Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-27
THE MANCHESTER OUTRAGE.
Full Particulars Affair Still Shrouded
in Mystery

We yesterday published Telegram
| from Manchester, in this State, giving
the outlines of an outrage recently
| perpetrated in that town, by person,
unknown. Below we give the par
I ticulars from correspondent Of the
Nashville Banner:
MANCHESTER, TENN., May 23, 1863
Our town has been shrouded in
| gloom to-day. An occurrence tran.
spired here last night which fills every
heart with sorrow and every mind
with condemnation. Two negro nlen
were imprisoned in Jail here nearly
! twelve months ago for committing 9
rape upon a white woman near Tulla.
| hOma, in this county. They were in
| dicted and tried upon the charge in
the Circuit Court at the May term.
1869. The jury failed to agree, ten for
acquital, and, therefore, a mistrial
was entered. The proof was mainly
circumstaneial. but consistent and
rather strong.
The negroes, on the trial, were ably
defended by Judge W. p. Hickerson,
as matter Of charity practice, they
being unable to pay counsel They
tried to employ other counsel but
failed to do 50 from their inability to
pay.
The negroes were remanded to Jail
to await their trial at the September
term; and on last night about IL
o'clock two armed men under mask
rode up to the jail, called sthe jailer
out, presented their pistols at him and
demanded the keys under severe
treaty, and to save his own life they
were surrendered. The negroes were
taken out and hung to the limb of a
tree, rather under the bluff near the
Jail, keeping the jailer and family un-
der guard.
After the Transaction was over the
jailer walked up many of the citizens
of the town, but as he said the men
took the negroes up behind them on
their horses, no one suspected that
they had been harmed so near by,
therefore they were not found till next
morning. The lateneSs of the night,
and the rapid flight of the perpetra-
tors, made it next to impossible to
pursue them, or to make any eonsid-
cradle effort to try to ascertain the
facts till morning. The Coroner held
an inquest to-day and some facts of
importance were developed.
The testimony taken in the case
show that horsemen were seen in the
ONkirts of town, riding into town on
the road from TullahOma about II
O'clock; and that, after the occurrence
was over, hOrsemen We're seen riding
on the road from this place toward
MurfreesbQro, three miles from town,
late in the night, and that hOrsemen
We're seen again between twelve and
two O'clock, six miles from town on
the Panhandle road, going in the di-
rectiOn of Fairfield, in Bedford county,
having left the MurfreesbOrO road to
where that road turns to the left. To-
day parties were sent out to reeOnnoi-
ter the road, and found that the party
committing the crime went out the
MurfreesbOro road to the Panhandle
road, and then turned on that road to-
ward Fairfield. The trail was fol
lowed about eight miles, when per-
sons going to church rendered it inn
possible to pursue further. Up to this
time all has been done that well could
be to develop the facts. With the clti-
zens here the whole affair is shroWded
in mystery. and no one can imagine
what induced the rash act. The wO-
man they outraged is not of very fair
reputation, and has no friends who
are known here who would engage in
such an enterprise for her.
1t is true, judicial election comes
off in this circuit in a few days, but it
cannot well be seen what connection
this affair can have with it.
Judge W. P. Hickerson is a candi-
date, and it was very evident he
would carry four-fifths Of the whole
vote. The strongest opposition to his
election comes from desperate tnen,
who argue that if heis elected he will
send them all to the l,enitentiary.
The thing has doubtless been done for
political effect in some manner, but
the question is, who is III a condition
to be benefited by it? The universal
opinion is that the act was Bot COM
mitted by citizens of the county, and
we are determined, if possible, to es-
.tablish the fact.
We have fallen upon strange times.
Bad men are numerous, and bent on
pulling down the last stronghold Of
human prosperity and happiness,
There Is no security of life, liberty or
property but when the intelligence
and moral of the country rule. All
respect for king and country is fading
away, and the time is not distant
when the order of things must be re-
versed, or the sun of our nationality
viii set to rise no more.
Yours, ETC., RAMBLER.