Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-04
GIBSON COUNTY.
The Other sfde-Ihe Fsefs in the Case
Origin, Progress and CuImina-
tfOR OF the AWTaI and Bru-
tsf Tragedy.
Ths People Of Ere1ton and Gibson Conn
ty NOS RespoaEfble 70 the Massa.
cre-GOYernOr Brown wants
Arrests Made.

In the spirit of fair play, which has
always distinguished this paper we give place
10 the following:
From an Occasional Correspondent.I
TRESroN, September >, lS7l.-One week has
elapsed since what you have delighted 10 de-
EOml nate The s'dastardly outrage, the "cOW
ardly murder Of the negro prisoners took
place. Cool, sober, second thought can now
hold sway, whilst we review the situation,
and repel the unmerited charges that have
been brought against Trenton IN particular,
and Gibson county IN general. The IscLs IN
the case are too ell known 70 demand more
Than brief recapltulation OF the established
ana lneonlr1lerllD Die pOlnts- u "as proven
81 the committing trial OF the negroes that for
some fancled znsult given, or wrong done
them al a barbecue, Gley had determined 10
murder some OF the most respectable and
prominent citizens OF Ptckettsgil4e; that In
furheTance Of that plan they had fired upon
two unarnnet young men who were
peaceably returning 10 their homes;
that for that act a number Of them
were arrested, who, when closely questioned,
uufoIded a tale OF blood, Tapine and debauch-
cry tnat caused those who heard IL 70 grow
pale with horror. No wonder that speedy
justice was meted out TO the ring-leadets. The
wonder Is that IL was not more speedy. The
horrible details Of the plot were sufficient 10
stir a Fever in the blood OF age, We might
ai this point press an extsnuation OF the
crime Cl which those masked men were
guilty, but trat was not what We purposed
doing 81 the outs [. We might recall IN nu-
nerous mur1ers this have ben planned or
e3mmltted in the cOunty since IL was organ
hsps one, toe perpetrators were set 1ree or
sent 10 the penifentiary on some legal techni-
caIty. We might show that our dockets are
numbered with murder cases" tnat are de-
ferned from court 10 cou-t on affidSvits that
some OF The witnesses have the headache or
did not think that the case would be called at
this term Of the court. We might further
show that counrerfei ter ,defaulters and Others,
90 long 81 they have money. go unpGnlshed,
or mob law might easily be traced
% the fact that our laws are not executed, I
or that when carried into effect are done -
Win 30 much sioln ihat the punlenment
ceases 70 exert any leavening influence. The /
disguised men bearing in mind these facts, /
took the law into their own hanus. We with I
al good citizens Of this county, condemn /
Thair course. The prisoners after being com i
InIt ed o. lail, should have been allowed 70 re-
main there, II 10 took a century 10 try them /
even II their folly cost the county thousands
OF dollars. q bison county does not approve I
the stand taken by the APPEAL and other /
Memphis papers Wnen they attempt 10 nN the
stigma Of the N uTder upon her. Tne seventy
nve or one hundred men who did toe deed do
nos represent the six thousand votes OF the
county. The county had no more 10 do with
the crime than you or any other man. The
sheriff did his duI y a. best he could. and so
40 me al De- county and town oficers tbeirs I
The al v as guarded on Monday night, when
a raid was expected, but on Tuesday night it
handed, cope with n band OF determined men.
Perhaps had We nad some Of your
your indignation meeting on last
Friday night, the murder might have
been prevented. Some Of them might have
made use Of a Few cabalistlc words and
on rasCs peculiar to the kuklux, with which |
they might have been sttu familiar, and !
thereby persuaded them % retire, but as no
one IN the corporation Of Trenton retained !
any connection with the defunct order, we
were p0werless. We claim thst Trenton and
Gibson county are both gutltless, and a. free
from stat as II the crime had been commit
ted IN Texas We are pr pared to prove that
Trenton furnished not a man 70 the bauo,
and condemns the deed IN unneasnred terms
30 far as being affected financially, much less
ruined, or bsnkruptsd, is concerned, We hold
fhaf her credit D. ~ good 20 day As IL was two
,s-s-.l-g or i've months ago. We boast that
fewer Of our business men have failed than Of
any other place Of the same SIZE in the state,
and we note no decrease in the number OF
Memphis drummels anxious TO sell 70 them
on credit. Our corporation scrip Il stlu at
ssar, and extremely scarce, Whicn IS exactly
NJ o-.uOsite Of the money OF Memphis. Our
county owes not a cent which u Is not pre-
pared 10 pay al any time; but what say y you ot
Shelby county? All your papefs appear %
rt0sr over the fact thai the governor has Of
fared a large reward for the capture and con
ylctlon % the unknown men; 6hy doc. ne
not offer the same reward for the rioious ne
rroes VITO attempted, il they did not commit
murder? We have o good governor but ne
does appear 10 us 70 be little renllss on that
-1inf But we have trespsssed already too
much on your space.
THE CRIMINALS MUST BE ARRESTED
AND PUNISHED.
Governor Brown has addressed the follow.
fnr letter 10 the attorney general OF Ol 3s-ou
l'N-'s FxECUIlvE OFFICE,l Z
NASHVILLE, August 81. J
DEAR sIK-AsI have already assured you
and the sheriff Of Gibson coantyf oy teiegrem
"a rrf.-ious dale, am ready ana anxious, Dy
an lie means within my command 70 aid
vou Ia di covering and arrestlng AL the actors
- -, =. ~, ord mate troubles N that com
a. he D. 1ters and lall-oreazeis alihe- AZ you
need detective. OF acelllolal iole,sg ~
-slf or ne sheriff. While do not deem this
sssuranse necessary, yet y VII 20 ne naIin,
an3 ] scarcely have Lang1se. - .1pisss pis,! IN!
anxiety 20 have tue slllts fs ats-gs us.e'sg -. ~
gud Brought 10 punishment lhls y q ttst %
Z ~ rOu. 81 and efficiency q tie clFll laws %
: rots-cf socie-y Ia the STATE snefe ne peopis
7sf.g-- 1tnder 10 disabilities II We fall
hi This 81 will auJId the most piausl-
bic preiext for Drlnglns .ne nv =, I..-i
-ffion of which, God knows W e nave alIeai1y
mad enough. There IS great lenueney 70
r.nfralization In all the departments OF me
,-.,ernr1ert. There exists, even IN Tennessee,
- aren't desire % re-opsn the quesuoh o.
instruction, and tnefe Is an e2aal SsstsS tisf
.lis-e 10 the FedeFa al courts exclusive yuIlslle-
-fon 0f all cases involving any controversy
i.zfygssu tle races. II or local courts Ialht 70
fi.st.-e-f and punish TIE late onenders ~ , 1iD,
- - ,ClioIe question viii be inVesugat d
5,s-ore United states comnnissl oners oi lhs
United states court under mliltAsy P'e,sS 80.
80, III need be aud such Investigation may
- 1l-,f- rea.llf in the conviction OF lnnocent
..l-fifS slpder the effect OF false swearing Dut
it viii afford cenirail1sis ~ Oo.,at f - iTsf
..Iss,-ltere an unaussFerallle argument asslIst
i,oth the ability and me alspositl1l 1919 % ~
500 courts 70 protect society ana GO llslcs
,-s.e.r, he tygo races To my mind theIe =
- ~ - mt crisis not merely for the people
= ,.li.it,.,, e97nfv but for the State and the
.-t,l,ss 'sl,rth Il were bstter for your court 70
M urfiI Christmas, and fOr tiie clale 20 eA-
- sr,s- mount OF money. Than ior us 70
tglI ~ ri1fa r1after Therefore, n money prop
nv exraudad II detectives n teeal aDiilty, ~
addffional t0ssas are Ileeoed, lsi ahg .at oi ~
.-f rnags agencies be brought lnlo felulsi-
fton i am reudy 10 Assume any IesponeI-
t--iiry ,Tifbin line expressed or reason
Dt.ll.9 .,iied Towers conferred by the
- -s +f,,Itil,r- and viii promptly q q unhesl-
fafIue-- v respond 70 any such demand inA1e
IITln me III saying this muchi dc moi mean ineSh
s6 fuupiv a single doubt elmer ol the sun
,.,sr.. disDo.ition or ability OF the agencies
aIrafdv involved. 1 have the most ltnpiictt
M d ID tie success Of the efforts you prompt
It fuau1urated, aud ars still prosecuting But
Il only write what do 70 assure you OF my m
f.-rslt Ia aud 3, ,mpatby for your earnest ei-
f..-ts 10 Ur8claiIn the majesty efilclency ana
power ol the law 70 meet al the emefgencies