Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-18

Il
the Case OF Colonel Il. M. Yerger.
The following article, which is of local
as we'll as general interest, we clip from
the Summit (Miss.) Times, of the 10th:
Perhaps Colonel Yerger was not en-
tirely justified in killing Crane. But it
is painful to US to see so many efforts to
create public sentiment against him.
Because he was proud man, and sprang
from distinguished and proud family,
and for the most part held himself above
ordinary men, there are men who seem
to relish the fact that he is in great
The military authorities of Jackson seem
to delight in indicting unnecessary in
dignities and seventies upon him. To
say nothing of their unceremonious re.
lection of his plea to be tried before
civil tribunal, q right which the Consti-
tuition of the United States and the State
of Mississippi guarantees to the humblest
of the land, il was refinement upon
cruelty to refuse his stricken wife the
poor privilege of seeing him, which was
done, until through the intercession of
disinterested parties the Commander of
the District was shamed into permitting
her to see him.
Unwilling to await a fair and impartial
investigation of the facts of the case, the
Aldermen of jackson, with indecent
haste, felt called upon to pass series of
condemnatory resolutions, prompted, we
fear, more by q desire to prejudice the
case of Colonel Yerger and to pander to
that disgusting sycophancy to the iron
power which cracks the whip of mastery
over them. than by sincere sympathy for
the unfortunate deceased.
Strange, too, as we are informed, the
public sentiment of jackson is entirely
against the prisoner. Alas, what COM
mentsry upon human generosity Here
is man goaded to desperation, his
family-his sacred household-wantonly
insulted and encroached upon. That in |
strument of household furniture which
was the comfort and solace of |
his innocent wife and daughters
the Selling of which would create q
general "tewn talk land give envious
officials the right to say "Yerger's piano |
is sold Yerger is letting down." Could
the insatiate ax-gatherer find nothing |
else upon which to levy his WRIT The
very question demonstrates its absur-
dity. And it does seem to us that there |
was q deliberate official effort to humii-
ate Yerger and his family-to add what |
is to man of Yerger's high spirit and |
keen sense of honor, a poignant sting |
which was wholly gratuitous and unuec.
esssry. And yet, Notwithstanding these
facts, the public of jackson, as we are
told, are unwilling to take into oonside-
ration the calling provocation which |
naturally maddened him--are unwilling |
TO consider the material fact that he |
sought satisfaction in what is regarded |
as an honorable and legitimate way, and |
never for one moment harbored the |
thought of MURDER in his heart. The
satisfaction was refused insolently, and |
in manner to render him still more |
desperate,
We are not attempting to justify the |
rash act of Yerger. Far be it from Us to |
lend our types TO the effort of justifying
criminal rashness of any kind, but we do |
honestly believe there are powerful pal
liations in the case, and in no sense can
q heated street reneoHtre, resulting in the |
death Of one or the other Of the contend
ing parties, be regarded as murder. Such
has never been the ruling of any Court in
THE or any other State.
We ask those persona who do not like
the "style" Of Colonel Z. M. Yerger to
look into their hearts and see how much
of their feelings are prompted by unmag-
unanimous prejudice. The ends of justice
demand that peoples passions should
have time to cool.
IL the military authorities deem it
necessary to have shining example,
with view of simply inspiring terror ia
our conquered people, they undoubtedly
have the opportunity; but the Tex
ample" will lose more than half of its
salutary influence by arbitrarily refusing
the distinguished prisoner the constitu-
tional right of trial by civil tribunal,
in the ordinary way, before jury COM
posed of his peers, and Fastening execu-
ton by court organized to convict
The people Of the State-aye, the peo-
pie Of Jackson even when they get cool,
will echo the invocation: Let Yerger
have fair trial before constitutional
tribunal.