Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-03
FEARFUL CRIME.
Two Men Niekedly Assassinated In Aber-
deem, Mississippi. on Thursday.

One of the most cowRrdly and das
tardly assassinations that was ever per
petrated in this county, says the Aber
deem Examiner Of Friday, occurred OF
our streets at about half-past eigh
O'Clock on Thursday evening, while th'
public meeting was progressing al the
courthouse.
Mr.. John Morgan and Mr.. Stephen
Moore, two Of the most popular young
men in the county, were sitting on the
Doorstep Of Sale & DOwd's law Office, on
the dark side Of lower Commerce street
conversing, when they were suddenly
approached by two men belonging 10 the
penitentiary guard now on duty with
the convicts here, by the names Of Shaw
and Cozart, who seemed to be haunting
the streets IN guest OF those beastly hon
ors which are SO highly esteemed by the
ruffian.
But little Of the conversation Of COZari
has been reported to US, but Shaw APP
preached Mr.. Moore, and said that he
had been told that be was "a fighting
man, and, Cd d-n him, he had come
there to whip him." etc. Mr.. Moore
told him that he was mistaken; that be
was . man OF peace, and did not desire
any difficulty, and, moreover, that be
and his friend were totally unarmed ;
whereupon Shaw told him that he was
q id liar, and commenced q murderOus
onslaught with the butt end OF his pistol,
oulvceasing when he believed his victim
dead. While Shaw was beating Moore,
Cozart was at work on John Morgan with
his dagger or knife, aud, notwithstand-
ing the most heart-rending appeals Of
his unarmed victim, literally carved
him to pieces, infiicting at least half a
dozen mortal wounds. Policeman
Hend0n rushed up to where Shaw and
Moore were engaged during the affTay,
but having no other weapon but his
cane, and Shaw leveling his revolver at
him, he was unable to do anything, and
was not at the time aware Of the scene
Of death that was being enacted just
around the corner.
Doctors Lowe and Sale were prompt
lv on the spot, and sll that surgery can
hope to accomplish, was promptly done.
At about halfpsst ten o'clock that
night, Marshall Brannan, anticipating
resistance frOm the assassins and their
feilOw-guards at the convict camp, or
ganized an armed posse OF citizens and
Officers Stephens, HendOn and Smith,
and, obtaining a military guard as a
precaution against those accidents like
N 10 occur where over an hundred peni-
tentiary cOnvicts are disturbed and ex-
cited at late hour Of the night, sur
rounded the camp and demanded the
surrender Of Shaw and Cozart, who had
been traced hither by detective, and
after about half an hours delay and
parley the door was opened, and the
men identified and taken out.
They were carried TO the jail, and a
guard Of citizens was detailed to stand
guard over them all night for fear Of an
attempt at rescue.
We take pleasure in testifyiDg to the
prCmptness and efficiency Of Marshal
Braunan and his police on this occa-
sion.
The examination Of the cUlprits will
probably take place this morning be
fore Mayor Lee, and IS the evidence is
damning and conclusive, there is no
probability Of their being admitted to
baiI, and we trust that such precautions
will be taken, regardless Of expense, by
the Sheriff in whose custody the prison.
ers now are, as will guarantee their safe
tv against escape or rescue.