, and
'elieye that we may hear to-day that all
las not been quiet on the Hsrpelh. We
'ase this belief upon the fact that the vile
nstigatOrs OF this black mob do not intend
here shall be peace in the Stats, Sand that
has affair is put up % fortify the LeCisla-