Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-12
THINNING OUT.
Another Negro Murdered by a coIored
haa and BrOther-AocouHt
Of the Affair.
A Search for a COroner-chaotlo Condition
Of County Afalrs--The Grand
Jury Called On to Remedy
Crying Evil.

We gave a report yesterday morning In
our local columns of the killing of one
negro by another, in the suburbs night be-
fore last. Within a half hour of the per-
petration of this murder, another "kill-
ing scrape' o place between negroes
in the neighborhood of the city, the par
ticulars of which we did not obtain, how
ever, in time for our issue of yesterday.
They are as follows:
The deed was committed on the place of
EnOch Eusly, Esq, some six or eight
miles below town, on the river, by one
Horace Crawford, his victim being "a fell
low laborer named William Ell. As
usual, a woman was at the bottom of the
affair. Eli and a negro girl had been liv-
ing together as man and wife for some
time, when on a slight provocation she
left him n took up with Crawford, to
whom she was regularly married shortly
afterward. Being of a tickle disposition,
she soon tired of her new husband, quit
him and went back to Eli. This enraged
Crawford and he swOre vengeance. Night
before last, about IL o'clock, he crept into
the cabin occupied by Eli and the woman,
and possessing himself of a long single
barreled shotgun which was hanging on
the wall of the room adjoining Ellis (occu-
pied by another negro labOrer) he stealth
lily stepped into their room. Eli and the
girl were in bed, but not asleep, and as
near as we can learn he was sitting up in
bed. Crawford deliberately leveled and
fred, without saying a word, and killed
Eli instantly. The shot was heard and
aroused the plantation, and in a few mo-
ments the murderer, who made no at
tempt to escape, was secured.
Yesterday morning Mr.. T.. p. FOrsythe,
who has charge of the place and is Guilt
waiting il for Mr.. Ensley, came into the
city, bringing Crawford with him, a pris-
oner. He went directly to Squire Nor
toms office. detailed the facts, swore out a
warrant, and the Squire committed Craw-
fOrd to Jail to await a trial at the present
term of the Criminal Court. This part of
the affair over, Mr.. Forsythe from whom
we get our information) inquired of
Squire Norton for the Coroner, wishing
to nave an inquest held. The Squire re-
ferred him to Acting Coroner Squire Wal
ton. On going to him, he at first agreed
to 20 out and hold the inquest,
and wen accompanied Mr.. FOrsythe
to Diggs' stable to procure a horse.
Here, however, he changed his mind and
declined going. Mr.. Forsythe next APP
piled to 'Squires Moore and Burke, with
the same result. Being very anxious to
have an inquest held, he went to the
Sherif7s Office, but General Wright was
absent on account of illness in his fami-
ly, and the deputies present did not feel
W No0o e&NASA - Wv 1NN1
In this manner Mr.. FOrsythe informs US
he spent four hours and a half-from
eight till half past twelve, trying to get
some legally authorized officer to 90 out
and hold an inquest on the body, which
was lying, meanwhile, just as it fell.
Some one of the justices advised him to
go put and bury the body without an in
quest, and when we saw him at nearly
one O'Clock, having failed in his en-
deavors to obtain a coroner, he was going
home TO do so.
This plain statement of Mr.. Forsythe
who was introduced to us by oue of the
first merchants of the city,, is a startling
commentary on the condition of affairs in
the country at present, and shows the
necessity of having a Coroner who has his
Office in the city, and who will attend to
his business. Squire Giles, who is
the Coroner appointed by the County
Court, lives in the country, and is rarely
in the city. Inquests are neld first by one
Justice and then ENTHUSIASTICALLY
by men who are acting as magistrates
totally without right or authority, and
whose every official act is illegal, null and
void, and who are themselves liable to
indictment for assuming functions, and
usurping authority, to which they have no
shadow of a claim. This condition of
affairs must be Temedied, and we call upon
the grand jury now in session, to take
immediate action in the premises, indict
these bogus justices, and purge the coun-
tY of some twenty or more men who ara
daily sitting in Judgment on citizens,
collecting costs, leVYtng on property, and
performing oEher magisterial acts with no
authority but their own sweet will"