The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-15
THE vICKsBURG TRoUBLE.


VIcKsBURG, Dec. ia large body of citi-
zens to-day set forth a statement of the
origin of the late difficulties. The state
ment is signed by B. G. Humphreys;
ex-Gov. John A. Allen, president of
Thomas, president of the Vicksburg
Bank; G. Gordon Adams, ex-United States
district attorney and United States commits
sioner; Charles e. Furlong, republican state
senator; John ID. Beard, Fred Spred. Jno.
ID. Finney, ex-United States army officers;
G. X. Marshall, ID. D., and Bowman Miller,
McCardle, Cowan, Baum, Cathings and
other prominent citizens. After recounting
that the Warren county officials of
1873 were nearly all negroes, the
statementshows that T. w. CORDOBA, circuit
clerk was elected state superintendent of ed
ucation. Ames thereupon, contrary to the
explicit law and state constitution, appointed
A. w. Dorsey his successor in August,
1874. Upon the affidavit OF the state
auditor of public accounts Dorsey was ar
rested for issuing false and forged certificates.
Dorsey was committed TO Jail and
was filed by an appointment by
Ames contrary to law, and the appointee
still hold possession of the Office. An in
vestigation of Dorsey's frauds discovered
that Cardoza was guilty of similar offenses'
One Davenport, a negro, was elected chan
cery clerk and was sole custodian of the
county seat and public records. 1t being
discovered that large amount of forged
warrants were in circulation, Davenport was
repeatedly called upon to make report to
the board of supervisors, and persistently
failed to do so. He refused a committee of
taxpayers permission to examine the
records, and it may be added here that
after his flight 1t was discovered that he had
no bond whatever on record. At the Octo-
ber term OF the Circuit Court, Dorsey ,Daven-
grand jury, composed of ten blacks
and seven whites. During the inquiry into
the offense the books of the county treasurer
and other valuable records, bearing evil
dence of the guilt of the parties, were stolen.
Other records used in the investigation
which were put in charge of Sheriff Crosby
were also stolen. The sheriff is also the tax
collector and required 10 give bonds in $780,
900. He gave worthless bond, and when
its worthles sness was brought TO light several
sureties Withdrew, thus making the instru-
ment illegal. The supervisors attorney,
republican, declared the bond illegal, but
the board refused to order the sheriff TO
give new one. 1t was generally under
stood that the board acted under the infiu-
eece Of the sheriff and the indicted
officials who were interested ia keeping
him in Office. In November the sheriff pub
lished card, calling on the tax payers TO
pay up, and saying that he would hold the
sheritf's Office until ousted out by the Su-
preme Court. This was the condition of af-
fairs; viz: The taxes amounting to five per
cent. of the values were due. The sheriff TO
whom the taxes were payable was
INSoLvENT AND BoNDLEss.
The board of supervisors, though oppOr-
tuned to do so, bad failed to take the meas.
ures required by law fer the protection of the
people. Valuable public records and papers,
necessary as evidence to convict Cardoza,
Davenport and Dorsey on indictments
found against them, had been stolen from
the court house which the sheriff is, by
law, the keeper. Sheriff Crosby was known
to be an intimate personal and
political friend of these criminals, and be
sides being charged with the important duty
of summOning the juries by whom they
should he tried, was the custodian OF records
furnishing evidence of their guilt, and had
failed to protect the same fron larceny and
spoliation, and to all appearances these
officials seemed banded together for mutual
protection, and in strength of numbers of
mutual countenance were defying the laws
of the state and prostituting their offices to
| their own private ends. In this condition of
sffsirs the taxpayers had meeting, and as
already known, demanded the resignation
of the officials. Crosby resigned and the
others fled. Crosby then went TO jack
son to consult Governor Ames
Ames issued a proclamation commanding
I
ously with Ames' proclamation a card,
signed by Peter Crosby, was circulated
among the colored people, denouncing the
whites as ruffians, and calling on his friends
to come to the aid of the sheriff and support
| him, On the same daY Ames' adjutant-
general and aide arrived in Vicksburg, and
about the same time one Hale, the captain
of a negro company of militia, received
orders to hold himself in readiness for or
ders, which orders were sent direct to Hale,
and not through his superior officers. On
Sunday the taxpayers, contemplating no
violent measures themselves and ignorant
that any were contemplated by Crosby and
his confederates, requested OF Cham
cellor Hill, republican, bill
of injunction against Crosby, the
acting sheriff. until he should give Dond.
The chancellor prepared an order on sun
day night granting an Injunction, which
which would have been served on Monday
morning. While the conversation was be-
ing held with Hill, A. J. Packer, Ames' ad-
lutant general, and Crosby came in to-
gether, and Crosby was informed that it was
rumored that the negroes Of the county
would attempt to invade the city upon the
! following morning. He disclaimed any
knowledge on the subject, but said that be
had the power to disperse them, though be
saw no objection to their coming If they de-
sired. Upon this he was earnestly besought
by Chancellor Hill and the citizeus present
to send out orders to them that night to re-
turn to their homes, since, if they made
such an attempt, much blood would be shed.
Crosby promised to do SO. Nevertheless,
! early on Monday morning the negroes
marched on the city from several roads.
The citizsns, partly warned the night before,
armed and went TO the defense OF the city.
They came in conflict with separate bodies
Of armed negroes, numbering from 200 to
400 each, on three different roads. and de-
feated and repulsed each body. It is esti-
mated that from 90 to 100 negroes were