The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-04

| express cart and q sufficient number Of
aids hired for the occasion, force an en-.
trance to the house. The household is
frightened, the piano, a cherished in
strumcnt, owned by the wife before
her marriage is seized, and for the, first
time in the history Of Jackson re-
i spectacle family is seemingly insulted
outraged and disgraced. Colonel Yer.
ger was in Memphis at the time. To
man of ordinary type such q proceed
ing would have been deep, bitter
calling humiliation j. to a man of Yer
gor's temperament it was not merely
maddening--it made him mad, land
1.-THE, result is what we now deplore.
t. Ihavainquired ofmany persons why
Col. Crane, man uniformly well spo-
ken of, could have acted in this unfeel-
ing way, when Yerger had bona 1idt
claim against the city for at least twice
the amount Of these taxes. / am told
that Col Crane was urged to doit, some
sayby those high in authority here
that he, was twitted with cowardice,
that he feared to do his duty, sc. My
own opinion is that some base souls
here, envious and craven-hearted,
sought the humiliation of this family,
and rested not till it was accomplished
through official interference, but in
such way as to save their own skins.
The trouble was provoked; a worthy
man and good officer has lost his life.
Why ] think tia calamity, and no
crime punishable by law. can tell in
a few sentences. elaf fffi9 gasf,s
During recent visit i made to
Jackson, ! spent one day at the Bar
racks, where the Military Commission
is being held, and listened to the testi-
mony of one of tho medical experts, a
physician of ability and good standing,
and who had for many years known
Col. Yerger and his kindred. The
physician detailed some of the halluci-
nations lie had himself witnessed, and
gave his opinion of others that had
been deposed to by others. He ex-
pressed his conviction that there was
but one rational explanation; that it
was case Of moral mania, derange-
ment of the moral faculties, but where
tho intellectual faculties were in great
measure undisturbed. tss go
confess that the testimony of this
physician let considerable light into my
own mind. I had again and again
heard Of Yergor's eccentricities, but
had not heard OF many Of the absolute.
~ crazy acts, detailed in the testimony
and which, occurring for the most par
in his own. house, had been kept from
the public. had known of many o
his unparalleled eonceits, and, as u
supposed, superabounding vanity. ]
used to laugh when my friend. the edi
tor of the Memphis 49,, would re-
peat to me dispatches he occasionally
received from this genius. The usua
strain ran thus -" Colonel E. NJ. Yer
ger, the undoubted leaderof the Missis
sippi press, has announced his inten
tion,"" Col. f. M. Yerger, of jackson
whose position as head of his party
and whose unquestioned ability" &c
Poor Yergerl 2iptf zig o. : !.
At the time the Democratic Convention
was held in New York, 1 heard Of some o
the unaccountable conceits Of Ed. Yerger
conceits now solved, but that came yer,
near breeding grave disturbances at tn,
time. General Freeman, md other dele
gates from this State, felt some astonish
mont and no little annoyance that SO it'll
attention was paid, ard SO few cards lef
for the Mississippi delegation. The usun
attentions and courtesies were almost en-
tirely wanting. 1t was soon accounts
for. Ed. Yerger, with his damnabl
efrontery, (this was the explanation give
to me) had ordered the clerk Of the hote
to send oil the cards for the Mississippi
delegation, to his room, and il was done
He was the Mississippi delegation, th
honors should therefore be his. fa ~
During that memorable convention d III
tic event transpired, which for certain re,
sons, recall with peculiar interest. Mr.
. Senator Sprague invited Colonel Yergcr t
one of her receptions. Whether others
tho Mississippi delegation. were invited {
not, am not now positive, but our hel
alone went Mrs. Sprague was, as 81
, always, is, enchanting: ''she famed he
: yelf with the grace of an hour; y SO +
$ Yerger said, "but captiyated, 1 perfect
vanquished her." .....l..5.. sit.fg.
> 1t is convincing evidence to my mir
!, that Yerger is morally aud legal
irresponsible for the terrible deed
| has committed, that he has, as | a
credibly informed, no realizing sen
Z of the Nervousness Of his offense. II
manner in the Court room interest,
me. He pretended to be; reading
. newspaper most Of tlfe time, bat VIII,
some point in the testimony would a
. rest his attention, lie would lift his ey
over his glasses, rs they were perch
/ upon his nose, direct them toward t
: witness with a sort of half inquh