Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-27
BLOODY WORK.
An Ola Citixen' Murdered for His
Money In Bfs own House.
Five Of the Murderers Killed by
His Sons.

Colonel David Coleman, an old and
wealthy citizen Of the highest standing,
was murdered in bis own house. four
miles from Trezevant, by band of rob-
bers last Saturday night. The murder
was committed for the purpose Of carry
ing out robbery, and was one of the
most cold-blooded, diabolical deeds that
has disgraced the annals Of West Ten
nessee. Colonel Coleman being in easy
circumstances never scld any cotton
since the war, although raising it every
year, until few days ago, when he car
ried fifty bales TO market. The supposi-
ton in the community was that he had o
large sum Of money in his house.
Shortly after dark last Saturday night
party OF men rode up to his gate, and
called for him to come out He hesitated,
but finally went to the door and partially
opened it. The appearance of the crowd
confirmed his suspicious, and be re-
treated. The robbers at the same instant
opened FIRE on him, and he fell pierced
with three balls, and apparently dead.
1t seems that there was no other white
person about the house; but a negro es-
csped, and notified the sons of Col. Cole
man, who live on an adjoining place.
They armed themselves as quick as pos
sible and repaired to the place, and found
the robbers searching the house. One of
them on watch gave the alarm, and the
whole party fed to their horses and es'
capped; though two of them probably
went on foot, for the Colemans were 80
close on them as to get two of their horses.
This enabled them to identify some of
the crowd subsequently,.
Col. Coleman fingered until Monday
night and died.
On Sunday five negroes were arrested
and acknowledged that they were con-
cerned ia the affair, and also mentioned
two white men who led them. The
white men have escaped from the coun-
try. On Monday the negroes were COM
mitted to Jail at Huntington, the county
seat of Carroll county, some ten or fifteen
miles distant from the scene of the
tragedy.
Tuesday night, the 25th instant, the
two sons of Colonel Coleman, at the head
of considerable party of their neigh
bors, appeared at the Huntingdon Jail
and demanded the prisoners. They were
not disguised and made no pretense or
concealment as to who they were. The
jailer refused to give up the keys, and
made bold front for defense. But the
Colemans told him that their father had
been murdered by these negroes, and
they were determined to take vengeance
at all hazards. Seeing that they were
terribly in earnest, the jailer surrendered
the keys. The negroes were lead out a
I
convenient distance and riddled with
bullets. The negroes before dying con-
fsssed that they had been acting as
Ku- Kluxes ever since the organization
came into existence. And this accounts
for many mysterious outrages in Carroll
and other counties heretofore laid to the
charge of returned Confederstes and
other good citizens.
No arrests have been made nor is it
likely that any will be. The moral
sense of the community, though opposed
to the irregular execution of justice in
any and all cases, must in this instance
sympathizs with the surviving members
of Col. Coleman's family who avenged
his death in such terrible manner.
To Mr.. Hutchinson, the gentlemanly
conductor on the Memphis and Louis
Vile railroad, we are indebted for the
foregoing leading particulars.