Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-24
Confessions ExtOrted From
Them Under Torture.
The Death Of the Negro Rapers
Probable DiSbanding OF o POr.
lien or the Militia.
The Present State Of Affairs.
From the Memphis Appeal. Jan. p.

disinterred and brought to this city for
burial.
Parties. both white and negro, Radical
and Conservative, have assured us that
for days before the three unfortunates
were taken out and murdered, all five Of
| the prisoners in the Jail were tortured in
the most awful and inhuman manner, and
forced to make confessions. Wafford,
who now remains in the Jail, and likely
to suffer the same fate as his three COM
! rades, was tortured more than the 9TH
ers. They were tied up by the thumbs
for hours, their elbows were drawn to-
gether and tied behind their backs, and
10 this position they would be swung
up to limb, with weights fastened to
their feet, and kept thus until their arms
were nearly torn from their sockets.
Ropes were twisted tightly around their
necks until life was nearly extinct, their
faces were black, and their tongues black
and swollen, protruded two inches out of
their mouths. Mr.. Waford, after being
thus choked, was with difficulty resusci-
tated.
The history of the Inquisition, the
trials for witchcraft, and other instances
where the rack and fortunes were resor-
ted to, to extort confessions, shows that
men while undergoing the fearful and
horrid pains, will confess anything and
acuse themselves and others falsely of the
most absurd, heinous of crimes. Joan Of
Are, DeMolay, Grand Master of the
Knights Templar and other distinguished
instances too numerous to mention, might
be quoted. This fact was repeated in
the case Of the unfortunates at Marion.
One man, we are told, confessed to having
killed sixteen men in Crittenden county.
He furthermore said that his father paid
him seventy>fiVe cents head for their
scalps, and told other similar atrocuios
stories, hoping that his tOrmentOrs would
cease.
The four negro militiamen-Bill Por-
ter, Monroe Allen, VIM. Reese and Hec-
tor Allen-who were convicted of the
raping of two white ladies, by court
martial composed mostly of negroes,
were executed at two O'Clock on Tues
day, short distance beyond the barri~
cade. We understand that all of them,
with the exception of Bill Reese, plead |
guilty. Reese solemnly declared he was
innocent, but was proven guilty by his |
own witnesses. The vote of the court |
was unanimous for DEATH Eye-witnesses |
say that the condemned men plead and |
prayed for life in the most agonized mans
ner. The execution was conducted alto |
gether by negroes, under command Of a
negro named Gregory, holding the rank |
of Lieutenant; the entire militia force |
being drawn up under arms to witness
the affair.
This act has tended TO reassure the |
citizens TO a certain extent, but ladies, |
where permitted, are leaving the cOun-
try and coming to this city. Several
arrived thence yesterday.
From the Memphis Avalanche. Jan. q:
A report has prevailed in the city for a
day or two, and is believed generally by |
that Gov. Clayton has
ordered the withdrawal Of all the militia /
from Crittendsn, Green and Mississippi |
counties except one hundred and fifty |
cavalry, to be retained under Gen. Ups |
ham. The place Of rendezvous is under |
stood to be Jacksonport, where the |
militia will probably be mustered out Of
service.
The report that four negro militiamen
were shot last Tuesday, at Marion, in
pursuance Of a court martial decree, for
Outrages committed on several white la
dies in the vicinity, is now credited.
The names Of the women who were
outraged are as follows Mrs. J. Reeves,
Mrs. James Watson, Mrs. Galloway,
Mrs. MCGEE and Miss Swoptson.
The execution was witnessed by the |
entire militia force, with the exception of
several scouting parties.
These scouts are the very ones who
do the mischief. They feel at liberty to
help themselves to any thing that comes
in their way. But we hope that the ex>
ecutiOns will deter others from similar
crimes, and feel that the officers deserve
great credit for their prompt action.
The particulars of the execution have
reached us through various sources, but
some Arkansians, Col. Cross, for one, still
doubt their correctness. No women
have been allowed to leave Crittenden
county, though few have escaped. But
a well-known lady of this city who has
nerve, GOODNESS and discretion, has re-
solved TO visit Marion to-day and try to
obtain permission to bring away Mrs.
McAlister the lady whose husband was
killed, with two other citizen, at French
mans Bayou, few days ago. Mrs. Nc
Alister was in Memphis two weeks ago
full Of life and happiness and returned 10
her home little dreaming Of the terrible
bereavement that would soon befall her.
The lady going across the river in her
behalf is near relative and true, brave
friend, and we wish her a safe, success
ful journey and return,
The details of wrongs and oppression
borne in silence and despair by many peo-
pie in Arkansas, will, in all probability,
never. be known. Such news comes
through the swamps and across dense for
ests and over deep rivers with marshy
banks very slowly. Even affairs in Crit
tenden county, just across the river, are
but imperfectly understood in Memphis.
We have given from time to time such
facts as reached us we'll authenticated,
and our statements have been reliable
and accurate. While Mai. Harvey was
prisoner some members Of the militia
called at the house of a we'll known lady
near Marion, and said :" We understand
that you would give five thousand dollars
for Major Harney's life ?'' She replied
frankly, "Yes, l would give twenty
thousand dollars TO save his life he is
gentleman who has not done any crime,
and l would give anything to save his
life" The next day Major Harvey, with
two others, was brutality murdered by
the Militia at Frenchman's bayou.
In one instance the militia hung up a
young man seven times, to force him to,
make some confession. But he told them
nothing-probably knew nothing. FL
nally, when life was nearly extinct, he
was turned loose.
Many Arkansas people are in this city.
Eighty of them were registered the Other
night at one hotel, and hundreds Of them
are at private places. This is a time of
year when farmers need to be at work,
and when people are usually making ar
r L IL