Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-03


informed that the author Of the article 4
q near relative of one Of the actors il
that fatal tragedy, be will no
be surprised that facts have beer
stated which ouly existed in thu
convenient fancy of the author, for thu
purpose of preventing the acts Of hi
kindred from passing to the public view
linked with infamy. As to the status IL
society of the young men who composed
that lawless band, will leave the public
20 Judge from their deeds. As to youne
Dickerson, ] was surprised and shocked
TO find him among the assailants, and
can but think he was misled by the wiles
of some crafty scoundrel. ButR passing
notice of the subsequent acts OF that com.
mittee present convincing proof of the
cast and desperate character OF the
ruling spirits Of that self constituted
com mittee. Hence, il cannot be true, as
stated, that every gentleman there is in
sympathy with that awless band. The
lawless intent of those night providers is
conclusivelyshown by their laying in wait,
like the highwayman, until the Sheriff
and guard approached with their wonted
victims, when the disguised, cold-blooded
assassins pushed from their concealment
and forcibly took, and bravely shot, six
negro prisoners, four of whom they had
fed from, two nights before, when they
had the power of resistance; the others
we're not guilty of even self-defense.
Such reckless disregard of human life
is enough to sicken the heart aud curdle
the blood of humanity, and | will not
pain the reader by recital of the details
of that horrible and shocking murder.
Again, their utter disregard of justice,
order and law is seen in the flight of the
peace officer from his home and family
to avoid their threatened vengeance, be-
cause he saved me from their assassins-
ton. 1t is also seen in a notice given by
them to witness, that if he appeared as
witness in my behalf it would cost him
his life. And it may be found in the no.
tice given to some of the late Grand
Jury, in session at Madrid Bend, that piss
tolls were the supreme law of '"that terri
tory" and il they found true bills for
certain ofensss their necks would pay
the penalty. And again it may be found
in their published resolutions in which
they declare to the public in open day.
koht, and without their masks, that the
negroes should not exercise the privilege
which every State has given them, and
that if they did il would be at their peril.
And vet they are called the nobility of
the land and the aged assassin. Now,
as to those resolutions, they were not got
ten up for the repose and security of So
ciety, nor from any fear of negro out
RACES for at that time the terrible bru-
tally of those masked ruffisns had driven
nearly ell of the negroes from that sec.
ton of country; nor had the negroes
been guilty of any outrage since the war,
while there had been more murders per-
petrsted in that county 10 the last three
years by whites thau any other county in
the State. Yet they passed unnoticed
the crimes of the latter; painted offenses
Of the former that, in fact, had no exist
ence. But to give show of pious re-
gard for morality, they induced one W.
Hawkins, who had recently dotted his
ministerial robes, to inspect whisky at
the distillery of his brother-in-law, Har-
ris, and to see that Harris did not de.
fraud the Government of rere.ue.
Therefore, it is apparent that these reso-
lutions, like the article, were gotten up
as thrust at my character, and to make |
the false impression on the public mind |
that had aided the negroes in most |
wilful murder, and thus hoped to mislead |
and poison the public mind against me,
and in that way to sllsy the storm of
public indignation and horror at the |
murderous assault upon me and the as
sassnation of the negroes. And should !
q company of United States soldiers |
chance to land at Tiptonvillc for few |
hours, more than half the participants in |
that meeting would suddenly discover,
BY the aid Of their guilty conseiences.
that they had important business just |
beyond the Father of Waters" The |
statement that fed from justice is also |
untrue. The officer in charge Of me
carried me to Memphis, and delivered |
ne over TO tne civil AUTHORITIES, where |
remained until was voluntarily carried
before the Judge of the 0bion Circuit,
then at Dresden, for an investigation;
and all parties interested were notified
TO come forward and show cause why
] should not be discharged. Twelve wit
nessss sers 81 " monsd and most of them
examined; and, after a faithful investi
CATION and full confession of my whole
offense, was discharged, and my con-
duct vindicated by the laws of my
country. | courted and challenged in
yegtigation of my conduct; ! could do no
more. defy ny Would-bs agsassins to
do the same defy them to Icy aside
their disguise and confess the extent OF
their of'enses. as ! have done. Bat they
will never do it, Yet they will insidir
ously do sll they can to blscken my
character. Our legislators have recently
said, by their action, "thst if any per-
son or persona, disguised or 10 mask by
night, should enter the premises of
another, it should be considered prima
fdcte erfdence that bis or tneir intention
Is 10 commit murder In the first degree"
Is that an approval of my action or Of
thoss disggised night providers who we're
resisted By mes ] leave its solution for
the public. Had / consulted my own
inclinstions, should not have troubled
you with this letter, but justice to my
friends and kindred demanded that /
should explain my oondnct and expose
the insidious wiles Of my RUTHLESS de-
famers. WILLIS JONES.