Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-08-19

Word, ever and anon, comes from the
South to the effect that the Radicals have
organizeda plan in that section to spread
throughout the North, pending the Presi-
Dental contest reports of "Rebel atroci-
ties'' upon the Negroes and "UniOn men,"
Already these stories are being circulated.
The Cincinnati Gazette of Tuesday contained
dispatch from Nashville, under date of
18th, referring to dispatch he had sent the
Gozette on the preceding day that White
Union man and colored man were mur-
dered by body of Ku Kux, says: Z a.
4 Itseems now that only some twenty-five
or thirty of the murderers came into the
town, while the main body, variously re-
ported at from 200 to 400 strong, is said to
have remained within supporting distance
outside. The name of the white man killed
was 8. A. Bierfield. He was young man,
and kept q store in the town. Although an
earnest Union man, ne was quite an inof-
| lfnsive gentlem an. OF all the persons who
knew him, have not as yet heard one say
aught against hfu. He was quietly sleep
ing in his store on Saturday night, his
clerk, who was colored man named Law
renee. Bowman, sleeping also in the store.
Robinson's Circus was at Franklin that
day. The evening performances had been
| "A
were still in town when the masked horse
man came dashing in. They fired num-
ber of shots, Unfortunately drivin z
every body in doors. They then went to
Bierfield's store and knocked at the
back door. He asked who was there
They replied, "friends." He told them
to go to the front door and went
ately rushed in, and secured Bowman,
while Bierfield ran off, fired at and wound
Ell as he ran. By the blood they tracked
him to an adjoining stable, dragged him out.
placed a rope round him, and put him on
horse back. He, however. struggled to the
ground. and pteously begged to be per-
| mitted to see his mother before they killed
him. The reply was: Damn your moth
er. You shall die now" Several shots
were then fired into his body, which, as
those who afterward saw it say, was liter
ally shot to pieces. He died at once. Bow
man was then brought out and shot, and
| the assassins took their departure. Bow
man was mortally wounded, but dragged
himself to graveyard and died during the
night.
Both murdered men called loudly for as
sistance before they were shot, but no one
came to their aid. alroK 25T7 rs SEA
Such is the best account have been able
to obtain of these frightful murders. / can
not vouch for the accuracy of each partic-
| confirmed by a number of witnesses, it is
substantially correct. SCR e
Gentlemen arriving from Franklin this
evening say there is much excitement
there, and fears are entertained OF riot on
| large scale. The better class of Demo-
Gratis in this city deplore the occurrence,
but Union men Indignantly declare that 1t
is the direct result of Democratic teaching.
Of one thing rest assured, all rebel peace
professions are thoroughly exploded
There will be peace in Tennessee, but it
| will result from the putting down of these
| assassins of peace and innocence by the
strong arm OF force.
According to this dispatch, this was a
Rebel butchery of Union men, because
they were Union men, and as such hateful
to the Rebels" The design of this dis
patch and all like it is intended to "fire
the Northern heart" The readers of the
Gazette are not likely to learn that these
men were not killed because they were
Union men, but for an altogether different
purpose. What that purpose was is thus
explained by special oftEe Cincinnati Com
nsercial, dated Nashville. the 17th-the same
date of the Gasette's special:
The murder of Bierfield, at Franklin, on
Saturday night, was not prompted by po-
litical considerations. About a month
since, little white girl named Ezell was
outraged by negro, who was shortly after
taken from the Jail and hung. Two days
afterward, the girls brother was shot dead
by lot of negroes, and it is now proven
that Bierfield instigated the latter murder.
There is no doubt that Ezell's friends killed
Bierfield by way of retaliation. III u
The coronor's jury, composed OF Radicals
and rebels, returned verdict that the kill
ing OF the negro on Saturday night, was
accidental. ,-,,-s--l .,i.,.-
This same special of the Commercial COM
municates this intelligence of the atrocities
of Radical Sheriff: :.yalsasr4 \ f,5of4s
Reports have just reached here of a
bloody tragedy near WayEesboro, Wayne
county. On Saturday afternoon, large
squad of negroes were In field, drilling,
and all armed with guns. They were ap-
preached by q numcer of citizens, who ex-
postulated with them, telling them they
wished to be their friends, and asking them
to desist from their military preparations.
The negroes then stacked their arms, and
the citizens retired; but after they had
gone little way they were ambushed by
the Sheriff and a large possee, and two of
their number shot and several wounded.
The Sheriff Is reported as Radical, and
his murderous onslaught is said to have
been without provocation. The negroes
who were drilling took no part in the shoot
ing. ra bns sttslsff W ls7ae;1 i..s.5a
Alarge number of citizens in Waynes-
boro and the surrounding country, on
learning of the affair, at once arrived and
went to the scene OF conflict. Pickets were
thrown out, and every preparation made
for q terrible fight. 1t is supposed that a
bloody encounter must have occurred, but
at this writing nothing later has come to
hand riaugs = 8sE7z5 SIS -. -stazS
These facts carry with them their own
comments. r..--.rT H..r s-i.-, ai.r
A Sian AT Nudge VRiuaus.