Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-27
LOYAL ASSASSINATION.
Captain Richardson, of Humboldt,
NJ the Point Of Death from
His wounds.
1he "Forky Deer Hero SIM Wear
ing His Feather.


Humboldt last Friday night and severely
wounded. We deeply regret to learn that
the wounded gentleman is in critical
condition, and that the doctors have
given him up to die. No hopes are en-
tertained of his recovery. And thus the
foul crime of assassination, as well as
all manner of petty despotism, will be
laid at the door Of this fellow Clingman,
who commands the department OF
Forky Deer" but cannot spell it.
The outrage committed upon Capt.
Richardson was even more damnable
and aggravating than at first reported.
He was charged before drumhead
court martial with the mutilation of
general orders" an ofsnse never before
heard of in the annals of military courts.
1t was proven and admitted that one
word spelled wrong Gu an order, pasted
on telegraph pole had been corrected
with lead pencil. The misspelled and
corrected word was Forked;' the block
head had it "Forky," which answered bis
purposes and proclaimed the man. The
court found verdict of guilty" and
sentenced the defendant to be tied to
that same telegraph pole by the thumbs
for six hours, and the sentence was ex-
ecuted with savage delight. During the
time that the gentleman was tied up four
passenger trains passed by, and people
looked out in wonder at the rare and
humiliating spectacle of a free born
American citizen in time of peace under.
going a punishment that would have
dsgraced the walls of an inquisition.
Among those who saw the sight was the
Ajjutant General of Gen. Thomas, but
we have not heard that he made any re.
port of the matter. 1t was only rebel
in the hands of Brownlow's militia,
and white men have no rights which
the militia are bound to respect.
When Captain Richardson was re-
leased, he entered q civil suit
against the brute Clingman for 100000
damages to his person and mind. Emf
nent counsel was employed, and two of
Clingman' farms were attached to make
good the suit He is worth about $40, 900,
which would 90 considerably toward pay.
ing for his rascality and atrocity. He
saw that it was tight case, and tried
every way in his power, except coming
down with the money, to effect COM
promise. But he failed.
The next thing was assassination. Two
militiamen fred on Captain Richardson
as he was going to his house, in the SUI
burbs of Humboldt, late Friday night
He drew pistol and attempted to return
the fire, but failed, and found himself
badly wounded by a musket ball just
above the knee, after they had fred three
times. The next day Clngman called to
see if his work was done, but under the
prstense of sympathy. Captain Rich
ardson recognized the two men who shot
at him, and reported who they were to
Clipgman, but of course he refused to
believe it or to make any arrest.
Captain Richardson is about thirty
three years old. He has a wife and
children, was in the Confederate army,
aud is born gentleman. Clingman is
born brute, and is about forty years old.
He imagines that he is a military hero,
struts around Humboldt in full regi-
meutals, with straps on his shoulders and
cavalry boots to his knees also a long
feather in his hat, after the manner Of
some fancy soldiers early in the war,
before they had seen field service. Being
illiterate, coarse, vain and cowardly, he is
a fit tool to command the militia and
make war upon hen roosts, smoke.houses
and unarmed citizens, and possesses all
the elements of an assassin, except brute
courage, in which he is represented as
being singularly destitute There is but
one company left under his command,
and if the people of Humboldt and vi
cinity were not the most patient, Chris
tian-like and forbesring in the world,
they would raise ten or twelve men some
night and clean out the command, giving
Clingman conspicuous position on that
same telegraph pole. He richly deserves
such fate, and special hell of thumb
screws and forky" tongued snakes
made OF telegraph wire.
NEW Straw ventiIators, different