American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-07-03
The Late Tragedy in Jackson, Miss

AS a part Of the history of the
times, and as a matter calculated to
affect most seriously the future of the
entire Southern people, we give iii
another column the, details of the
late tragedy at Jackson, mississippi,
which come to us III copy OF the
jackson CiGrjaa.
This unfortunate affair is one of
the legitimate results of the attempt
OF the Radical party to degrade to
the lowest possible depths IL people
who laid down their arms more than
four years since. \ military man
who had been loisted by bnyonets
into position where he did not be
long, an instrument of Radicalisn,
has lost his life in a sudden and
bloody rencontre. He is said to have
been man OF good qualities of head
and heart, ana his SLAYER is a member
of one Of the most prominent and in
fiuential families OF the State Of Mis-
sissippi. From other sources we learn
that there was bad blood between
Crane and lergcr, and it is known
that the latter was one Of the boldest
and most tUncOmpT0mising opponents
of Radicalism in any and all shapes.
There appears 10 have been some
Iittieness in the levy Of the piano of
Yerger's wife. If Yerger owed tax
es, the property upon which the
taxes were due should have been lc-
| We'd upon. Herger returned home
to find bis house despoiled, and the
instrument of his wife in the hands
of an officer whom he disliked and
who he thought had treated him
| badly. He demanded II meeting. The
testimony shows that Crane went oat
upon the streets and met him, though
he knew that Yerger was drinking
and i'll a terrible rage. 1t is not shown
that Yerger did net know that Crane
was on the streets in answer to his
! invitation. \ Gr,u1el enSued, blows
followed, and d homicide in the heat
of passion was the result. All OF
this was terrible enough to the par
ties themselves and to the friends
| anu ldullllS-S vi ttittl. Dul tlIClC 10
likely to follow something worse. On
the very next day military conunis.
sion was organized, and Yer@er was
arraigned before it. That conlmiS-
sion is composed OF the friends, com
panionS III arms and fellows i'll poll
ties of the deceased man. One oi
them has already been challenged
AID stricken from the array for the
expression Of opinions hostile to the
prisoner, and there can be no doubt
but that the others entertain the
opinion expressed by the one more
impulsive and unreserved. There
hy the militaHy, not i'll sympathy
personal or political, with Yergpl
. Bat they are not permitted to act
The constitutional privilege OF al
; indictment and u jury Of his peers i.
denied to Yerger, and he is hurie'
. to trial before q commission compoS
, ed OF men thirsting fer his blood
, Who can doubt the result of such ;
; trial, by such men, under such eli
f cumstanc@S
Time has intensified rather thai
? abated the deep seated hatred of til
Radical towards the people of tn
South, and the party i'll power is RoN
clamOrOus for the blood OF a yictir
of such social standing and charlct2
= as Yerger If the members Of tn
u commission had sufficiently coole
II to listen to the prompSings of inStic
L and mere. still tfeV WOusd not dal
j to disobey the power that gi,cs ttoi
:. meat and Grilii, rank, pay and pr
motion. We do not, with the light
} before us, attempt to justify this al
II of Yerger'&. 1t seems to Us 30 haN
Ic been rash, and we are SUR IlSed tn;
u his friends had not prevented it. +
Il has violated the laws of hiSS1ate, AZ
y is it right and proper that he Shout
Il answer for the violation. it is pla
+ that his i" not a case of murder, Il
81 the killing was done i'll the heat
,d passion, suddenly and under the pr
II vocation of a blow. But we do II
Ill hesitate to say, that if his life is talk
ie in pursuance of sentence OF Il
ne commission by which he is heiI
Dil tried, it Will be murder of the deepe
ef dye, If, ii the present temper of Il
&c country, the murders which disgrac,
II, the land immediately after the ST
y render are revived, no man can t
hu how deep or wide the channels
er blood will flow, OF whose veins w
We furnish the springs to swell the tlt
ill., Northern journals in the support
l., 4,,I,- .,.-l-.,i |,
the hatchet will be buried betwe
the North and South. We cam
answer a question 50 grave and O
so momentouS to the interests
both sections. But the tiullest 81
lie pleton can trnthfully say, that
m its bright edge will not l." duliel
Le- long as military commissions are
lowed to sit III times OF peace, Il
when the law officer of the Cover
eA- mcnt Gravrly declares that Congr'
'i,'- may say that war actually eHls
9h- and may continue indefinitely nj
i'A the part Of Il people WHO have ht
me diSarmc@ and deiencciaSS for Yea
ne. If the b:anN cf lcrger and the Te2
re prisoners j. offered up rs a holocu
OF to the demon Of Radic&!iSm, i Y
9'e SO thickeR the CORY &lit that u
'i,'- flows between the North and son
NN,N' that battle axe may tind its "
,hF way into the supreme tribunal OF
les; land, and thU, when it does,
,S Judges "a I'll ,purt, Oh an is.
zen which inVoiNvS not only the life
y Ill death Of an i44lvidUal, hEt that