Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-22
ARKANSAS.
Fiendish and Horrible.
lhree Prominent White Citizens Of
ChicOt County, Ark, Taken from
Jail and Shot to Death by q
Mob Of Infuriated Negroes.

From the Memphis Avalanche, Dec. 10.
In the Audlapche yesterday appeared a
short paragraph stating that 9 mob of ne
groes had hung three white men in Clicot
county, Arkansas. From a gentleman di-
rect from the scene our representative, last
evening, learned the following particulars OF
the horrible affair:
Last Monday week negro lawyer named
Wynn, who came from Washington to Chi
cot county recently and settled in Lake
City, had quarrel in a grocery store, in
the latter place, owned by Mr.. Curtis Gar,
rett, with Mr. John II. Saunders, IN old
citizen of the county. At the time Mr..
Garrett and another gentleman, named
Jasper Duggan, were in the store. The
negro (Wynn) and Mr.. Saunders got into
DISPUTE ABoUTa TAXATION,
and words ran high until they clinched,
when Saunders stabbed the negro with a
knife, killing him almost instantly. The
three gentlemen-Saunders, Garrett and
Duggan-were promptly arrested by Sheriff
Walker, who locked them up in Jail. Nei-
Their of the gentlemen offered any resistance.
The only charges against Garrett and Dug
gan were that the former handed Mr.. Saun-
ders the knife with which the cutting YVES
done, while the latter stood at the door in
such a manner IS To prevent Wynn's escape.
Both gentlemen denied the charge, and e1-
pressed themselves as willing to go into trial
at once. That evening
AN ARMED MOB OF NEGROES
entered the town with the avowed purpose
of hanging the three prisoners. From
some reason they did not carry their pur-
t,,,4 -,
all night. The next day the Sheriff COM
promised matters by allowing about fifty
negroes to act as guards over the Jail. The
guard was kept up until / o'clock last Fri
day afternoon, when another armed mob
of negroes, numbering over one hundred,
entered the town, all hallooing, yelling,
firing off their pistols, and breathing dire.
THREATS OF VENGEANCE
against the whites. Going to Mr.. Gar
rett's store, the place where Wynn was
killed, they sacked it completely, breaking
up and destroying whatever they could not
carry off. A few Of the negroes were dis
guised, but the large majority were I'M
masked.
After they had been in town about an
hour, they sent fifteen men to the Sheriff
with peremptory demand for the keys Of
the jail. Sheriff Walker very properly re-
fused to deliver them up. In about ten
minutes another detachment went and
forced the Sheriff to give them the keys
AT THE PERIL OF HIS LIFE.
Getting the keys, the black demons went
bowling through the streets until they got
10 the Jail, which they opened and took the
prisoners out. Without giving the men an
opportunity to bid their friends farewell,
this mob of bowling screaming, numbering
deyils, took the three men to spot at The
edge of the town, and just back Of the
house Of Mason, one Of the big negro lead
ers Of the county, where, without being al
lowed time to ask mercy Of their God,
THEY WE'RE SHOT DEAD.
At least fifty balls were poured into the
BODY of each of the unfortunate men. To
finish their hellish deed with the proper
eclat, the murdereFs then took the bodies
back to the jail and refused any Of their
friends admittance to them until the next
day.
Several gentlemen residing In the town
took refuge in flight as the negro mob did
not disband, but declared their intention of
i'getting even" with all white people. Sat
urday and Sunday the mob still kept posses
sion of the town.
FORCING CITIZENS TO FURNISH FOOD.
In some instances where white people
had the temerity to refuse the demands of
these devils, they were brought to a proper
appreciation of the situation by the presen-
sation of guns and pistols. Mason, the ne
gro leader referred TO, was at home at the
time, and just before the mob started to
.he jail, he went out and conversed with
The leaders. The moment the CONVEX
,ation ceased, the negroes started for the
iail. When our informant left, the mob
still held possession Of the town, and
announced their intentions Of retaining it.
apprising the Governor of the
Stae of the situation have been forwarded
10 Little Rock, but no answer up to late
hour last night had been received.
THE THREE VICTIMS
Of the mob were well known and respected
They all leave families, who,
with others, have been compelled 10 flee tor
their lives.