Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-09
rHE VALLEY OF DEATH.
Another Victim 20 the Mysterious Mur-
derers of N~oKeenneh BOTTOM.

Yesterday the most mysterious rumors
were ahoab in the citv about q gang of
murderers who infsst the N~onconnah
bottom. It is stated by parties who are
well acquainted with the locality and
with the criminal -propensities of the ne
gro, that the gang is composed of those
convicts who have escaped from the Sell
ma road, they having been supplied with
weapons by the colored people who live
here and there over b bottom. A case
of crime has come to light recently, which
was perpetrsted down in the bottom this
week, but so far has been kept q secret
from the authorities
On Tuesday morning Pat Griffin was
going into the bottom to hunt. When
about four miles from the city, he met a
negro driving q isspike team"-that Is,
two wheel mules and a horse leader; they
were hauling a wood wagon, which was
boxed with rough boards. Griffin threw
his eye over the side and was astonished
to see q man lying in the wsgon as II he
were dead. He called to the driver, say
ing "hallOor' The driver continued to
move on, but turned his head around
and answered something in a gruf one
of voice. Griffin then asked him where
he had got the man in the wagon. The
negro answered thSt he picked him up
back there a piece. The inquisitive hunt
or hen took 3 closer look at the person in
the wagon, and found that there were
three shot in him and he was stark. He
again asked the negro where be was go
ing, and got for reply that he had picked
driving to the city with him. The hunter
then went on, musing on the strange
sight that had startled him out of his
equanimity. A few rods farther on he
ssw two men on the side of the road, sit-
ting on a stump; as he approached them,
one stood up 8nd shook himself, as II pre-
pairing for something. Griffin looked to
his gun and continued to walk on till he
got well past the two men. His appre-
tensions took an alarming turn, and he
resolved to leave that locality. He wound
round the bottom some distance, and
headed for the city. He then saw that
the colored WAGNER, instead of driving
toward the city as he had stated,
made a long desOur in the bottom with
his load OF stiff" Griffin got back in
the evening, and waited till next morning
TO see what might bs said in the papers
about the death appsritiOn in Nonconnsh
bottom. he waited another day, and
then began circulating his tale among the
policemen. Mr.. Griffin is a very reliable
gentleman, who lives over M~ulcshy's
grocery store, on Beale, at the corner OF
st. Martin, and those who know him
place entire confidence in his statements.
NOACOnAzA DosgOul - D6COulAuS AnAcElou
with the worst class of vsgrsnta, muir
derers and thieves. Within q month a
negro was hauled to the station here On
Adams street with a broken neck. he
was covered up with overcoats and
blankets, lying in the bed OF a farm
wagon. He was also picked up in the
bottom, the story being that he had fallen
out of q wagon while going home the pre-
vious evening, and had his neck broken
against a stump, though there was no
mark of violence on his head. Squire
Miller hastily gathered together a jury OF
inquest at the statiOnhOuse door. One of
the jurors pulled the blankets off the
Negroes face, gave his head a few twists,
and then covered it up again. The Jury
gave q verdict "in accordance with the
facts"
1t will be remembered that John Meyer
was mysteriously murdered down in the
I" Valley of Death" a couple Of weeks
since, and all his property taken from
him. Not q word has been heard Of the
perpetrators of these outrsges. They rest
in peace in the swampy Businesses.