The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-13
Arrival ut Vinita-An Address of Wei.
come and the Response.
THE GIBSON COUNTY OUTLAWS.


Governor Brownsville Jurisdiction OF
tho United States Courts Maintained
The Governors Request Refused, and
the Trials to Proceed.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 1874.
The telegram OF Governor Brown. OF Tennessee,
to the President few weeks ago, requesting that
the United States withdraw action concerning the
trial Of the Gibson county outlaws in order that
the State might deal with them, having been re-
ierred to the Attorney General and by
that oficer referred to the United States
Attorney for the western district OF Ten
nessee the latter in response thereto
forwards long report detailing many
OF the outrages alleged to have Deen committed
He alluded to the arrest OF black men in that
vicinity, details Of which have been heretofore
published, making particular reference to the six
teen negro prisoners taken from jail recently
ana hanged, and says that as soon as
these facts were properly brought TO his
attention he caused warrants to be issued for the
apprehension OF such Of the parties as he believed
TO be guilty from the testimony in his possession.
sixteen men have already been indicted and
others viii probably be as soon as the testimony
can be sdduced. District Attorney Murray further
says
have great difficulty in securing proof against
the parties engaged In that transaction, and in
some instances the witnesses do not OBEY the
process OF the Court, and am obliged to have
wrts OF attachment issued in order to secure their
attendance.
He further submits that the crime was viola
ton OF the acts OF Congress- and was o crime that
emphatically calls for action on the part OF the
United States. AS to the prosecution OF the parties
in the State Court he says he Is reliably informed
that the forty-one men supposed to pe guilty are
thus indicted, not for murder, but, under the
of tho r0Ao 81 . nn .t<o
Browns telegram to the President. He also says
"Tnere are also various grounds Of prejudice,
which will readily suggest themselves to YOU ex-
istlng in the local court which could not exist in
this 1.-THE United States) Court; and am well con-
vinced that the parties indicted here can nave q
full, fair and impartial tral.n
Upon this communication from the United
States Attorney, Attorney General Williams ad-
dressed the following letter to Governor Brown
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE |
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct 10, 1874.
Hon. JOHN c. BROWN, Governor, Nashville, Tenn. -
SIR--RelerrinR to your despatch to the Presi-
dent or the 18TH nit. asking him to order In re-
BY 1 %ar that @
proper local tribunals Tor trial. and to the Presi
your telegram had been referred TO the
United States District Attorney Tor the Western
district OF Tennessee Tor Information, and that
when such report was received more definite
ans wer would be made to your request. have
the honor TO inclose herewith copy OF that re-
port detailing the circumstances under which this
action OF the federal authorities was taken
in that case. No reasonable doubts can
exist as to the jurisdiction OF the Courts OF the
United States upon the facts as Stated by the DIS
trict Attorney, nor can there be any doubt that 1t
is as much the duty OF the President to enforce
the so-caled Enforcement acts as any other
acts OF Congress. To admit that persons charged
with and arrested for criminal viola.
ton OF the laws OF the United States ought TO be
turned over for trial to tribunals OF the State in
which the crimes are committed upon demand
OF the Executive thereof, because such person may
also be chargeable upOn the same state Of facts