Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-27
A Despieable and EantCn CriUe-A
kemphlan Nsylald, Killed and
Thrown Into the Bgck-Wa-
ter for Ten Dollars.
The AurdtreTs Captured, Confess, and
One Of Them Lynehed-A Terri
bic Tale Of TreRcheTy, CUR
der and Revenge,

phian formerly in the employ of EaYGa-
son & Clay as dr8yman. Williams, who
was young man, perhaps twenty-five
years old, had been for some months in
the employ of Mr.. A. X. Hancock, OF
Dickenson's mills, Frenchman's bayou,
in this county. On last Monday he was
paid Of, receiving ten dollars in cuTrs n
cy, ana started to Shawnee Village
landing, with the intention Of taxing
the steamer Frank Forrest for Memphis.
He was last seen alive at Shawnee (Dr.
+. G. M'Gsvock's) landing, about eight
o'clock Tuesday mOrDiI last, and as he
did not return TO the mill that day, il
was supposed that he had succeeded in
getting g boat. On Monday night
last, E storerOom on the plantation Of
Mr.. Hancock was broken into and lot
of pIunder stolen from it. The next
morning two negroes, named "Cy" or
John Phillips and John Randolph, who
had been employed on the place we've
missing, and suspicion naturally fell on
them. a white man, who slept ia the
house which had been broken open, tie.
ing over on DR.. M'GavOck's plantation
on Tuesday, seeing the suspected ne
gIOes at the village, called upon COnsia.
bic James Despair to arrest them,
while he (BurtOD) went after g warrant
for them. While he was gone for
warrant, the constable, acting under
missprehension as TO his duty, turned
the prisoners loose, and when he re-
turned with the writ the negroes had
msde good their escape. In the mean
time SIR. Hancock, fIOm whom the
plumber had been stolen, procured
a writ and starte in pursuit OF the fu-
gitives. On going over to the village
Mr.. Hancock learned that Mr.. Williams
had not taken q boat, and had not bsen
seen around the landing for some hours.
At the present stage Of water, the plan
tatinn OF DR.. M'GsvOck, "Shawnee Viii
age,u is an island surrounded by deep
overflow. Many years ago it was the
stronghold of the famous MuTrell clan,
and there is still to be seen on the prairie
near the residence of DR.. M'GsvOck,
the rsce-trsck on which, these freebO0ters
used to exercise the horses which
they stole from all parts Of the Union
and brought there to be divided or sold.
Knowing this fact, Mr.. Hancock COM
menced 10 make inquiries as tO,Whether
any skiffs or dug-outs were missing.
He soon learned that the negroes, Of
whom he was in search, had bought al
old dug-out from James Ayers, who
lived near the landing, and had started
down the river only few hours in ad-
vance Of him. Procuring 8 skiff, and
the assistance OF Mr.. FonviAe, Mr..
Hancock started down the river in pur-
suit. Arriving at the head CT Island
No. 40, they saw dug-Out dragged up
in cOtton-patch, and started for land to
see to whom it belonged. As they APP
preached the shore, they saw the negroes
Of whom they were in search talking 10
lot Of hands. Toe fugitives imme-
diately made off, without waiting to he
hailed, but were pursued, and, after
being shot at, Randolph surrendered.
Phillips was caught shortly afterward.
Mr.. Hancock did not read his writ to his
prisoners Immediately, but, having his
suspicious of foul play in the case Of
Williams still in his mind, he told them
that they were arrested for numbering
him. Both OF the cRpiives sIeuuOusly
denied that they had killed him, but
were evidently much frightened at the
charge. The writ was then read, and
the pursuing party with their prisoners
Immediately started for home, and ar
rived at the mill (DicBensOn's) late that
night. 4 magistrate was aroused as soon
as possible, and preparations made for
q preliminary examination, Late as the
hour was, number Of neighbOTs were
present when Squire BrasheaT5 opened
his court, and the prisoners were az
raigned on the charge Of robbery. One
Of the accused, Phillips, before The pro-
ceedings commenced, called to the mag
istrate and asked to be allowed to speak
30 him in private. Audience was grant
ed. and Phillips told the mag stTate that
Frank Williams was dead, and that he
and Randolph knew where his body
was hid. He wOuld not confess that he
had any hand in the killing, but merely
said that Williams was dead. When
the magistrate communicated this intel
ligence to the citizens present, RanSolph
spoke up and said that it was no use to
try to conceal the matter any further,
aud that he would make clean confess
sion, il allowed to do so. Of course be
was Immediately encouraged to tell all
he knew, and he proceeded to make the
following terrible revelation:
"Some weeks ago." ne said 'he and
four others, two OF whom were white
men and two negroes, had formed them.
selves into an organized band Tor Clique,
as he expressed it, for the purpose OF
murder and robbery. One OF the white
men, Robert Burton by name, the
same who was sleeping in the house
which was robbed few nights before,
was the organizer and was elected chief
The other members were Cy Phillips
and Jesse Carter, and 8 white man
Whose name we suppress, IS he is not
vet arrested. They swOre mutual
fealty, and their plans were to rob and
murder where murder Was necessary
. fI.1ir F,la D n
in the country who had over ten dol
lars. This sum was the minimum
which they were to 90 for. The first
man they doomed was Mr.. Hancock,
and he was to have been slain on last
Sunday morning, but the deed was pre-
vented by a singular circumstance. The
conspirators all had guns, but there
was but one pistol between them, and
this shot cartridges of an old size. On
Sunday morning, when Hancock was
expected up from Memphis with money
to pay off his hands, on examining
their ammunition they found that they
could not procure a cartridge to fit their
pistol. They could not pass through the
village with their guns without exciting
suspicion, and so the deed was postponed
until q more propitioUs opportunity.
When Frank Williams was paid otf,an
started 10 the landing with ten dollars
in his pocket, his doom was sesied, The
two negroes, already under sus piCiOu Of
having broken into the store room, de-
termined TO follow him to the landing
and there murder him. On going out
10 DR.. M'GavOck's landing they found
the place rather too public for their
deed, and, under pretense Of showing
Frank 8 path TO Cottonwood Point,
told him;where he could get s boat with
out waiting for the Forrest. Totally IN
suspicious OF danger, and not dreaming
Of treacheTy, he followed the hardened
villains around the edge Of the back
water to the rear OF large field Of DR..
mGavock's. When in a lonely aud
sut.of.the-wsy place, the conspira-
tors halted to rest. Will
lisDs took advantage Of the s.Oppage
70 tie one OF his shoes, and Shile he was
stooptng over Randolph struck him on
fine back OF the head with club, which
he had cut az Uney walked along. The
GLOW only stunned the poor fellow, and
a. he fell be rolled over aud said to his
murdeTers, who were rushing on him,
ito finish the job which they had COM
menced? to use the Language OF Ran