Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-03-24
The Southern Outrages.

Inc SOuJnern UutrageS'
The accounts Of the recent riots and muir
ders az Meridian, Mississippi, thus tar re-
ccyed, have been from rebel and Ku-klux
sources only. with two exceptions. The
jackson P,'9' publishes a statement from the
Hon. j Aaron Moore, c)l)red member Of
the Mississippi Legislature, who resides near
Meridian, and who arrived in Jackson after
flight en- foot. 1t appears from this that
meeting Of the colorei people was the I'M
meiiate cause Of the trouble Moore and
several other c5lored men were arrested for
making IS incendiary speeches, " and it was
at their examination that the shooting Of
Judge Bramle.te ami the subsequent slaugh-
ter of cllorel men occurred MIR. Moore
says
At the examination where | arrived ab out g
/ p. IN, Judge Bramlette was presiding The
charge Of making speeches on Saturday was be-
/ ing examined The defendants we're Warren
/ Tyler, Wm Clopton, aliss Dennis, and myself
all colored. Mr. Ford, the prosecuting stt0r-
ney, asked what | had TO say. | said was not
I
witnesses were then examined. They seemed
TO agree that Tyler and Clopton had made fam
Ing speeches, but that mine wss on the side Of
peace snd good order Mr.. Brantly, white
man, gave his testimony. At this time all the
eolorei policemen were called in. The prose
cutting attorney asked Brantly what he had
heard Tyler say on the street that Monday
morning. He answered thai be was passing
along the street when he heard - this boy here -
(he did not know his nsme) say that 1.-THE
Democrats were getting frightened" Branty
testified that he called Tyler id liar, ami
that he had great mind to shoot him down or
blow his brains out on the spot. At this, Tyler
said he desired Brsntly TO keep the floor for a
moment. until he could 90 ont and get two men
who would impeSch his Brauily's) testimony.
Brsntly replied " What did you say" Ty- /
Ter repeated bis remark. when Branty caught .
up the hickory stick Of the City Marshal from .
a table near, and with it started for Tyler The .
last remember Of it, Tyler was rttreating back
ward toward the Shsriff's room. | heard sever
al say, d" Shoot him shoot him 80 | had Just
got behind Judge Brsmlette when | heard the
shot, and the Judge fell to the floor. I fell with
him. he falling directly upon my left shoulder
| was not hit, but the blood from Judge Bran
lette covered my clothing and arm. The firing
became general | cannot say who fred the
Of the mind that it had been aimed at me and
ht him. There was soon firing all over the
room. | heard the Marshal shout out for the
firing 20 cesse, as the magistrate was killed
saw that he was dead and remained quiet When
the crowd was dispersed | looked up and saw
clopton also dead. Deputy Sheriff Belt was
nigh, with pistol in bis hand, and | sought
his protection. He averred that he could not
protect anybody.
Soon therefore picked up my hat and walked
away covered with blood, and everybody sup
posed that wY mortally wounded. | MY told ,
lne person that was not hurt. reached home,
oli my wife she must take care Of the children
md herself, gave her what money | hal, and
eft. only went about three @ uarters Of a mile
ThCn | sent a friend back He soon returned /;
@ tell me that 100 men were at.my house look
ng for me. | travelled all that night snd IN
= O'Clock Tuesday morning, when reached \
friends house. | stayed there all that day
mother friend came there and told me that my 81
ome and all | had in it, with the church, was y
urued up. Then left that place and travel IL
d on foot day ard night, and got here this
loruing Al o'clock. Il
The Mayor of Meridian, Mr.. William :
turgis, who was also compelled to leave :,
he region, aas also published a statement. a,
lie says: "
he ku-klux will endeayor to make the Ia
aope Of the North believe that Judge Bran bs
tie wss killed by negro. They may make b.,
me believe it but do not believe that any ~
the arrested negroes had any weapon other mt
nm A pocketknite, | was present at the in
ial for some time, and sat close to the accused, III
"a saw none. Bu; in direct line from the
p-fFs, =. 81 hill -.
e Of those negroes and believe, although | -.
" not the shooting, that one or many Of the Nj
u-klux, in carrying out their design, shot acC
iige Brsmlette After the negro was shot, he ST..
mped out Of the two-story window, after ,
lich be was killed. Gen. Dennis coored, was ar
Of in the courtroom, after which he was he
rown from the two-story window on to the bes
lex pavement below, and, as that did not kill No..
n, they then cut his throat. After they had
led J. A Moore, they went and burned his ing
use, snd so they continued their hellish bar Spi
rifles. They surrounded my brothers. house. UNI
ey were all armed with double-barreed shot =.
rs, and, as | was told. POO in number. Many 'u'
u citizens Of Meridian pleaded for me, as abr
4 rs many in the Ku-Klux columns, who and
re in them not from choice, but from neces- md
?. They appointed committee after commit
to wait upon me, and to inform me that pei
st leave by 10 O'Clock next day. Their prin- T.
al commanders visited me. | wanted to =
w the why's and wherefores, but they said for
y came not to argue any question of right dav
verdict had been rendered. They treated ,
respectfully, but said that their ultimatum "1'
that | must take q northern-bound train. | otn'
ied. At about u - O'Clock at night, per- beer
S 800 came and escorted me to the cars war
These things sound like the accounts lant
ich used to reach us before the war and pun
Y certainly indicate that some of the les Woo
of the war still need enforcing in Mis- NOR NOR
iFpi. For
'aris is true to its old traditions If it and
C to pass through this crisis without year
ence and turbulent demonstrations, it in Il
aid belle its character. The Paris mob is 80
art of the life and history of the capt. men
1t is controlled by the Socialists and msd
Republicans. These men have no de- II
d ideas of government. They aspire to
nding state in which every mans ca But
e shall be his only law For this. before of
terrible wounds of their country are crat
led, they are rushing into civil discord of Il
conflict. shir
he present disturbance bears the old loco
lblance. There is motley, excitable Pier
,ulace. There are the movements of the and
tional Guard upon the scene. There is eau eau
determination between soldiers and citi- rscy