Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-17
Review Of the Statement of the
Runaway Negro, J. Aaron
Moore.
He kisrspFesents Facts In Every
Instance, and is an AFTant
FaisiieT.
Moore Kusw all AbOutihs Intentions
Of ClOptOn and Tylsr, ihe Rioters.
Al About the Pct to MBTdsr lust CO
Bramle5De and Other OfiCsrs-
Negroes Leaving Meridian.


at Jackson by the editor of the Pilot,
and we publish his statement, this
morning, entire. He has certainly
favored il TO suit the taste of Radi-
Gals, and, as it stands, il forms a sweet
mOrsel to roll under their tongues.
In reading it, the first thing that
strikes Us is AarOn's lamb like innO-
ceuce, and his utter ignorance Of any
thing connected with the affair, going
90 show his intimacy with the two
desperate negroes, ClOptOn and Tyler,
or his knowledge of their design to
bring on a collision with the whites.
He pretends TO be merely passing
the courthouse when be heard
some persons apparently speaking y
This is truly refreshing, in view Of the
fact that iJ was known here, several
days previous to the meeting, that the
negroes expected him to address
them. that the court room WIS secured
for the purpose, and that the large
crowd OF country darkies present on
the occasion, were attracted 70 the
city by the announcement of his COM
ing.
ZE BRASS CHEEK
IIe certainly has more "cheeE ~
than we gave him credit for, and must
be a hardened hypOcrite, indeed, to be
able to pretend ignorance Of a meet
Ing SO notorious, and innocence Of
participation in proceedings which
had been "cut and dried, " and in
which, as q rigid investigation will
show, be was expected by his deluded
followers TO take an active, If not q
leading part. He did perform very
well, 50 far as words 90. He could
6enOunce white people, abuse the
county officers, and warn Meridian of
the fdte of SOdOm and GOmOrTah, but
when the storm was raging which he
had helped 10 raise, where was Aaron?
At home while the town was In
flames. IN bed while one Of his con-
f-deTates was endeaVOriug to organize
A negro mob, aud to his cOWardice, 1t
5s more than probable, a scheme
tailed, which successfully carried out,
would have deluged the city in blood.
He was absent, because he knew what
was about TO happen, and anticipated
the time when il would be necessary
10 know nothing, personally
A CALM REVIEW
OFFll the circumstances, the intimacy
Of Moore with ClUptOn aud Tyler, his
knowledge Of their violent character,
the state Of feeling which existed at
the meeting, throw strong suspicion
on his labOred plea Of innocence, and
his strange absence from the scene Of
a destructive COuhsgratiOn, which
drew together all unsuspecting citi-
zan-. cannot be accounted for satisfac-
that he expected certain events to
happen that would make home the
safest place.
ABOUT SATURDAY NIGHTS RIOT.
As TO the reported disarming of the
uegrl % on Saturday night, it was an
sh-lIu ra necessity. No less than four
white n. en- are known TO have been
shot al IN going tO the fre-twO of
them. Messrs. Hancock and Rea,
yyar. wounded. The town was full of
armed NEGROES. ClOptOn had given
The signal, aud Tyler and his assO-
cjate- Trre in arms 10 carry out his
b-bt-5ts. In 0np place, before the close
of the fire. more than twenty negroes
armed with mUskeis and shOtguns,
were found drawn up In line. Added
10 this. the bell at the African church
had given the signal to gather the ne.
gr0ez. aud but for the prompt action
Taken 10 dissrm them, the city would,
before morning, have been In ashes,
and hundreds murdered.
THE sHERIFF's ORDER.
To show how Moore misrepresents
fscts. &c IS well known that the Sheriff
ordered the disarming Of both blacks
and whites: and that the order was
hut partially carried out, OF, ia other
yr,rds. that It extended only to those
found armed on the streets, Is proven
bv the, fact that the pickets around
MOora's church on Sunday night were
well armed, and that weapons were
not lacking among the negroes on
Monday.
AFFAIRS OF MONDAY.
We come now, To the affairs Of
Monday. It can be proved by a num-
Der Of witnesses that Warren Tyler
stated before he went into the court
house ON Wednesday that he would
have a dificulty there and might not
IeaVe DO alive. he declared he would
kill the first man who spoke TO him
about leaving the city, and at least
five or six negroes can be found who
will testify "a to his statements OF the
difficulty that he expected would take
place during the trial. He declared
be would "kiIl and might be killed" f."
and even went 90 far a5 to give dlrec-
tiOns about how he should be buried
i'm the event Of his death. This was
all well known 20 the negro pOpuia-
tiOn Of Meridian on Monday. The
whites were wholly ignorant Of it.
MOORE A CONFEDERATE OF TYLER.
We charge that Aaron Moore must
have known OF the murderOus inten-
tiOns o. Tyler. They were intimate
friends aud had been together on sat
urday and Sunday. It's not probable
TYLER would have told so many Others
Of what he intended to do and said
nothing about it 10 his confidential
friend, Moore. There are many CIR
cumstances that have come to light
since the riot that indicate that the
intention OF Tyler and his cOniede-
ratez was 20 murder Judge Bramletie
and the sheriff, MOsely, and the Dep
ntv Sheriff. Belk. Tyler and Clopton
feared they might be sent 10 jail, and
they desired 20 put the officers out 0l
the way. The plot failed because
their cOnfederates became alarmed
when the firing commenced and ran
Of. II Moore was not an accOmpllce
and a confederate, why did he fail 70
disclose the threats Of Tyler
mOOBE GUILTY or a WILFUL FALsI-
FICATION or FACrs.
MOore's whole statement Is an at-
tempt 20 create a false impression BY
eOncealing q part Of the truth. BE
knows very well that Warren Tyler
fired the shot that inaugurated the
reign Of terror, and the eXclamatiOns,
% Shoot him, shoot him" were not
uttered until Tyler had killed Judge
Bramlette and was trying 10 make
his escape. He may have been eK-
cited, but must have known how the
affair commenced, and he is guilty Of
a Wilful falsiticatiOn of facts. He also
1nisrepresents Mr.. Brantley's testi-
FaOny. Taken altogether, the men
dsci0us report OF J. Aaron Moore
brands him as an unprincipled man,
a disgrace to the religion be processes,
unworthy the confidence of his race,
and the friendship Of white men, and
makes his name a foul blot on the
rolls OF the Legislature.
LEAVING MERIDIAN.
A great many negroes are leaving
ars. -idian. Every train takes away sun
- %. bic sous and daughters. They
- H. is no place for them, now
tbst -I,e--- IVsrra,. Tyler is 4" mOuldering in
- ti,-.' ,,-,--,,f ;, I'D the soul Of General
B0ly Ciopton Is marching where