Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-06
A MUCH NEEDED LAW.
More about the Madrid Send Tragedy.
Mr.. IOnes, Of oblon. interviewed in Nash
vile.

Our readers will remember the tragedy
which occurred some weeks ago in Obiof
county, AZ or neaI Medrid Bend, in which
" white men were killed by negroes in
self defense, and several negroes were
uierward lynched By an infuriated mob.
Mr.. Jones, the gentleman On whose place
the tr@gedy occurred, and at whose insti-
cation The negroes defended themselves,
after remaining Ia this city some time,
driven away from home by the same law
less men who murdered the poor negroes,
went to Nashville, where be was inter
viewed by n reporter of the Banner on
Thursday. We copy the Banners report
and remarks entire:
There is a bill pending in the Legisla-
ture, giving concurrent jurisdiction 20
5he Circuit Court at Troy, Obion county,
with that at Tiptonville in the same
county. This county issO widely divided
pv RselfoOt Lake that in order TO the &C
cOuIiuoddtiOn and convenience Of its citi-
In, TWO courts We're estsbli~hed-Oue on
-aCh side of it. The passage of this bill
ITS been found absoluf ely necessary the
aiurt a. T~ipj0uviile having b-cOme pow
-yiu~s cd The x -nsivs m4raud-
ny which mas chtractsgiz q that county
tUrtng the plstINU or three years The
sheriff. 20 sIablrs or o her civil officers
90 h- circuit O~fripiOuville dare not bring
offenders to justice. northe Grand jury to
iud indictments. in fear Of being shot or
hanged by the dasperadoes who have 50
long ruled that sec ion Or country. The
lIlt was su]perindueed and its adoption
argeG by Mr.. Willis Jones. a prominent
citizen Of OhiOn county, who. with seven
ot his negroes, were attacked by a band
IF masked men during the latter part Of
last November, and who was persuaded
oy his friends TO leave his home for
lear of his life. The particulars OF
the bloody fight between the mask
ers and Mr.. Jones and his negroes
we're detailed IN the Banner imme-
lately after its occurrence. Since
hen Mr. jones has not been permitted TO
visit bis home. He is here in exile. In
view of this fact our reporter inter
viewed him e. his rooms at the CITY Ho-
eel. yesterday, to learn his history andthe
-tatus Of his county. He says that be is
one of the oldest citizens of his county,
having been a resident there for thirty
years; that he had accumulated a cOnsid-
cradle fortune and was possessed of a large
lot ofland near Tiptonville. On this he
lived without mOlestatiOn until after the
breaking Out of the war, when, on ac-
or his Southern prOclivities, his
property was despoiled and his goods
piundered. notwithstanding this treat
when the conflict had ended, he ac-
- AADN ANhEEG ADht nc Is MulDJCu anu ut-
to accept the situation. Two of
his sons had served under Gen. Forrest
and two under Gen. Johnston. For two
or three years after the war, Obi0n was
infested by a large number of des-
peradOes, whose business it was TO
prOwl about the country and COM
Iuit all sorts of depredations ire
spective of political affiliations. The
main object of these men was TO run the
negroes out OF the county, deprive the
large plantations Of their labor, that they
might hereby cCmpelthe owners, through
a want OF hands, to rent out their rich
for a very small sum. To the re-
tsated Onslaughts Of these scoundrels Mr..
Tones had been the only man who had
offered IN resistance. The gang had
SO terrified allUhe inhabitants Of the coun- |
IS, that Il had been allowed 10 commit
-hem most outrageous acts with impuuity. I
As much as Mr.. Jones was identified with
The people, he was pOwerless to bring
hem 10 his assistance when attacked by
he marauders. In OhiOn county there
we're mol less than $500 white voters, and
not over 800 black voters. In hat portion
of the county known as Madrid Bend, in
which hs resided, there were at least
900 white and less than seventy-fve ne
-rO voters. The whites had no reason
20 fear any trouble with the negroes.
the war not less than TWENTY-FIVE /
,0ld-blOOded murders had been COM
and in no instance had the ne
even raised their hands against a
man until the night Mr.. Jones was
attacked. Had he not been with them.
he negroes would have submitted, as
hey had done for the last TWO years, TO
been whipped. hung and every other
i1use a lawles~ band could nave inflicted. 4
had negroes on his pianta-
ION, four OF whom owned guns, which
be laws Of the country gave them the
TO possess, and in no other portion of
tennessee had this privilege been denied
hem. The mob had continued to visit his
and to treat them in an uncalled for
manner. The marauders made no charges
tgtlnst his negroes, except that the latter
Iad guns. The war had freed ffty-nine 4
for him, and he had never seen
he day that he would defend N of them
u a wrong. He considered il a sacred
lury to defend and TO protect them in
heir just rights. He would not encour-
any man TO use arms except in self
license. Had the negroes bern let alone,
hey would have renaiuea peaceab'e n
INDUSTRIOUS iabOrers. and nelr her their nor /
jas gun would have been used against any
human he NJ. The cIiIzsns in Madrid
Bend, il seemed, had come 10 he hopeless
'unciu~iUn Ia % peace c1uId only be Sc
-ured 10y allowing Irresponsible despera-
4SS . ALto AiiEI 9AOL 'NN5 TIE LiSu ol
40 the inhabitants Of that locality, /
whether white or black. Mr.. Jones
,aId that he had lost much
through the interference of these bands of
outlaws. He had beeu compelled to sac
nice his store for SI4 OU0. from which he
I'D, during the two months previous, /
sold about SI7.OO worth of goods, and
be- bad also been compelled TO sell
lD. 600 bushels Of corn al a great sacrifice
or fear OF having II burned. If the bill
referred to above can be made to answer
he purpose intended, and thus secure 10
Jones and Others the pro ection
they 50 urgently demand, we trust
hat g. will receive the prompt and favora-
Die attention of the Legislature"
PEA0 the new advertisement IF r T,ovy-