The New York herald., 1871-10-20
LyNSH H Law IN TENNESSEE
Five Hundred Men Hang Two Negroes iol
Pcrpetrating Diabolical Crimes.
IErom the NasflYllle Banner, Oct. l7.l .

From the Nashville Banner, Oct. III
Two or The most diaboicai Ourages ever perpc
near Sheibyville. The victims were TWO OF the most
respectable white ladies Of Bedford county, and the
guilty parties two notorious negro desperad0eS.
named Henry Williams and Samuel Gilhland.
Miss Susan Patterson had gone snort distance
cI' fact wten she nes Henry Wams VINO adir essed
her in language Of the most insulting nature. Re-
S She q now W. snriesed al at the top x Har iaaSs
@soS ss Hsd n oSsa W. ri apon AShsS
from the right leg OF his pantaloons The ravisher,
tam was resisting with all the desperation Of despair
Ehie the dog was harassing HIM with fierce and
make his escsnes vi hout having accomplisked his
brutal purpose. Al tins instant Miss Patterson's
chase and ran S@ weTe he
captured Saturday, while hiding under the house Of
Williams was com mitted to jail, and was not only
idsntlcd by Miss Patterson but the piece Of cloth
which the faithful dog had torn from his pantaloons
A day or two after this attempted outrage Samuel
Glliand went to the house OF MIS- Rogers and asked
her II any one was at home beside herself Fright.
ened st mis- menacng manner. sne replied that she
thought there were Others around the house. where
ne r ne1 ne @ ne nS
not soul was there besi0e herself. He further in-
formed her tnat he had driven the hearse In which
her husband had been conveyed to his grave, aud
that ne had had his eye upon her ever since. Sus
pectlng now what was his iou Intention Mrs. Rogers
commenced 70 scream, wnen the hend clutched her
BY the throat threw her to the moor, pulled out
q dirk and gave her 70 understand that
witnstanding this murderors threat resisted him
with all her unequal strength and, in her struggles
Alter having SATISFIED his brutal desires GillIand
went to the door to see whether any one was al.
murder his vicum II she made further remittance.
| again outraged her person and rushed out OF the
house. Her brother John Johnson, constable,
happen ng to up at the time. chased the negro
down and brought MIN back. Mrs. Rogers inmed-
face by the scratch upon his nose and by the shoes
which be wore, they having belonged TO her de-
Gilliland was committed to jail at shelbyvile, and
was, with Williams, taken out last Saturday, TO the
District wnefs he % nsa been perpeITa,ed
OF the Peace The magistrate not being at home,
the prisoners were detained there py Z. W. Raney,
dark. when the oficer started back with them to
Not long after dark, and about three and hat
miles from Shelbyvie, on the Tallanoma road, they
were met by about i've hundred lnen, none of whom
prisoners were seized by the indignant ciuzeus and
Immediately hung to Q limo OF tree Upon their
move them until the next evening Unless by legal
authority, on pain OF sharing the same fate. The
RspOsa saeS saer SaH Gsen % ass Fesea
along. and not allow tine prisoners to be harmed
taken away from him, protested against the course
OF the law being interfered with, but lie and his
guard had 70 yield TO superior numbers. The night
was dark and the execution 10 summary that
NOT one OF the avengers was recognized, though aS
before stated, none Of them were disguised.
lt Is said that one OF the negroes had beeD con-
nected with some circus and was exceedingly sup
pie ana active When his executiOners had hung
him up he turned a complete somersauit, catching
hold OF the rope above with his feet. some OF the
citizens, however, pulled hts feet down and finished
him by attaching to them several large stones. lie
never kicked again.
the Coroner OF the county had the bodies cut
down on sunday evening" An inquest held,
but no evidence elicied 10 the identity or
the persons by whom such swift vengeance h al
been visited upon the ravishers
the Circuit Court OF Bedford county, some time ago,
at the instance OF several other negroes tue
charge OF being a Ku Kux, and although some very
positive evidence was produced against him, III }
testimony was SO conflicting that the trial resulted
IL his acqulttaL
Giland for some time driver OF the Shelby.
vile omnibus, but resided, the ume OF the perpe-
fra,ion Of the crime above detailed, about seven
miles from that town. IL Is SAID that on the very
day he outraged Mrs. Rogers he had gone to the
house of another lady with the intent but that
she was fortunate enough TO escape his Clutches
This lady having told OF his conduct to OF the
neignbors one OF tnem Kept watch over her house
Tor lear he would return.
Boih Williams and Gand were a terror to the
whites anu blacks OF BEDFORD, and al re- oIcc at
having been rid of their presence.