Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-03
force without the showing or reading Of
authority Respectfully
Il JONI ID. ELLIOTT,
Captain Steamer Legal Tender
FalAr's POIs., Mss June \ $50

M FRiAR's PoISr. Mss. June !. 1870.
| To the Editor Of the Ledger:
i notice in your issue Of yesterday a
card from John ID. Elliott, pretending to
give the facts of the seizure of the
Legal Tender at this place on the 18th
ult. by the Deputy United States Mar
shall, Judge Harrison P. Reid. So great
an injustice is done Judge Reid by Mr..
Elliott, that deem it duty in his abb
sence to answer the card referred to and
give truthful statement Of the affair
| am moved to this, not only by my
friendship for Judge Reid, but also by a
desire that the public may not be de-
ceived by the misstatements OF man
who has treated with perfect contempt
judicial process, issued by court hav-
ing proper jurisdiction.
Judge Reid received on the 9th inst.
writ from the United States Court for
the Northern District of Mississippi,
commanding him to seize and take into
his possession the steamer Legal Tender,
her boats furniture, etc., and to hold
the same until further ordered by the
Court, etc. He Immediately summoned
a posse comitdtls to assist him, if neces-.
sdyu in the execution of the writ. On
the landing of the Legal Tender he
went quickly aboard, and walked in an
orderly manner to the upper deck, ac
companied by six of the posse. On
reaching the roof three of the party went
to the pilothouse with instructions to
stop the wheel in the event the execution
of the writ was resisted, and not other
wise, which instructions were strictly
obeyed. The only officer to be found
was the mate, who was informed by
Judge Reid that the boat was attached
by virtue of the writ he held in his hand.
The mate refused to listen to the reading |
of the writ and ran off to Elliott s room. |
AT this jnncture, and not before, the !
posse received the order OF Judge Reid |
to take forcible possession of the boat,
which was obeyed in as orderly man
ner as possible. The line of the boat
was securely fastened to large log and
the pilot was ordered from his wheel.
and Judge Reid then sought the room of
Elliott and informed him that as Deputy
United States Marshal he had attached
and taken into his possession the boat
Captain Elliott refused TO listen to the
reading of the writ, but gave orders for
he boat to be backed out from the bank,
which was done, carrying off posse, mar
shall and the log to which the boat was
led. Judge Reid used every endeavor
% force Elliott to listen to the writ, and
1t one time thought he had him hemmed
n his room, but Elliott slipped out
through back door. These are the
facts.
The statements of Capt Elliott must
laye been made from information from
who have but little regard for
ruth; but, however made, they are simply
Untrue, and the whole card is SANDER
,us lie upon Judge Reid and his posse,
10 far as il says they rushed upon the {
,oat and took forcible possession, with ,
mt first showing to the officer in charge !
md to Capt. Elliott himself afterward,
heir authority for so doing Captain !
elliott is moi law-abiding man.
Respectfully, w
JOE w. MATTHEWS,
One of the posse.
The above statement Of Mr.. Matthews
We know to be true, being eye-witnesses
#, and active participants in, the seizure {
f the boat referred to therein. '
Respectfully, j. w. HALL,
JAS. A. BERRY, T,
94 g. w. MoRroS, I,
r =