The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-08-29
Dreadful Disorders in Tennessee Six
teen Negroes taken from Jail by
Masked Men and Shot.

riot last Saturday aud Sunday, on account
Of some supposed wrong done them, and
manifested a strong desire to kill two or
three citizens, aud FIRE and sack the town.
Yesterday sixteen Of the ringleaders were
arrested and taken to Trenton aud placed
in jail for safe keeping About O'clock
this morning between scventy-fye aud one
hundred masked men entered the town,
and riding up to the jail, demanded and
compelled the Sheriff to deliver up the
keys thereof, They then took the sixteen
negroes from prison, and after killing four
aud MORALLY wOunding two ON the confines
Of the town, rode of with the remaining
ten, and arc supposed to have killed them.
Nothing has been heard of the party since
they left. Considerable excitement exists
among the negroes, and the whites are
taking steps to defend themselves in case
Of an outbreak.
MEMPHIS, August 26.-The appeals
special from Humboldt tonight says -
1.-The excitement in Gibson county is sub
siding. No further bloodshed is antici-
pated. Women and children have been
coming in here during the day, and the
widest excitement existed throughout the
county, owing to the rumors Of negroes
marching on Pickettsville, aud Of their
having murdered two women. On the
other hand the negroes were terribly
alarmed, and many fed to the woods, fear
ing the fate Of those taken from the Tren-
tSn jail last night.
'The origin Of the trouble was at a bar
becue some FIRE weeks since in difficulty
between = white man named j. o. Hale
and j. Webb, colored, about the payment
Of fifty cents. Since that time the negroes
have made numerous threats Of violence.
On Saturday night last two young men,
named Monroe Morgan and james War
rem, were riding along the road, some three
miles from Pickettsville. They were fred
upon by some thirty or forty negroes that
were hid in the woods. The young men
abandoned their horses, took to the woods
and escaped to town.
The citizens, who had become alarmed
at the firing, aud in view of the reports
that the negroes were organizing armed
companies, suspected negro named Ben.
Walker of being one of the shooting party.
A constable, with a posse, proceeded to
his house, where they captured a negro
named Ben. Ballard, who confessed that
the negroes had met Saturday night and
organized to protect Col. Webb, (colored)
from Ku-Klux, and after that to kill Bur
rell Butler for divulging their plans to the
whites, but after meeting and firing on
Morgan and Warren they separated. He
also gave the names Of large number en-.
gagged in tho plot for assassination and
murder.
When Billiards. confession was made
public, the greatest excitement prevailed
throughout the county, and the citizens
gathered at Pickettsyille, and meeting
was called, at which Esquire Burnett
presided. 1t was decided to summon a
posse aud arrest the following negroes.
who, according to Ballard, were ringlead
ers George Greene, Steve Bryant, Dan
Williams, Bob Love, Dick Shaw, Dug
JamersOn, Hayes PEBBLES, Jarrett Bur.
rows, Alfred Williams and Nick joey.
which was done, and they were brought 10
Pickettsville Saturday night. A band of
masked men rode into town and demanded
the prisoners, but Marshal Dugau refused
to give them up, and the masked men left.
On Monday the prisoners were arraigned
before justices on the charge Of shooting
with intent to kill, and with melting TO
riot One Of them, jarrett Burrows,
turned States evidence, and related the
story of the cause, origin, purpose and
expectation Of this extensive organization
among the negroes in Gibson county,
which was corroborated by Nebou McGhee,
colored, who also said ii was rumored for
some time past that President Grant would
back the negroes in whatever course they
took against the whites, and acting on this
belief, the colored people had determined
TO extirpate the whites, so US to obtain
their lands, &c. but had not agreed upop
a time for the outbreak. This measure
for the murder of the whites was agreed
to by all except Burrell Butler, Of Pick
ettsyille, and because of his opposition thew
intended to kill him on Saturday night.
for fear he would tell the whites.
Burrows also gave the names of several
other persons who were to be killed Satur-
day night, and told where the negroes met
in the railroad cut and organized by elect
ing Wesley Shields captain, until they
reached the house Of Colonel Webb. who
was to take command. They also expec.
ted to meet a company from Humboldt
under charge Of John Regain, which failed
to come. Their object in organizing
thoroughly was to shoot Ku-Klux, who
they understood were raiding through the
country to prosecute the negroes.
After the examination the prisoners
were committed to Jail at Trenton. and
the result has been announced. The
lynching of the prisoners causes much
indignation.
A special from Trenton to the Araiaache
gives the following additional particulars
regarding the slaughter Of the colored
prisoners:
After the maskers, numbering about
one hundred, had obtained possession of
the prisoners, they tied them together
and marched them off on the Huntington
road about half a mile from town. Six of
the numbers were then cut loose and
ordered to escape, and as soon as that
command was given a volley was fred
upon them, killing four aud wounding the
other two, one mortslly. The remainder
were carried up the river two miles and
killed. Their remains were collected and
are being taken care Of