The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-09-17
CCorrespo ondence Cincinnati Commercial
Wholesale Murder in Tennessee
Gibson County Horror.
NASHVILLE. August %. 1874


In the long long record of crime called
history the blackest pages are those
which detail the murder of the innocent,
defenseless and imprisoned. None but
the most barbarous of barbarians tie the
hands of defenseless and innocent men,
and then shoot them down like hogs.
That is precisely what the Gibson county
Ku-Klux did the other night. They
murdered sixteen men, men who, SO far
as any evidence has yet been developed,
were guiltless of any crime save that of
being negroes. The stories set afoat as
to the supposed crimes of the negroes are
frightful lies. We need not be surprised
at this, for those who will murder will
lie
| want to call your attention to one
fact. In all the trouble in Gibson county,
which has resulted in the tragic taking off
of sixteen prisoners and the killing of
two others, not white man has been
scratched. Bear that in mind. Here
are eighteen negroes killed. and for what?
Sift the evidence, which is all from the
whites, and necessarily colored as much
as possible, and you fail to find the ne
groes guilty of any crime. Some negroes
I but whether these sixteen or not is not
known-are said to have fred on two
white men-Morgan and Warren. These
two white men say that the band who did
the firing numbered thirty or forty; that
they were close upon them and saw them.
Now, it is very plain that these negroes
could have killed Morgan and Warren,
| had they chose to do so, and the fact that
| they escaped without scratch is proof
that the thirty OF forty armed negroes
did not have murder in their hearts. The
more we sift the evidence the more we
! haH fl,a 6ar IF hn0
teen negro prisoners at Trenton was with
out the shadow of justification. They
had not killed anybody; they had not
harmed anybody. and the very most we
can make of il is that they
or some of them, had threat,
ened to resist if attacked by the
Ku-Klux. strong proof of their limo
cence of wrong, either committed or in.
tended, is the fact that none of them
tried to get away when arrested or before
being arrested. They were taken out o.
bed at night or in the fields at work.
The difficulty had its origin in a dis
pute between a negro and a white mar
at negro barbecue about the payment
of fifty cents. Then two white men
while riding along the public road lead
ing to Pickettsville, were fired on by
thirty or forty negroes. They jumped
they say, by storm of bullets; but the
fact that neither they nor their horse:
were touched, that their horses walked
home unmolested, and that they, Morgan
and Warren, were not followed by the
negroes-all this points strongly agains
the probability of the whole story. Blu
even were it true, was it Justification fo
taking sixteen men out of Jail, withou
evidence connecting them with the shoot
ing, tying their hands behind them anC
shooting them in cold blood
1t happened tha. Nashville friend o
mine was in Trenton, attending tht
Teachers Institute, at the time of the
lynching He gives me the details and a
he furnished the same to the Union anc
American, of this city, / append that ao
, count, only adding that know the eye-wit
ness we'll, r. G. Stone, and that he is
gentleman in every sense, discreet anC
reliable:
"'fhe jail is new iron and brick struc
ture recently completed. standing on tn
northeast corner Of the public square
The Hicks House stands on the south
west corner, and the Courthouse, will
| yard surrounding, occupies the center O
the square. l had front room at tn
f Hicks House, and was awakened out o
sound sleep by voice shouting Clos
up there; don you neaff IN you
close up thereI At the same time
heard the rattle of horses hoofs.
, "Springipg from my bed, | saw through
f the window band of about eight
mounted men, galioping in from tn
southeast corner of the square, swingin
around in front of the hotel, then to tn
right, toward the jail. Haiti Keep eN
, erybody Off came the command in tn
clear, ringing voice Of the leader, The
t knocking at the jail-door, distinctl
audible across the square, for it was nov
near. l o'clock and everything quiet
, Knock, knock, ratified against the door
and the leader calling Mr. Alexander
f Mr.. Alexonder!' we won't break ii