Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-10
SOUTHERN OUTRAGES.
Murder OF a Negro Mail agent.
His Republicanism the Cause

The Meridian (Miss.) Mercury, Demo-
the assassination of Thomas L. Ivy, negro
United States route mail agent, on the day
previous: yesterday afternoon, as the Ala.
bama and Chattanooga train was coming this
way, about three miles beyond York, and six
this way from Livingston, man stood upon
the track and tagged the train down with his
hat. Charlie Briggs was the engineer, and
stopped his train. Immediately as the train
stopped some three or six shots, variously
stated by eye witnesses, were fred at Thomas
l.. Ivy, the colored mail agent. lie is said to
have uttered a single exclamation of pain,
and, from the terrible character of the
wounds, was doubtless killed instantly after
The train brought the body on to this city. 1t
Is supposed that Ivy came to the door of the
car to observe what the train was stopping
tor, and so gave his slsyers the fair opportu-
nifty they wanted. 1t is said there were as
sailants on both sides of the train Their
work was quick and decisive, and they dis
appeared III the brush, and no one of all the
people about the train recognized any one.
We lately heard from Ivy riding about Liv-
ingston with his double barreled gun bidding
cenahce, anc saying great many provoking
things, as, for instance, Show me the man
who shot Billings, and I'll shoot his head off ,
From what we have heard of his incendiary
talk and acts VIE conclude that he has fool
ishly and needlessly provoked his fate"
The Montgomery Gala journal comments
as follows upon the same outrageous affair:
"Shortly after the assassination of Billings
by the ku-klux Democracy of Sumter
County, the Meridian Mercury got up a story
about Tom Ivys never travelling from home
except in company with squad of al associates,
and that his house was generally occupied at
night by number of men for his protection!
Specific allusion was made, in the Mercury's
article, to pretended rising of the negroes
in the Coatopa neighborhood on the succeed
Saturday. That was the day which had been
appointed for the meeting of the Republicans
in the neighborhood of Coatopa, and the ex-
posure which we made of the meditated out
rage at the place had the good effect to save
the meeting from disturbance and the life of
Tom Ivy The Ku-Klux Democracy were
there in force on the occasion of the Republic
can meeting, and we all know they did not
come there to participate in the proceedings,
but to watch for a convenient opportunity to
carry into execution their well-k known threat
against the Republicans in that neighbour
hood? Tom Ivy was, next to Billings, the
most actiVe hepuDllcan organizer IN Sumter
County, and on this account alone he had in
Cured the displeasure of the leaders of the
Sumter Democracy. But Tom Ivy, although
he escaped death by the means which he
adopted while at his own home, was destined
to elude the men who sought his life but
short time. lie is a route agent of the Post
Office Department. He lives in Sumter
County, near Coatopa station. He was on
duty as route agent of the Post Office Depart
ment last Friday night. When the railroad
train bearing the United States mail had
reached the vicinity of y ork station, in Sum-
ter County, it was Ragged to stop 1t did
stop, and Tom Ivy, the route agent of the
Post Office Department came to the door of
his car to see what was the matter, when the
Ku-Klux Democracy, who had doubtless
tagged the train for the purpose. riddled his
body with buck shot, and he fell back into
the postal car. to which his duties confined
him, dead man! Thus has another Repub-
lican been assassinated in Sumter, and for no
other reason than that he was actively en-
gagged, when not on duty, organizing the Re-
publicans of his own county! Here is a route
agent of the Postal Department shot dead
while in the car set aside for mail matter, and
in the faithful discharge of his duty to the
Government whose servant he was He fell