New Orleans Republican., 1873-02-09
The Ocean Springs CHse.

We mentioned editorially % few days
since that United States Deputy Marshal J.
j. Gainey, with SQUAD OF United States
soldiers, had created some excitement at
Ocean Springs, last week, by arresting
some of the most prominent and best clti-
zens Of that place, and taking them Oh 10
jackson to answer the charge of ku kluX
ing a man named Peter a Pons. We copied
from the Handsboro Democrat, at the time,
and now find the following concerning the
same case in the columns Of the Meridien
Mercury for the sixth instant:
MI Peter A. Pons alluded TO- is now q
resident of this city. lie came here last fall
from Ocean Springs, and established fish
and oyster depot, which he has had supplied
from the waters Of Ocean Springs. Hearing
something OF his troubles above alluded to,
we called sn him yesterday for any infor-
nation ne might choose TO give us in our
reportOrial capacity. We were first informed
that he was III bed, but that lie would see
us. When be made his appearance he was
an entire stranger-We had never seen hm
before. We knew nothing OF him. and are
not impressed in any way, FOR or against
him. We gathered the main facts 10 be.
Sunday, two weeks ago he went back 70
his old home, tc settle up some entapged
business difficulties. We did not learn the
merits Of the same, bUc one Df these. it
seems, O9 appears TO Gjm. n general bad
feeling w&s excited III The community
against him, inst igatCd. in part. possibly by
a man who was in partnership with him
here, and had some time ago returned there.
He says the justice OF the peace, Minor,
above mentioned, seemed 10 be against him,
and would not treat him oivilIy nor attend
to the business he wanted done. The
sheriff, Clark, mentioned above. refused 10
shake hands with him.
He was sent for to 20 70 the railroad sta.
Ii N. A person came to him and advised
him that there was danger il going Out--hc
had heard number OF persons who had
been working the road, and we're full Of
whisky. talking threateninglyo Mr.. Pons
was prudent, and did not leave his house.
Small parties prowled about all night. He
sent bis sister, girl of fifteen. in search of
his lawyer and Justice Minor, asking the
protection of the law, without avail. lie
sent her because afraid to go himself, and
there was no other person to do him that
service. She became frightened az remarks
made by parties seeing her going. At last
he judged it best to slip away elandestinely
to another station and leave the place.
At New Orleans he was advised by his
friends to 90 to jackson and prosecute the
men who constituted the mob which had so
threatened him. which he did, and returned
to Ocean Springs with the deputy marshal
to point them out, and TO do things neces-
sary to further the prosecution he had com
menced. Neither Justice Minor nor Sheriff
Clark were then put under arrest. They
went with those who were TO jackson, to
befriend them. At Jackson, Minor. in
saloon, assaulted him and beat him severely
about the head. catching him by the hair
and humping his head against something
and kicking him on the Jaw. The injury
had been very painful, and was the cause
of his beng III bed when we called. BY ad
vice Of bis physician, be has remained away
from jackson. where he is wanted before
the grand jury. His sister is there to give
such information about The affair as she
can.
Mr.. Pons expressed surprise and mort.f-
cation at the tlippant style of the Hands
bOrO Democrat, whose editor he thought
was a friend, IN mentioning him as a 'Iel-
low by the name of Pons"