New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-31
SOUTHERN CORRESPONDENCE
TEXAS.
TuR STATE OF sOCIETY-THE TRUTH ABOUT TIE
SN,ITu MI,RDER-THE MEN ON TRIAL-IHE
NFGROEs-IdMIGRATIO
- o,CaStoNAT CORRRSPONDENTl

WARRINGTON, July SIN glancing over the
newspapers on my way TO the North IRON AeASS' anu
during the few days since have arrived nave Oeeh
grieved and indignant 10 how little Is SAID by It's natu
raj friends here IN behalf OF the cause OF justice there
and how wide and unresaned the torrento falsehood
from ,t enemies Dozens Of Democratic sheets led on
nv The Neto York World I'm the East, and The Louisre
Journal in West, TEEN with perverted ac
counts vanishing the disorders and atrocities con-
stautly occurring there and with defamation oil ooers
There who dare their duty. During the war; was
prisoner at Tyler stoekade Texas for ten months ana
for more than year have been duty an officer OF
the Freedmans Bureau, with my headquarters part oi
the time Columbus in the southern. and part OF the
time at jefferson, in the northeastern portion Oh tne
state In repeated tours have traversed many Counties
in the discharge Of my duty and have become acquainted
with many Of the people, white ana colored' u.
THE MURDER OF COL. CRANE-wHo THE HON. GEO, W.
-.f" SMITH WAS.
The recent murder Of Col Crane has excited horror all
over the country because 1t exceeded In wckednes
thu crimes that have been perperated Texas but be-
cause it was committed place whence the could
be carried In the distance Of Texas
crime is lost In obscurty and inscriptions press can
with mpunity, backen the name OF good man who falls
in such remote region. OF this no stronger instance
could be given than the murder Of the Hon. George W.
Smith This brave truehearted man, whose oense was
that he loved the cause OF liberty, and the friend OF
the Door freedmen murdered by the frocous people
OF Jefferson October under circumstances OF dread
full atrocy and since that time only the Rebel news
papers Of Texas but the leading Journals of the South
have engaged from time to time IN defing his mem
oIy and Justfying his murderers Let me tell the story
I'm his defense He was an officer Of the 123d NewYork
Volunteers during the war; and after gallant service, ne
resigned its close and went TO reside as merchant at
Jefferson town Of perhaps 5000 people, the largest in
rth-Eastern Texas With his uncle, Mr. Warren OF
WORK he took large and valuable stock Of goods
re, but the prejudice against Northern men was SO
that they could do scarcely any business They sod
out; Mr. Warren returned TO NewYork; but Capt smith
determined to remain He was soon afterward elected
from Jefferson the Texas Constitutional Convention,
chiefly by cOlored mems votes His ability and dauntess
spirit shown at this time brought upon him the berest
hate Of the Rebel people Although only "a years Of age
he was grave stern with deep earnestness for the
cause OF right In the Constitutional Convention at
Austin ne distinguished one OF the ADLER mem
bers In his daily life he correct almost austere he
drank smoked, chewed used profane language
When Capt Smith returned Jefferson he encountered
the fun magnity Of the white people. He was odious as
negro leader as radical. man who could not be
cOwsd, away. He odous also because he
trying TO collect from reluctant debtors the money
due For his goods. The sO-called Union who now
began TO appear, in view Of the probable election OF
unbOunded influence over the eolored people, and mauy
Of them Joined In his deracuon One OF their speaker
Caldwell refused 10 speak from the same platform with
him. Tho boarding houses refused TO receive one who
was often threatened But Capt Smith was made Of
serner stuff than 10 yield fly He sued some OF his
huse he TO the houses Of the poor coOred people
Ills vae containing bonds and notes due for his property
few days after his return On Saturday the Sd 0cto
beT as he opened the door Of hOuse-hat Of cOlOred
ioah~where he had gone TO leave his clothes to be
washed, he hailed with and fired upon by four
fsd but Capt smith drew his revolver and fred wound.
ing two Of them and driving them al away He went
commanding the post stated the facts to him and his ex
S Chief o Poce nd o SSpa Tp &
for his arrest on charge OF assault Capt Smith OBJ
these wolves Who were t6stinS for his blood They as
sured Major Curtis that the prisoner would be safe and
test Major Curtis, you surrender me to these inen
DEATH OF A BRAVE MAN.
They took him to the caaboose, Jail consisting Of
room and cell attached. It stands in triangular
space. strongly nclosed. guard Of civilians placed
around notwithstanding the guard so formally sta
toned about the JAIL Major Curtis uneasy. The
signs OF coming danger that Saturday. night
and during the next day we're 50 evident
that he sent message for re6nfOrsements 10
Cen Hayden, commander Of the subdistrct at Marshall
miles distant, Unfortunately. one LOugherry
the editor and proprietor OF two newspapers,
was consulted by Gen. Hayden. He soon procured
dispatches from Jefferson, which satisfied Hayden that
re6nfOcements not necessary, and attention
paid 70 Major Curtis's request On Sunday afternoon
OF the gathering Of the knights OF the Rising Sun
alarmed Curtis more and more and he sent l6 soldiers TO
assist 10 guarding the Jail Notice had been sent that at
come with Citizen resnforceqne1ts 70 aJd xSmf
o'clock the signal OF the knights Of the Rising
with regulated intervals upon their bell which kept in
building IN the town where they hold their meetings
Their forces organized and approached the
prison II clear moonlight night, and many also
had torches Presenting themselves at OF the gates
which ajsr they told the vacatng Lieutenant that
they we're Lochars party come 10 aid him and before
and dsalmed the guard. Captain smith was IN the Jail
were four colored confined there for various petty
oenses, and these for few delayed the crowd
wood close adjoining As they passed out Of the gate
OF them named Turner broke from those holding him
eSCaDed war fax
by the murderous wretohes distance of hundred
yards and two Of them were shotalmost shot 10 pieces
OF death. He suddenly relaxed his grasp upon those
sST 9 s5d 10 S 9S S Tay an
every prominent rusn and law breaker is cooneled
hell, aud in five minutes more your friend smith
vii! De there S,d with you he bent down to pray;
at him, shooting him IN the shoulder The negro sprang
between their legs and launched brush Afford
nreo 5oth barrels OF his gun after him. Several shot
passed through the negOs clothes but he unhut by
them Instead OF trying to escape by running away ne
turned toward the jail and secrefed himself the loft Of
old stable overlooking the jail yard knowing would
for him. From this place he witnessed the bloody
business that still went forward For time there was
whose quarters 400 500 yards distant heard the
tumult and ordered out 10 hurried 70 the
jail himself, expostulatiting with the crowd without
eHeot Key was at last procured and with II the
remained. and behind # was Capt smith There was
olamor. and pushing and confusion st last the door
and dragged him into the jail It ia common tax IN
Jefferson nov, thai Capt Smith killed the first man who
buried him secretly with their funeral rites and il was
flushed up he being man from distance. It Is an
tured into The open door was 80 beaten by Capt Smith
dragged ont backward by the leg at last some one
suggested lighting the Jail through the little window
four shots were re into him The door was SuTt SSeS
and the crowd sarged In upon him he FELL and then
body. This refinement Of barbsrity was continued Wbs
ne SiIhed and after his limbs had ceased to CULVER that