The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-07-15
TRIAL OF E. M. YERGER.
Before N Military Commission, foz
she KILLING OF .BOsePk u. Crane. s
TwENTY-sEcoND DAY
TESTIMONY or W. n. MecARco.

practieing my profession about twenty
eight years L have known the accused
since the fall of 1865; since that time have
had frequent and familiar intercourse with
him: l have two or three times and at dIf-
ferent places observed peculiaTities ia his
character of mind visited Memphis ia the
latter part OF the year 1865, and met with
Mr.. erger and some other of his friends
and the meeting was cordial and agreeable
on my part and seemingly 50 on his. 50
much 50. that he insisted on my going TO the
Overton Hotel and staying all night L
consented TO do 50 with great reluctance,
because my custom is not to leave home
without letting my wife know that | would
be away all night, but he urged me so sole
itously that l stay ed overnight, and went
with him to his rooms atthe Oyert0n Hotel.
/ was in company with DIR. Lyles, then OF
Noxubee county, an acquaintance of NINE,
and Gen. Taylor, of Holly Springs. Soon
after We got supper we wentup TO his room !;
] found he was in a difficulty, or that
difficulty was brewing between him ana
Col Barksdale. the Editor OF the Clarion.
He commenced TO detail the circumstances,
and talked about the matter, in very excl
ted manner; not so much so at first, but he
continued the conversation, and su far IS
know talked through the night. some
times went to sleep and left him talking,
and on waking up, still found him talking
If he slept any 1 do not know next Torning
after breakfast, we repaired TO his room, he
was still agitated on the subject of the
difficulty between him and Col. Barksdale.
| apprehended something serious. and de-
sired to stop it, and suggested to DIR Lyles
that we mi ght see some of our mutual friends
and get the difficulty mutually adjusted.
With considerable difficulty We obtained
his consent.
The difficulty was all due to the peculiarity
of his mental condition at that time. which
struck my mind as being singular. He
seemed to think. that having political po-
sitiOn in the State. beyond that of any other
person, might say incomparably more i'm
portant he could see no opposition to him,
on the part of Col. Barksdale, except that he,
Barksdale. had TO put him out of the way.
He did not believe, seemingly, that we
could adjust it upon honorable terms though
he finally consented that we might make
such exertiops to Ilo so as we thought pro-
per. The peculiar influence upon his mind,
was, that Col. Barksdale knowing bis inn
portance. his influence, and his popularity,
and his control of the people of Mississippi,
had but one remedy, and that was to sup
plant him; therefore lie thought it could
not be honorably adjusted, Col. Barksdale
could not have any personal enmlty TO MN,
he could have but one object, he knew lie
could not suppiant him, in his supreme po-
sition. as "A popular man in the State OF Mis-
sissippi. except by taking his life. therefore
he though il would be necessary TO call him
to the field, and have il honorable adjusted.
And that made an impression on my mind.
to see some four mutual fTiendS-we saw
Col Galloway of the Avalanche, Gen. Pike
ofthe Appeal and Judge fcute, formerly
of this place. We consulted together, and
tried TO take the matter out of the hands OF
Mr.. Y erger. in order that any communica-
ton going to Col. Barksdale, should go
through one of our hands. We effected that
object; in accomplishing that L was detained
till after dinner; by some means | got sep
arated from DIR. Lyles; went to the hotel
knocked ut the door; there was no response,
and | walked in; | found him lying upon
the bed. and as | opened the door rather
gently, he bounced up, remarking to me, Il
know what you are after, sir: you are here to
rob me, but | know how - meet you sir
Colonel, said /, l,don't understand you well
said he, Il understand you, you are here
for the purpose, not only of robbing me, but
numbering me, and L know how to meet
YOU" | don't pretend to give the precise
language, but that is as | recollect it. lie
then commenced throwing down the cover
lid of the bed, the pillows and the holsters
and seemingly, aiming to get weapons.
was comp letely astounded; our intercourse
had been familiar, friendly, free and very
cordial. so far as | knew. / placed mySelfin
the best attitude of defense ! could by TAX
ing possession of 4 chair and approaching
the door. i thought it would be best If ne
cessary, to get out, rather than lflve any
difficulty, having no weapons, | would Ge-
fend myself with a chair; as / got to the
door, DIR. Lyles came in, fortunately for me
and attracted his attention; he instantly
threw back every thing he had, pillows, bols.
tiers and coverlid, came up to us in the most
cordial and friendly manner, and was a:
friendly as | ever saw him-quite at himself
still | was not a little nonplussed, little
confused. and a little embarrassed. and
didn't get over it for Il little while; but he
was so cordial, that when | had recovered,
was induced to stay all night to settle this
difficulty, by his his continued and earnesl
appeals; that | thought was singular and {
little extraordinary during the night, anC
during my whole continuance with him il
Memphis he talked of nothing else, eXcep
when | first saw him, when he said he haC
/ importan, business. that he expected 70 max,
a great deal of money, but he never SaiC
ANYTHING of it after that aud spoke o
nothing but the Barksdale difficulty
| The excitement during two days and night
| was very extraordinary. very remarkable
\ he was talking wildly, and to some extent
/ if not incoherently, inconsistency; he sug
gested one proposition at one time, Yerl
shortly he would suggest another; | hardly
| knew how to account for such extreme eX
/ haltation,of nervous and mental excitement
| and was considerably at loss to know how
! to understand it; the impression made thel
and there, upon my mind, was, that Their
| was some unsOundness ofintellect with him
| it was different from our interview in Jack
/ son. it was different III every way, and mad
a lasting and marked impression upon III,
mind.
There were two occurrences in the city G
Jackson, that were singular, and out of tn
usual mode of intercourse with friends:
think it was in the spring of 1868, probabl,
over year ago; It was at the time the i'm
migration convention was held in jackson
Mr.. Everett was here; during my visit t.
! this place for the purpose of paying til
back State taxes of d good many of IN
4 orb or / sell fpH IA
time ofthe immigration convention in orde
| to be at that convention; had some bust
ness after supper, at Mr.. Swann's office; MI
Horn was fixing up my tax titles, and wen
over, and | paid him the taxes of som
twenty or thirty of my neighbors; it too
us till between S or o O'Clock; walking on
from the capitol, | met Mr.. 1erger, and h
proposed to 90 to Mr.. Spengler's and take
drink, which | consented to do; we wake
in, there were no persons III the house eX
cept the bar-keeper; l think there was Onl
one in there at that time, Mr.. ROhrbGcheT
lust as we were in the act of taking on
drink a man came striding in in rather
theatrical style, and quoting to himse
Hamlet's sOliloquy, muttering to himse
rather, he walked through the saloon; jul
as he entered Mr.. Yerger touched me an
said, ''do you see that man." he put n
glass down hastily, rather precipitately, an
| went down to the lower end of the cOuntC
and borrowed pistol of the bar-keeper.
I watched him. for it was singular conduct; Il
gentleman who had come in had said notl
ing to US. and his talking to himself was +
offense TO me, at least; instead of putin
) the pistol in his bosom, he took it and bel
it partially concealed under his coat;
followed the man, but before getting col
venient distance. the man had passed out
the door: he said if he hadn't got out OF
so quick l would have got hin
: said l. didn't you know that man; | kne
e him; he was member of the ConYentiC
that was appointed to meet by the name
Chappell, think Judge Chappell; ask
him if he knew him he said he did; ask
him if he had any difficulty Wi
T him: none in the world, said h
then why did you do that, asked ? becau
l felt, replied he, right here, pointing to
: heart that aS soon as he entered the roo