New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-01
The Late Excitement in Madison Parish.

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The Late Excitement in Madison Parish
Highly colored accounts have reached
this city of affsirs in Madison parish. w.
are. therefore, pleased to lay before Oul
readers the following accom-: Of the threat
ened disturbance, from the Madison Journc
Of the twenty third. We are assured tha,
Mr.. Murre!l was acting under competent
authority in the matter. and SO demeaned
himself as to prevent any outbreak. Mr..
Murrell is the popular and talented mem.
ber of the Legislature from Madison parish
and is well known in this city. where he
formerly resided as quiet resident and
courteous gentleman. 1t was well for the
people of Madison that they had him for a
leader during the excitement. Since that
time detachment of Company 3. Six.
teentn Infantry, under command OF Cap
tain Allen. has arrived at that place. and
no further trouble i. to be apprehended:
There was a good deal OF excitement here
last Friday. growing out of a visit of the
sheriff OF Franklin parish with an armed
posse OF about fourteen men. The sheriff
came with an order from the parish iudg
of Frsnklin. directing our sheriff to deliver
the body of Mr.. Adams, who was commit
ted to jail by our parish judge. Early in
the morning it had been reported that a
body o! armed men, Numbering from fifty
TO 800, was approaching this place for the
purpose OF rescuing Mr.. Adams from i'm.
prisonment. Our colored people. keenly
alive to all reports of ku-Kux raids. in
stantly left their work. and with such arms
as they had fastened to defend the jaii
from assault. We suppose there were 80
colored men in Delta by eleven O'Clock. all
of whom were very much excited by the
Threatening report and determined to
defend the Jail. In the meantime Major
Murreil assembled portion of his
militia. which he held in readiness to act
as might be directed by the authorities.
About this time Mr.. Nathaniel Hoggatt
came into town from his plantation and re.
ported that he passed, at the Mounds fifteen
men. unknown to him. who were armed
with shotguns and reyolvers. Thus mat
ters stood until Mr.. Hawthorne. sheriff of
Franklin. came into town, accompanied by
five citizens of Franklin. a portion Of his
posse. They were immediately surrounded
by Mai or MurrelIs militia, and escorted 20
tho sherift's office. Captain Brown de-
clined to deliver Mr.. Adams, when the crowd
dispersed and as much guietness resumed as
was to be expected with the quantity of
WAS offered to the gentlemen from Franklin,
at any stage of the proceedings, aud perfect
good nature was the rule with ali. We
think that great credit is due Major Murrell
for the energy and irmness displayed by
him during the whole proceedings He held
his men under good command. and was pre-
pared Il repress any violence or disturb.
ance of the peace. We are thankful that
there was no occasion to use his force, but
without its array circumstances might have
occurred that would have been painful to
contemplate. Some of our citizens censure
Sheriff Brown for his refusal to deliver Mr..
Adams. We are not prepared to defend the
strict legality of his course. especially as
gentlemen for whose knowledge and skill
i'll the practice OF the law we have the
highest respect. are Of opinion that he
ought 10 have Obeyed the order of Judge
Buie, but We have no hesitation in declar-
ing the opinion that he acted prudently and
wisely III his refusal, and that if Judge
Buie had Veen present he would have re.
v"ked his order. Mr.. Adams is perfectly
safe in our Jail. Our citizens will defend
him from violence and harm. and our kind.
hearted and excellent jlilor will sec that he
has every comfort and convenience com
patible with his safe keeping. His friends
in Franklin and Richland may rest in the
perfect assurance of this. In common with
all good citizens of the State, our people
are anxious tlV.t the murderers of that
great and good man. that most upright
mag istrate and learned jurist. Judge Craw.
ford. should be brought to punishment.
They will spare no means at their com.
mand to accomplish this, but it does not
follow that they have fixed tle great crime
upon MIR. Adams.