Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-30


Representatives Dear Sir-Fearing some
trouble might arise from the fierce indigna-
ton engendered in the public mind by the
deliberate robbery and murder of Mr.. Muir
ray, an old and highly respectable citizen,
by one David Jones, colOFed, gave orders
to the police that, if they should see or
hear anything indicating an intention to
visit mob violence upon The prisoner, (who
bad been arrested and lodged in jaiD, they
should inform the Captain of the police
and myselfpromptly.
The first intimatiOn | had of anything
suspicious, was information from police
man that an unusual number of people
seemed 10 be about the Maxwell House, in
the streets and elsewhere. | Immediately
started to the Mayors office. On my way
l met friend, who told me he was satisfied
a mob was being formed to take the prison.
er out j hastened to the police station,
and at once gave orders that the police
be called in and sent to defend the
jail. at the same time / sent a
runner for Sheriff Donaldson. l directed
the officer in command at the po-
lice station, to tell the Sheriff when he
should arrive, that suggested the imme-
diate removal Of the prisoner to Ash Bar
racks, for safe keeping and protection, and
if he should adopt my suggestion, to let the
pslice escort him to that place Of refuge.
But not knowing whether the Sheriff would
approve my suggestion, or, indeed, whether
my messenger would find him, felt bound
to make assurance dOubly sure; and there
fore, taking hack, rode rapidly to Ash
Barracks, and made the following formal
request of the commander, as that officer
desired that l should make the application
in writing:
MAYORS OFFICE, NASHVILLE, March
%, 1872.-TO Maj. Vance, Commander in
charge at Ash Barracks: Dear Sir-Appre-
hensive of a disturbance Of the city's peace
from threatening indications on the part of
large body of men to anticipate the ends
of justice by forcibly taking from the county
Jail, prisoner; and apprehensive that the
city police force may be inadequate to the
emergency, you will please have in readi-
ness a DETACHMENT of the military, con-
venient to sustain the civil authorities, at
the earliest practicable moment.
K. j. MORRIS, Mayor.
l besought the officer to move rapidly and
quietly, as great haste was necessary, and
as the sound of their approach might hasten
the violence of the mob. From the Bar
racks went directly to the Maxwell House,
and calling for Gov. Brown, informed him
of what had done-all of which he ap-
proved. His exceIency started with me to
the Jail; but on our way thither we heard
that the prisoner had been forcibly taken
therefrom by the mob, but had, after he had
hung but little while on lamp-post, been
rescued by the city police, and carried to the
stationhOuse where medical aid was called,
as he had been shot twice. The physicians,
however, pronounced his wounds mortal.
He was retained in the stationhouse until
about daylight, and then returned to the
jail.
have made this very brief statement in
relation to the mob of the 25tb, because
some have taken it upon themselves, to re-
fleet unjustly upon the county and munich
pal governments. You can use the paper as
you think best. Your most obedient serv-
ant, TX. j. MORRIS, Mayor.
SHERIFF DONALDSON's STATEMENT.
Having observed with surprise a reSolu-
ton introduced in the lower House of the
General Assembly Of the State, censuring
the authorities of Nashville for their conduct
before and during the late riot, in which the
negro man, David Jones, for the murder of
Henry Murray, was forcibly taken from the
jail of our county by an armed mob, shot
and attempted TO be hanged, justice alike to
truth and to the parties censured compel
me to make the following statement of
facts:
After the incarceration of Jones in the
jail Of our county, public indignation, so far
as l could learn by free intercourse with
the people seemed appeased in the certainty
of punishment after conviction by the
courts, and notwithstanding, | had, during
the entire day preceding the night of the
riot, mingled freely with the citizens, L heard
not the slightest intention ofa proposed riot,
my first information being the presence of a
messenger dispatched by the Mayor of the
city summoning me to his Office with all pos
sible haste to confer with the city authOri-
ties with reference to the best and speediest
measures to be taken in preventing the
riot, which, from demonstrations on the
street, seemed imminent. l at once
repaired with all possible haste to his
office, when l was informed that the
Mayor had fastened to the barracks of
the United States troops, in the vicinity
of Nashville to solicit their assistance of the
civil authorities in preventing a riot. Be
fore his return, and within five minutes after
l reached his office, the crowd constituting
the mob began moving toward the jail.
Whereupon, accompanied by Policeman Z.
F. Corbett, followed hard after, hoping,
if possible, to reach the jail before a
breach had been effected, but the mob
acted with such celerity that the
prisoner had been dragged from his cell
a. I, .,
him when we came upon them. | desire
to here explain the absence of the body of
the police force, by the fact that it was be-
lieved that calling them in from their re-
spective beats long before the expected ar
rival of troops, would accelerate the move
ment of the mob and possibly defeat the
means rapidly organizing to overthrow it.
Before starting for the Jail the police force
was signaled to repair at once to headquar-
tiers, bat up to the moment the man had
been suspended to the lamp-post but two or
three policemen were on the ground, and
their efforts, combined with my own, were
fruitless against such an overwhelming
force. At this moment attempted to reach
the man and cut him down, but was felled
by severe blow administered on the head
by some person or persons engaged in the
mob. At this juncture seven policemen, all
who had reached the scene, formed in line
and gallantly charged the mob, reaching
the prisoner, who was cut down by police
man E. f. Corbett, and was carried up to
the police hall. At this moment three
companies Of infantry reported upon the
scene, but, although acting with great
promptness, their remoteness from the city
precluded the possibility of their arrival in
time to render material assistance. Every
praise, however, is due to them for
the promptness and alacrity with
which they responded to the request
for their aid. In conclusion, will add that
the Mayor of Nashville, acted with as great
promptness and presence of mind, and put
forth the most determined efforts in the in
terest of law and order possible to any man,
and the police force engaged eVinced prompt
ness, determination and gallantry deserving
special mention. Every effort was made
that could be made, and the lack of time and
earlier knowledge of its existence and pur-
pose alone prevented the entire overthrow
of the mob aud the vindication of the law.
G. NJ. DONALDSON,
Sheriff of Davidson county, Tenn.
JAILER SHELTON'S STATEMENT.
l will state that from the time that | was
notified by Captain Yater, of the city police
force, that there were indications of a mob,
No vopooIb1o Oh, %