Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-26
YERGER.
His Voluntary Return and Sur
render to the Mississippi
Authorities.
His Letter to Gov. Alcorn Ex-
planning Why He Left the
Jail.
Correspondence of the yicl,sburg Times.

Correspondence of the yicksburg Times.
JACKSON, Miss, March 90, 1S7O.-A,
three O'Clock this morning, Col. Z. M.
Yerger appeared ON the streets of Jack
son, escorted byfour mounted men armed
with double barrelled shot guns. The
cavalcade Immediately attracted the at
tcntion of the plice, who, anxious for
| the reward offeied, gave close pursuit.
The party put spurs to their horses and
rode directly to the gates of the Jail.
Yerger himself ring the bell, and on the
appearance of tbs jailor, delivered himself
up. Before tht gate was opened the
Sheriff's officers and police were on the
ground, but Col Yerger, surrounded by
his mounted escort, simply announced:
''This is voluntary surrender, gentlemen,
no reward win bs given This settled
the hash for the police, and to-day your
correspondent visited the prisoner. /
should have stated before, that after his
entrance to the jail his escort rode away.
Who they are, or whence they came, is
as uncertain as the origin and disappear
ance of the witches in Macbeth.
Col. Yerger of course, remains dumb
as TO his whereabouts since his absence.
He describes his mode of escape exactly
as your correspondent described it week
ago to-day. He Jays the reason of his
escape is this: When he retired for the
night he had no ida of leaving, but dur
ing the night an irresistible desire to get
away-'to leave the prison walls and
breathe the pure air Of the country, came
over him." His brain ''went mad as
thoughts of his long Imprisonment coursed
through it, and a feeling pervaded his
whole spirit that he mus either get over
that fence or dash his brains out against
the prison walls" With this determine
ton be went into the jailer's room Che
states) seemingly in convivial mood,
lulled any suspicious which they might
have, and got rid of his watcher by send
ing HIM out for coffee. "But,n he says,
''earning that the officers of the Jail had
been accused Of conniYance at his escape,
and feeling a deep regard for their many
kindnesses toward him, as far as the dis
cipline of thejail would allow" he de-
termined to return, though it was his
original intention to remain away until the
April trial came on; and preparations had
been made for trip to New York. In
getting over tie fence he hurt his foot Sc
verely, and says he took the mans horse
as matter of necessity, as he was unable
to walk. He describes the four men who
escorted him il, as four men picked from
twenty-five picked men, and describes
those four men as able to whip fifteen or
binary men. His statement can be be-
lieyed or attributed to the mans 'EVanity"
mentioned in Gov Alcorn's description.
He had no doubt many narrow escapes
from capture, IS the country was secured
by armed bands of men, mostly cOlOred,
in earnest desire for his capture. He
recounted many of his scrapes. While on
a turkey hunt with friend they were
met by four negroes armed, who stated
they were in search of E. NJ. Yerger, and
describing the man as described in the
proclamation, with the exception that
Excessive vanity had been construed
into Excessive Tor large) veins, and the
hands of himself and friends were closely
scrutiniZed, Cooking for the veins The
party were informed that Yerger and his
friend knew the exact whereabouts of the
fugitive, and arrangements were made on
the spot for a division of the reward. The
negroes were stationed in different spots
and told to wait until they heard a call,
and then to come as soon as possible to
the spot whence the "call" came Yerger
says if they waited for the call, they are
waiting now. One thing is certain, he
has not been away from the city any great
distance, as his personal appearance shows
the same dainty care and attention which
has always been one of his characteristics.
The Sheriff of Kinds county has been
indefatigable in his exertions to secure the
re-arrest of Yerger. Deputies have been
stationed at various points in and around
the city, and even at far-distant points, so
as to leave no means of escape open. One
of these parties, consisting of Deputy
Sheriff Shelly and assistant, was the first
to recognize the prisoner as he appeared
on the road with his friends, and imme-
diately gave the alarm and pursued as
rapidly as possible, arriving at the Jail
shortly after the prisoner.
Correspondence of the vicksburg Herald.
JACKSON, March 20, 1S70,-Ed Yerger
returned last night at a late hour, and
voluntarily surrendered himself to the
jail guardians of this city. He was ac-
companied by two or three friends. He
has not been a greater distance than eight
miles from town during his absence, and
expresses himself grateful for his 'week's
sport, as he terms it, hunting, fishing,
n4a . l., &c
Tested. His first question to the jailer on
his admittance was, 'Gs my room in or
der?" Next, he sent note to a neigh
boring saloon, which read, ''Good morn
ing; | have returned; send me bottle of
cocktail and a dozen cigars" He has
written the following letter to Governor
Alcorn:
JACKSON JAIL, March 90, A. NJ, 1870.
To His EXcellency, Hon. J. L. Alcorn,
Governor of Mississippi:-Sir Having
learned that the Sheriff and his subordi-
mates and perhaps yourself, have been
censurcd for my escape, and unwilling
that injustice should rest in any quarter,
have voluntarily returned to prison. A
proper and kindly feeling for the officers,
who have shown me as much courtesy as
prison discipline viii allow, prompts me
t0 this action. Wearied almost beyond
endurance by long confinement, my mind
tortured by what appeared to me con-
tinued and unnecessary delay in bringing
my case properly before the courts of the
country, | was possessed Of an ungoverna-
bic desire to breathe once more the air of
freedom. 1t was always my intention to
return at the proper time and stand my
trial If l have violated any law of the
land l will not shirk punishment, and ]
now await what action the authorities
may take. prefer to return, and in the
meantime endure any suffering, rather
than the innocent should suffer for any
act of mine. Very respectfully, your
Obedicnt servant, E. NJ. YERGER.
THE TRADE IN MASKS.
Masks are an important article of trade
in Paris. The houses which are engaged
in this industry (says the Pal Mail Ga
zette) are generally respectable and long
established houses, who make thef
money out of folly in the soberest way
Paris produces masks, but the foreignel