Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-22
THE TRENTON MASSACRE.

Bistary of the Gathering of she
V1EiIanGa. 1be Forcing of the jail
ave- the ShOOtiug DOwu of ths
Negroes, as Told by One OF the
Lyuehers-
From the Nashville Banner. September 1871
Learning that Ben Davis, the young
man who informed upon the Trenton
band Of disguised men, and whose testi'
mony, perhaps, more than any one else,
led to their Indictment, was in the city,
a Banner reporter sought him out yes.
terday for an interview. He met Davis
on Cherry street, and informing him OF
his wishes, the reporter and Davis went
to Davis room, No. 6. Colonnade build
ing. Mr.. Davis is not more than seven
teen years of age, aud speaks in a free,
frank and easy manner. He said, in
substance, that the people in his neigh
borhood fully believed that the negroes,
who had maintained threatening atti-
tude, had intended TO make war upon
the whites, and that the firing upon
the two young men at night was
but the beginning Of it. But even then,
neither he nor a great many OF those who
broke open the Trenton Jail had any
idea of doing so at the start Monday
evening, before that affair, about twenty
disguised men started to town, but con
cluded they would not take the negroes
out that night, because it was thought
they did not have enough men. One oil
the company then proposed TO raise
twenty boys from over in his neighbor.
hood, across the Forked Deer river, and
Join them. They concluded to get to
gether about seventy-6ve men. They
then dispersed to meet Tuesday night at
9 o clock, on the Lexington road, four
and three quarter miles from town.
They assembled according to arrange.
ment, coming together in two parties,
one thirty and the other thirty eight
strong.
The whole neighborhood was repre-.
sented in the crowd, with the exception
of few who came from Spring Greek
and Jackson. he was told to go into g
certain bottom at five o'clock Tuesday
afternoon, and he did so. When he gol
down there they appointed the captain
This meeting took place at Harper
chapel. A man was dispatched over tt
Eldad to inform the company over there
how many there we're at Harper chapel
and to arrange for the meeting at a GER
tain bridge at night. They met accord
ing to agreement that night There hac
never before been any organization
The companies had been gotten up or
the spur Of the moment. Before start
ing into town, all were required to TAXI
an oath never to reveal anything tina
passed that night, and they were L
stick by one another. There we're sixty
eight men present. Three Of these, WHIT
were on poor horses, struggled behind
and being accosted by the police, beat 9
hasty retreat. They had on almos
every kind Of garment, some wearini
gowns, some their wives clothing, mo-
Of them the KuKlux mask, and a few
having no mask at all. WheR they go
upon the square they formed into line
and every other man dismounted. /
was understood before the crowd left tn,
rendezvous that any man who shoulC
call another's name that night should b
whipped. Davis took good care that b.
mentioned no name. de didn't want Il
be whipped.
After every other man had dismoun
ted, they went to the jail and demanded
the negroes from the jailer, with whom
they had to talk right smart before they
got the keys. The jailer was told if h
! didn't give up the keys they would hav'
TO kill him, and he gave them up, ant
when they got the keys they shook them
: yell was given, the negroes taken out
( ana then followed another yell. The
tied twelve Of the negroes. two and two
with a rope obtained from old mai
e Loveswell, one BY himself aud thei
three together. They we're taken on