Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-05-02
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY NEAR
ATHENS, ALA.
A Man Murdered and his Wife
RaviShcd.
-Four Negroes and one White
Man.
The Negroes Caught and Lodged
iA Jail.

Last Saturday four negroes and a white
man went to the residence of gentleman
named Wilson, living on the banks of the
Tennessee river, in Limestone county, Ala
bama, and without any cause or provoca-
tion, murdered him and threw his BODY in
| the river. Not satisfied with having COM
mitted this dreadful deed, the human
6ends seized the wife of their murdered
victim and violated her person. The
fact of this horrible outrage spread like
Wild fire, and soon a number of gentle
men, being in the neighborhood, assem-
bled and went in pursuit of the monsters.
THE EXCITEMENT WAS GREAT,
and the deed being committed so fearless
ly, only gave additional enthusiasm to
those who went in pursuit. The crimi-
mails were pursued through Limestone
county to place near Decatur. The
white man succeeded in making his es-
cape, but parties are now close upon his
heels. The four negroes we're captured
Tuesday m orning and have since confessed
their guilt and implicated the white man
as rdrticeps crinainis to the vile act
After being arrested the negroes were
taken to Decatur and lodged in jail
Being informed of the arrest the Sheriff
of Limestone county with small guard
went to Decatur and placed the negro
prisoners on the train for the purpose of
taking them to Athens. the county seat of
Limestone county. When the train
reached the junction, one mile this side
of Decatur, at 5 AS, it was boarded while
waiting for the switch to be opened, by
hundred armed men, all of whom were
disguised. The disguised party
DEMANDED THE PRISONERS
and the sheriff endeavored to prevent
their rescue. Finding this impossible, he
made them a speech, asking that no
violence be done them, disregarding the
sheriff, the men seized the prisoners and
hastily took them away for the purpose it
was then thought of lynching them. This.
however, was not done but the prisoners
were carried back to Decatur during the
night and confined in Jail again. Yes
terday the sheriff of Limestone county with
posse comitdtvs numbering forty per-
sons, went to Decatur and in accordance
with the law, took charge of the prisoners
and carried them to Athens, where they
are confined in Jail. Every body in the
train from which the negroes were taken,
thought the disguised party intended to
deal out summary vengeance upon the
negroes, for they certainly deserve death,
and cannot expect to shun the penalties
of the law attending the committal Of an
act of this character. Yesterday morn
ing report was current here that the
MASKED MEN WERE KU-KLUX,
and that the negroes had been hung to
the railroad bridge. Further investiga-
tion showed this report to be untrue, and
that the negroes were not harmed in the
least. On the contrary,the best evidence
is that the disguised men, w.o rescued
the prisoners, were negroes. The pris-
oners say that the men who took them
hatchets and turned them loose, telling
them to go where they would be free
from injury or criminal prosecution
After being released the negroes, who
were almost frightened out of their wits,
lost no time in getting away from the To-
cality where they were taken from the
train. They went to the farm where
they had been at work previous to
THE CoMMITTAL OF THE MURDER
and sought concealment. Before day
another party, composed of seven or eight
men, came to the house where the negroes
were and arrested them, but did not offer
any violence. Their new captors carried
the negroes to Decatur and placed them
in Jail. This party is supposed to be
citizens who, by some unknown means
ascertained the fact of the negroes having
been rescued by their colored friends.
This is the statement of the negroes them
selves, and we have no reason to think the
disguised persons rescuing them were any
others than negroes. All were either
negroes, or else disguised so as to repre-
sent negroes. Yesterday morning large
number of hats. masks, clothing, etc.,
which the party had left, were found at
the place where the negroes were taking
from the train.-Union and Anacricun.