The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-03-06

worthy eX-ConIeQeraga soIdieFs resident 81
Columbia. while travelling between Henry
vile Lawrence county, and Mount Pleas
ant, Msury county, was attacked. murder
ed and robbed by msn uamed Walker,
who with Bieknell's horse, purse and valu-
ables, made his escape, but was afterwards
captured and placed in Jail at Columbia.-
Further we will let the Banner Of Wednes.
day tell the story as follows:
At the hour Of 10 o'clock on Monday
night. party of about twenty horsemen.
well mounted and completely disguised in
the Kuklux mask and mantle, rode into
Colum bia, and proceeded directly to the
County Jail. They took the precauuon TO
picket all the streets leading TO the Jail. and
halted every citizen going in that direction.
Three Of the unknown entered the build
ing and called for the jailer. Mr. White
Immediately came forward and demanded
to know why they were there and what
| they wanted. One Of the number replied,
"We want the murderer OF John Bicknell.''
The jailer said, 1.-THE prisoner is in the
hands of the law you can get him only
through an order from the Sheriff. There
upon the unknown, in deep gutteFsl voice
answered, 1--WE are the law, and this (pre-
senting navy at the head of the Jailsr) is
our order" Mr. White at once called up
on his wife for the keys and delivered up
the criminal, who was Immediately seized,
taken out, and hurriedly placed behind
one of the horssmen. The party then start
off at a gallop.
The firing of pistol was the signal that
called off the piokets, and, in less than We
minutes from the time Of the entrance into
town of the unknown squad order and quiet
again Eeigned.
Many were the surmises of citizens as
to the character and object of the reseuing
party, some insisting that they we're the
friends of the prisoner, while others were
equally confident that they we're friends
Of the deceased, who we're determined to
avenge his death. None knew the truth,
as the whole affair was conducted by stran-
gers. Yesterday morning a rumor was
rife that the body Of the murderer was
hanging to tree in the cemstary, near the
grave of Bicknell. Hundreds of curious
and credulous persons hurried to the spot
only TO be deceived by the hoax. The
mystery continued as dark and deep as
ever, until about 10 O'Clock, when 3 party
of citizens from Bear Creek rode into town
bringing with them prisoner who was at
once recognized by large number OfPersons
as the criminal who had been taken from
the jail the night before.
The disguised parties who had spirited
Walker away, have, of course nothing to
say as to the manner of his escape, for
any statement from them would expose
their connection with the transaction. We
are, therefore, left for the fact entirely to
the statement Of the prisoner, which may
as far as his reliability is eTued, be
true or false. He says that he was carried
after having been bound hand and foot, TO
point on Duck River. two miles east of
! Columbia. and, in that dark, uniDhabilable
bend, was united, taken to high rock on
the bluff, overhanging the stream, and told
| that he had but few minutes to live,
! which he might devote to prayer. AS he
pretended to kneel down, he threw himself
] into the cold swollen stream beneath, and
was fred at at least twenty times while
swimming across. Having reached the
northern bank exhausted and almost frozen,
he made his way TO a house in sight, and
asked that he might warm and dry him.
self. He accounted for his condition by
saying chat he had swan the river while
holly pursued by band of robbers. A
seat near the fire was given him, and
while he was warming himself, Mr.. Doolvy
the master of the house, provided himself
with double barreled shotgun and for
bade his leaving, on the ground that the
manner and hour of his untimely visit we're
such as to awaken a suspicion that he had
been guilty of some evil deed. The stran-
ger protested his innocence until the arri-
val of Mr.. Loftin, father-in law of Mr.. Doc
ley, who recognized Walker as the man
he had seen in the Jail at Columbia dur
ing the day. Finding himself cornered. the
prisoner made full confession Of his guilt
He stated that he had recently been to
Memphis, where he had got on a spree
ard spent allhis money, and had also part
ed with his horse. While vending his
way home. foot sore and weary, he stopped
at Henry vile, bought a quart of mean
whisky, drank freely, and. when overtaken
by the unfortunate Bicknell. he was drunk
and desperate Without provocation he
fred the fatal shot with no other motive
than to possess himself Of the horse of his
| victim.
Walker, yesterday, placed 10 the hands