Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-01
TERRIBLE RETRIBUTION.
The Murderer Of officer Frazier
Taken from the Jail by a
Relentless Mob.
He Is Dragged to the Suspension
Bridge and Hurled into the
Cumberland.
Seven Doors at the Jail Give Way
Under the Axe and Sledge-
Hammer.
The Dreadful Scene witnessed by a
Multitude.
Maskless Iynchers OTerpOWer the
Iailer and a Posse.
The Dreadful Scene witnessed by q
Multitude.
Maskless Iynehers OTerpOWer the
Jailer and a Posse.

The news of the shocking murder Of Of
fcer Frazier yesterday afternoon spread
rapidly over the city, and he negro Reed
HAD not more than been lodged in Jail be-
fore the possibility Of his being lynched
was the subject Of general discussion. Ap-
prehensiOns were soon expressed on all
sides, and very many were heard TO express
the wish that Reed had never been taken
alive, or indulge the hope that the dread
idea Of mob violence would be carried out.
The Mayor, Police Commissioners, Sher-
if and others held a consultation at the
Office of the Mayor at 1 p. NJ. to consider
precautionary measures. Il note from Gov.
! Porter To Mayor Howell in reference to the
emergency, which bad been reported to
him, was read. The Governor referred to
the duty Of the Sheriff to call out
the power Of the county when nee
essary to conserve the peace, and
cOunse,ed whatever steps weTe neceS-
ay to give assurance that the law would
take its course. The Mayor promised that
he and the police force, as cOnservatOrs Of
the peace, would aid the county authorities
/ to the extent y their power. NOtwith-
| standing this official conference nO O1e
present seemed to entertain very grave
fears Of actual violence.
Sheriff WhitwOrth and Deputy Sheriff
Wilkinson left the meeting with the view
Of providing a guard FOR the Jail, but after
summOUing q number of men, all Of
| whom declined to act, gave up the under
taking Is far as apOsse ,cOmitatus was con-
cerned.
The opinion was commonly expressed on
the streets that The law aud the courts could
not be trusted for the punishment Of the
murderer. COntinuauces on account Of
undue excitement, il was said, would be
the order in the courts and the prisoner fin
/ ally escape merited punishment.
Rain fell almost continuously during the
evening and ushered in a dark night. 4
crowd soon began to collect in front Of the
Jail making violent demonstrations. The
numbers sWelled and the excitement grew
| so in intensity, that it was decided to alarm
/ the city by ringing the m~arkethOVss bell.
The call was answered by hundreds, few Of
whom, however, we've actuated by any
other motive than curiosity.
The street in front Of the Jail was soon
blocked up by a multitude numbering
thousands. A large number Of policemen
we're stationed at the entrance Of the Jail in
a phalanX, which, il was hoped, would
prevent line mob from e~ssaying to force
their way i'm. Tie portion Of the crowd
clamOrilg for vengeance occupied the mid
die Of the street and INDUCED in the cry to
"rally,' while the lockers on stood around
at greater or less distances contemplating
the dreadful scene,
Mayor howell and a few citizens min
/ gied with the crowd, and demonstrated aud
pleaded with them 10 disperse and 20 to
their homes. Justice Meacham got on she
steps 10 the Jail and undertook TO make a
speech in favor Of law and order, but his
~uttsranoes, Ike those Of others who al
tempted TO speak, were greeted with ieers
and ridicule and cries of "Take him OUT
referring, Of course, to the prisoner. This
last CRY was not confined to those actively
participating in the mob.
At about hslfpast eight o'clock the COM
mand TO rally was given, aud a huge mass
Of the participants sUrged against the body
of policeman and began their desperate
task furiOuslY. The officers We're forced
aside and the infUriaied thrOug began to
fercelY batter upon the doors. The strug-
gle with the policemen lasted some time.
The doors were finally shattered and the
mob rushed in with a yell which was re-
spOnded to by a shOut on the outside. They
were now in the j~ailers tenement and had
two more doors 10 break open before reach
ing the jail proper. The policemen, Jailer
HeYerin, Deputy Sheriff Wilkinson and
others rallied and made a stand at the
next door. BY dint Of blows
with an axe and a s~ledge-hammer this
soon gave way, as did the next when the
mob issued into the Jail yard. At this
point it numbered about p mon-mainly
young men. They demanded the keys to
the jail but failed to get them, Hugh Hev-
erin protesting that he did not have them.
All peaceable resistance was made by the
jailOr and his posse.
With the sledge hammer, axe and other
implements, the mob set to work on the
heavy iron doors Of the jail. By cutting
hinges and breaking locks they succeeded
in forcing their way through the four doors
separating them from the prisoner, who
was In No. ,. All the prisoners seemed
greatly alarmed, and out Of fears for their
own safety, directed the lntruders to the
proper cell.
They reached Reed at halfpast 10
o'clock, having been two hours in over
coming all the resistance. Some Of them
had handkerchief tied over their eyes as a
mask. They placed a halter around the
neck Of their victim and rushed madly
forth with him amid desfening yells from
the crowd.
Reed was dragged and pushed hurriedly
up Front street toward the Square in front
of a sUrging mass of enraged humanity.
He was rushed to the Suspension Bridge,
and when out only a few feet or tie bridge,
was heaved over the high precipice. In the
passage from the Jail three shots were fired,
and, it was supposed, at the victim.
Whether any took effect is not known. AT
ter being hurled from the bridge be was
heard to utter a cry.
1t was thought he did not fall in the
water, and parties afterward went down the
bluff to look for him, but did not succeedin
6ndiDo him.