The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-01
THE MURDERER SEIZED BY MOB AND HANGED TO
TIE LIME OF TREE.

TIE LIME OF TREE.
An Helena, Ark, letter, Of Sept. 27, to the
Memphis Avalanche, says:
Our usually quiet town was thrown into excite.
ment this morning by the startling intelligence
that one of our most estimable citizens. Deputy
Sheriff Joseph W. Msxey, was shot and killed, by
q negro man and despersdo named Lee Morsen,
about dsybreak this Sunday morning. 10 March
last during the election touching the adoption OF
the Radical constitution, an Indictment for murder
was pending against this same negro Morsen, and
Capt. Bart. Y. Turner being informed that this
fellow had come to Helena, with others, In the
very teeth Of the Law to vote at said election,
went, as was his duty, to arrest the felon, and
was by him shot ana very dangerously wounded
while in the attempt, Marsen escaping to the
woods on horse which he seized in the public
streets. he was pursued by the officers Of the
law, together with posse conlitdtrs, and after
fierce struggle, in which he shot and attempted
the lives OF several men, he was at last secured
and carried to the public Jail to await his trial.
Cnptsin Turner was not expected TO live, and
public indignation ran almost to the hight of
adopting the summary code Of Judge Lynch in the
premises, and. indeed. had Turner died that alter
native would doubtless have been taken by the
excited populace. Turner was known as a kind
and just officer, and the negro had promised to
surrender, and was approaching the sheriff osten-
slbly for that purpose when he fired the shot that
almost sent Turner to his grave and has N 8de him
an invalid for life. Morsen remained 10 jail at first
In irons, but for some reason, unknown to your
correspondent he was unmanacled ami placed in
q large cell with two other criminals of his own
color. About ten days ago, while the jailer was
In the act OF ell erng this cell, his hands incom-
NODDED with the food intended for these fellows,
More struck him on the head with large empty
bottle, terrible weapon in the hands of such
man. telling him senseless to the earth, leaving
him for dead. and deliberately possessing himself
OF the jailer's pistol, escaped with his fellow
prisoners, leaving town and making to the woods
where he was last captured. Since his escape
Morsen has been terror to the whole country,
white and black. He was always armed levied
black mail on those Of his own color, entering
their fields and houses at night, iand taking what
ever he needed or could find. Despite his varied
crimes, he made no attempt to leave the country,
but occupying with negro woman, said to be his
wife, cabin in jungle in the hills, some three
miles from Helena. he foraged upon the people
like very Dick Turpin. Within the last few days
he hailed several citizens the public high way,
coolly asking what was the news In town, and
ty his nonchGldat devil-maycare air extorted
q feeling which, If not mixed with horror at
the reckleesness Of the villain, who thus boldly
defed the laws and seemed to war upon society
with impunity, would have bordered upon admi-
ration. This state of things could not continue
forever, even in Radical ridden, down trodden
Arkansas, and last night poor Maxey, than whom
Drawer nor better man lives not in the State, ac
compsned by some four or five citizens specially
summoned for the OCCASION sailed forth to arrest
this desperate Nick of the Woods. About mid
night the deputy sheriff and his posse surrounded
the cabin, certain of their game for the well
known voice Of Morsen was heard within. The
party remained peIdu until just before day, when,
forming GORDON, they surrounded the cabin
Maxey grayely and firmly insisting that he Nor
sem should be taken alive. Maxey approached
the door, knocking, and in the name of the law
demanding the surrender Of Lee Morsen. In
moment the door was partially opened, and the
next moment there was fash and a report, and
Maxey fell back corpse, just breathing
the name of one Of the party, aud of
his now boken-hearted widow. Alter shoot.
ing the deputy sheriff, Msrsen attempted to
escipe-Iot, however, until he had shot
MIR. Nesgle in the thigh-a bad though not dan.
gerous wound-and wounded by listol shot in
the right breast Andy Burns, (colored) who to-
getber with Mr.. Henderson, also colored were Of
the posse comiatus. Several of the party fred at
horsen as he fed, bat it not being yet dawn, in the
uncertain light their shots were Of course not
curate. Two or three Of them did, as it after.
arm was broken and he had received one or two
other slight wounds. And now comes the finale
Of this unfortunate tragedy. As soon as our citi
zeDs learned of the murder of Joe Maxey-a pop
ulsr, highly esteemed mana murmur of indig
nation was heard and hundred armed men
svvurvu tue wvvuv, tuvh tuv rnuruvrcr, ana after
voting in the affirmative, they hung the scoundrel
to limb. and thus appeased the names of the IN
happy officer of the law.
Our whole people deeply regret this melan-
eholy affair, which has cast gloom over every
home 10 Helena. Lynch law is ever TO be con-
demned. II is desperate remedy, to which an
outraged people only have recourse in the last
resort; but ever since communities were formed,
ever since the days of Wat Tsltr, aud centuries
before his day, the stern voice of wronged
people drowned every seduction Of the
courts or legal technicality. White and
black regret this sad visitation, but all
grades Of society unite in expressing the
sentiment that this was one of the occasions, if
they ever exist, when summary Justice finds pal
liatlon in the enormity of the offenders crimes.
The desolate home and helpless orphans of p Dor
Mickey receive the deep sympathy of cur whole
community. Justice, be il swift or slow, cannot
remove the cypress hanging over the door into
which he never again will enter. he was brave,
good man, and fell at his post In the faithful dis
charge of his duty. the highest eulogy friendship
can pronounce at his grave.