Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-20
From the Memphis Appeal. July Il.

; tons militia, and Clarence Collye
which resulted in the death {
Haynes. The affair is thus de
cribed by an eye witness:
Collyer was in McClung's grocer
where he had previously left hi
double barreled shot gun. He ha
been fishing in the morning, an
had not caught any fish, and ex
pressed his determination to @
squirrel hunting. Taking his gun
which had been loaded with buck
shot for some time, he started ou
of the grocery and walked TOWARD
his horse, which was hitched shor
distance off, remarking as he die
so, that if he couldn't catch any
fish he intended to have some squir
rels." He had hardly said this
when he encountered Haynes, who
was walking down the street. AS
soon as Haynes saw him he stopped
and put his hand behind him, as il
to draw pistol, a habit of his, by
the way, whenever he met any oi
the young men, several of whom
(and Clarence among the number)
he had threatened to shoot on sight.
AS soon as he observed this motion
of Haynes, Clarence dropped his
gun to a level and fired, pouring a
load of buckshot into his left side.
Haynes did not fall, although ter
ribly wounded, but turned and faced
COllyer-still attempting to draw
his pistol. AS he did so, Collyer
poured the other load of buckshot
into his breast and body, and he fell
to the earth, calling for help. Coll
yer, on this, took his gun, which
was now empty, in his left hand,
and drew his pistol, being then five
or six PAGES from Haynes, and fred
one shot at him, the ball taking
effect in his body. He cooked his
weapon again, and leveled it at his
victim, but the cap snapped. A
second attempt was, however, moro
successful, and the pistol exploded,
the ball striking Haynes in the head
and producing instant death.
"COllyer, after assuring himself
that he had finished Haynes, put up
his pistol, and remarking, as if to
himself, You { (Haynes) will draw
pistol on me again, may be p walk
ed deliberately to his horse, mouHted
him and rode off,
The affair produced the most in
tense excitement in Marion, and the
news of Haynes death spread like
wild fire, especially among the ne
grOes. In a few minutes Marion
was full of an infuriated mob of
them, who vowed vengeance against
not only Collyer, but all the young
men of his acquaintance-especially
McClung, Dowell and Bellows, who
were with him previous to the
shooting. Squads of them heavily
armed, and we'll mounted, set off in
pursuit of him and secured the
country for miles, visiting every
house and hut, but up to noon yes
terday they had failed to find him.
The steamer Check on landing at
Apperson's place, some miles below
the city, night before last was
boarded by one of these parties,
and not until her officers assured
them in the most solemn manner
that COllyer was not aboard, would
they allow her to proceed on her
way.
A gang of these who remained in
Marion, drunk with whisky and ex-
citement, burst open Rice's store,
ostensibly to search for some of the
Young men. Not finding them,
they gutted the house of everything
portable, amounting to about 81 800
to $4,000 worth of groceries and
drygoods. After cleaning it out
they set fire to it and left. Forum
aLely the flames were discovered in
time to put them out.
Another gang went to the house
of Mr.. McPeak, where there were
a number of young people sitting
up with the corpse of his daughter.
They clattered up to it in a most
boisterous manner, and when they
stopped at the gate they fired a
volley into the house. Two young
men who were present took to the
woods, and we understand made
way safely to this city yesterday.
We learned yesterday evening
that perfect reign of terror existed
in the country around Marion, and
that all sorts of excesses were
dreaded. We were informed that
one of the rowing squads of negroes
caught a white man near Mound
City, about eleven o'clock yester-
day morning, and whipped him
nearly to death.
Thus matters were standing at
our last advices from the other side
late last evening. The death of
Haynes is the cause of very, very
few tears, and not little gratula-
ton, for a blacker hearted, more in
famous scoundrel never existed.
He was guilty of all crimes that
a ferrous and bloodthirsty coward
like him could commit.
With his own hand he commit
ted the most cowardly and cruel
murder that disgraced the records
of the late horrors in Crittenden
county-the murder of Organ at
Fifteen Mile Bayou in January last.
1t will be remembered that Organ
was waylaid and shot at the bridge
one night by party in command
of Haynes. His wound was slight
and Organ asked Haynes to send fC r
a physician or surgeon for him.
Haynes answered that it was no
use as he had but very short time
to live, and told him that he had
better employ that in making his
peace with God. In the course of
eight or ten minutes Haynes de-
liberately put his pistol to Organs
head and killed him.
Organ was prisoner, accused of
no crime save that of being a white
man, wounded and at the mercy of
Haynes, and yet he murdered him.
Thus do the mills of the gods grind.