Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-28

the gold vision of hope was soon to have a
brilliant realization. In June last, there
came from a distance q very respectable
carpenter, giving his name as
- G. W. MAJORS,
who soon obtained work on building at
Lonoke. Mr.. Majors engaged board with
Mrs. Rogers, whose genial company and
winsome manner soon threw fascination
upon the carpenters heart. Representing
himself a widower Of three years standing,
be courted Mrs. Rogers, his
FAIR BOARDING HOUSE. MISTRESS,
to whom he was married, as shown by the
following extract from an August number
of the Memphis Western Methodist:
"Married on the 4th day of July, 1872, by
the Rev. G. n. Ross, at the residence of the
bride, Mr.. G.. W. Majors, of Munroe county,
Ark. and Mrs. Emile Rogers, of Lonoke,
Ark
From this it seems that Majors was, or at
least represented to have come from Mum
roe county Arkansas. Soon after
TIE MARRIAGE
Majors commenced speaking of his 'plan-
tation" in Lauderdale county, Tennessee,
which he had rented to a colored man.
LC0SO0 WIN bhsS dCDtCJCu U1
her husband, Mrs. Majors consented to sci |
her property and go with him TO his planta-
ton. From
THE SALE
of several lots Majors received 1000, and
then rented the others for several years.
Having wound up his wife's business, they
set out for L2u1erdale county the 18th Of
July, their mode of conveyance being a
two horse wagon, containing trunks, box
es, bedding, etc. After going through
Brinkley, Arkansas, they remained day
with Mr.. Dye, brother of Mrs. Majors.
Leaving there they drove northeasterly,
crossing the Mississippi at Fulton, and
then going by the old military read to Jen-
niDgs' Fond, which was
THE ROAD TO DEATH.
When near the pond the wagon broke
down, which was observed by a man who
happened to be passing by.
Mounting one horse and his wife the
other, Majors and his wife rode off In the
direction Of
THE FATAL WATER,
and soon were hid from the sight of the
stranger. In few minutes they reached
the pond where they stopped to water the
horses. Suddenly we're heard
TWO PISTOL SHOTS,
whose echoes rang like death sounds amid
the solitude and silence of the dreary place.
One wild scream, a mad plunge into a
Tatery grave, and all was still again.
With hor, or scarcely to be told, Majors
made fight and was
SEEN NO MORE.
How the horses and wagon were taken
I;arOestso, oT
them, we know not. Martain appeared at
home next day under the above related
circumstances, and was arrested subse-
quently. Tuesday, the 18th Of this month,
A LIFELEss BODY
was seen floating in jennings pond, which
is in the Mississippi bottom. Being dragged
to the shore, it was seen to be that of a wo-
man. The long hair fell in auburn ringlets
DER the wave-kissed brow of the dead, aud
no one cOuldteu who was
THE VICTIM
70 this deed of sin. Many viewed the life
less form as It lay close to the waters edge,
frightful and hideous In its death-robe.
In the stiffness Of natures own scrubbed
wild spot lay that corpse, an evidence Of
crime so foul, and the victim of demon
heart so depraVed with guilt that all who
viewed it instinctiEely shuddered at the
fearful reality, and resolved to ferret out
THE FIEND
whose bloody triumph there Mortified the
minds at its very contemplation and stag
gered faith in its admiration Of human vir-
tue. Unknown, and yet not unpitied, to
A STRANGERS GRAVE
was consigned the body. But however
dark its cloak, and deep in hell-tint is guilt
like this, natures laws win proclaim its foul
reality and the murderer will be known. II
is unnecessary to repeat the result of the
examination. Enough TO say one bullet
had pierced the woman's arm and another
penetrated the brain. One wild death
scream and she who had trusted man with
woman's faith fell to slumber in the water.
CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE
is complete TO show the murderer to be w.
j. Martin, who brought home two fine gold
watches and chains, one gentleman's and
the other lady's, which he told his wife
and father-in-law be had purchased In Ken
lucky. To his wife he gave the lady's
watch, which bore the inscription "W. j.
Rogers to his wife Emily" On the other
watch chain a masonic master stsne, with
the initials w. j. r. partially filed of and
those of W. j. NJ. substituted. Different
from the above is
HIS STATEMENT To THE AUTHORITIES,
10 whom he said that he had visited Ken
lucky and then went to Arkansas where
he met Mrs. Rogers, who accompanied him
TO Lauderdale county, although he had |
not been married to heI. Before reaching
home they were overtaken by an unknown
mau and the wagon breaking down she |
left him and went on with the stranger. |
Since then he had not seen Mrs. Rogers |
from whom he purchased the watches and |
clothing. Upon being searched, however,
there was found in bis pocket book note |
for $4,000, made By citizen Of LoDoke |
and payable to sc. w, Majors and WIFE,"
He could not explain this, and his photo |
graph being taken, Martin was !
RECOGNIZED
from the pict IRE by the murdered woman's |
brother, Mr.. Nye, who hearing of the mys-
terious affair feared, what proved sad re-
alitv. that il was his sister. Mr.. Nye was |
at Memphis at the time that he saw the |
picture of Martin who being tried Tuesday |
of last week before Justices j. L. Herren |
and s. A. Thompson, of Ripley, and placed |
IN JAIL
to await trial before the Circuit Court in |
October next. However much we may de- |
plore tie necessity or rather the circum- !
stances which seem, before all peace loving
citizens to denounce lynch law, there often |
are occasions whom its exercise sccords with |
the punishment fragrant crime deserves.
So in this case; last Sunday night
TWENTY ARMED MEN
entered Ripley and bursted open the jail |
cell where Martin was confined. |
The lnfarlated men seized the doomed |
and after taking him q Horu rodn