Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-24
s~THn oBroN TRAGEDY.
A Damaging Account from the Other
Side OF the Question.

The following communication has
been placed in our hands by citizen OF
Obion county, and as it differs materially
from the account we published, as we'll
as other city papers, we publish it in
order to give both sides hearing:
EDIToRs LEDGER: Having noticed in
the Memphis AUalanche, of December
LIST, false account of the brutal murder
which occurred near Tiptonville, Obion
county, Tennessee, on Saturday evening,
November goth, we, the citizens of the
neighborhood in which the dark deed
was perpetrated, deem il but sheer JUS
tice to the late Robert Dickinson. to cor
rect the many falsehoods that have gone
forth to the press at.the instigation Of the
leading murderer, Willis Jones. ases
For several years a majority of young
men, whose parents constitute the prin /.
cipal landholders, have considered II q
sacred duty TO protsct the homes of their
mothers and fathers from theft, insurree-
ton and murder, and it appears for
these reasons only did these young men
combine themselves together into what
is usually called Vigilance Committee,
or what was once styled patrol com.
pany. 1t would be proper here to state
that not only every Southern, but every
Northern gentleman approved OF the or
ganizstioB, and there ia no gentleman
in this community who will pretend to
assert that this committee ever molested
any man, white or black, while engaged
in the peaceable pursuits of his calling
On the Monday previous to the MUIR
der Eve of the committee visited Jones
negro cabins for the purpose of disarm-
ing dangerous negro. Jones met them,
and the matter was settled. The party
then left. In about an hour afterward,
as they were passing the cabins, velley
from. double-barreled shotguns was fred
at them, fortunately woundipg none Of
the party. The party then reseivad to
disarm the negroes at seme future time.
On Saturday night November 20th),
about nine o'clock, twelve of the com
mittee rode up and slighted at the cabin
they had visited en- the previous Monday.
Three of them entered the house and
opened the door, the remainder being in
the yard. Without one word Of warning
they were fred upon by Willis Jones
and eight or ten negroes. 1t was a shot
from the first volley that killed Robert
Dickinson. Ben Beckham and young
Higgs were both badly wounded. The
committee, being unsrmed, retreated.
Jones then came out of the negro cabin
aud fred load of buckshot into Beck
hams back, remarking: II wish every
man of that party was in your condition"
He and the negroes then reloaded their
guns, and Jones conducted them to his
residence, barricaded the door, and said
be would die before his negro friends
should be arrested. In the meantime the
neighbors began to collect. Jones, know
ing the extent of his crime, fed, taking
two Of the negroes With him. There ;s
no honest man in this country who will
assert that Jones had any pretext for per-
petrating this murder.
The above ia about the substance of the
most deplorsbly tragic affair that ever oc-
Cured in Madrid Bend At present the
aged assassin is at large, but who that
knows him can doubt his having dispo-
sition that will cause him to 60 forth in
the world boisterous and complaining,
but seemingly contented, as other sim
liar characters about him. But we know
that there will be an inward longing, a
slakeless thirst, for which ambition has
no cure, and excitement no arelief--a
hopeless gangrene of the rotting and fes-
tering; until the confines of life are
reached, and the spirit shakes of the dust
but not the memories Of earth. y ~ y
Marv 0rr1zrrq