Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-14
Jesse WOOdsOn's Return to Rutherford.
Commencement Of His Trial In the
Criminal Court
Only -Four Jurors Obtained Before the
Jig was Up.
Details of the Jail-breaking and Of
the Lynching.
The Prisoner Tortured to a Confession
BY Frequent Hanging,
Then Strangled and His Body RiddIed
with Bullets.
Discipline and Quiet Determination
DISPLAYED BY the Mob,
Discipline and Quiet Determination
Displayed By the Mob.


investigation. Below will be found
all the particulars, developed by the re-
search Of our reporters and correspondent.
Such news viii carry a. pang of regret
throughout the UNION AND AMERICANS
circulation, but it is of q deed done, the
consequences of which are not only for the
perpetrators, but for Rutherford county and
the country at large, however it may be
written up. Those who believe in state
Of society, necesSitating summary retribu-
ton for certain class of crimes in the
South, of which this is an example, will
regret the existence of such a condition of
things.
WOOdsOn, it will be remembered, stood
accused Of the murder of Mrs. William
Jarratt, popular and amiable lady of
rutherford county, who was strangled to
death with a string while at home alone on
the 10th of June last. The circumstances
pointed strongly, though not with convict
ing certainty, TO Woodson, one of the
hands on Mr.. Jarrett's farm, as the guilty
party. The accused was at first
placed in the Jail at Muir
freesborO, but was very soon removed to
this city to screen him from neighborhood
vengeance. Still he was not considered
out of danger-such was the fevered state
of feeling in Rutherford courtyard the
Davidson county Jail, in which he was con
fined, was guarded for two nights by some
Of our gallant young military companies.
FIXING FOR THE TRIAL.
The Criminal Court Of Rutherford
county convened last Monday week, Judge
Frazier, presiding. Attorney General
Caldwell remained in Nashville, on account
of "a spgain he had received, and his brother,
Z. r. Caldwell, attended Court in his
stead, a. counsel for the State.
Last week the Court fixed
Thursday Of the present week for the trial
of WOOdsOn to commence, the grand jury
having meanwhile found a true bill against
him for murder. There was plenty Of time
therefore, for the mastering and training of
a mob. There would have been, in any
event, unless the cenue had been changed.
Wednesday night Deputy Sheriff Majors
and a special deputy came to Nashville
and on Thursday morning they had Wood
son delivered to them, and, accompanied
by the Attorney General, took train for
Murfreesboro. The possibility Of meeting
mob was mentioned, so as TO draw from jail
or Heverin the suggestion that it might be
best to quit the cars a mile or two this side
of their destination, and take circuitOus
route for the jail. Not enough danger was
anticipated, however, to take this extreme
precaution, and they made the journey all
the way by rail without mOleslatiOn.
HOW HE JARED IN NASHVILLE.
The MuyreesJorO Ns'rs, printed Thurs
day, says:
Jesse WOOdsOn, colOred, the alleged
Of Mrs. JarIatt, was brought here
from Nashville yesterday for trial. His ap-
pearlnce speaks well for Davidson county
Jail fare, as he has gained considerably in
flesh since his departure from this place"
wOODsaN IN MUEFEEEsBORO.
What trsnspired after Woodson'3 return
10 RutherfUrd's Capital aud during the
brief remainder of his earthly career is
told by our correspondent:
To the Union and American:
MURFBEEsBoRo, Aug. Is, 1S75.-Im-
after the return Of Jesse Wood
son from Nashville, yesterday morning, his /
,ase was taken up in the Criminal Court, |
Judge Frazier presiding. Upon the adj
Ournmeut Of Court last night, his case was
till pending, only four jurymen having
Jeen procured during the day.
As far as / could learn, the State had OBJ
aimed no further evidence against Wood
On than that upon which he was bOunL
Jver 10 court, which was elected at the
,orOneT's inquest and'wa published in your
,sper. But the entire Salem neighbOrhOOd
eemed convinced that Wood aud
EOOdsOn alone, was the guilty man. At
Oney General Caldwell and Messrs.
Palmer and Richardson, the prosecuting
asserted repeatedly yesterday
hat they could and would convict him if
hey were allowed to proceed with the pros
cutiOn.
Notwithstanding every conceivable in
Iueuce was brought to bear upon the in
uriated masses, who swoTe vengeance upon
VOOdsOn, they proceeded with
THEIR ARRANGEMENTS.
rs early.as s p. NJ, every preliminary
arrangement was completed TO perform
heir work at 10 p. NJ. Ascertaining this,
proceeded to the boarding house of the
alegraph operator at 9:l5 P. NJ, 10 see if |
Ould procure his services about IL p. NJ,
ut found he had retired, and l awaited
bis mail to infOim you.
Owing to certain maneuVe:s at the rooms
{ Attorney General Caldwell, as we'll as
/. Judge Frazier's rooms, and, fearing they
7Ould be again robbed of their prey, the
mob hastened the time. At. 9;4OP. N.
ABOUT FIFTY MOUNTED MEN
ode at a hard gallOp from the street lead
lg from the Salem pike at once 10 the Jail.
IS soon as the clatter of the horses hOOfs
7ere heard upon the Square, large crowds
ushed to the scene Of action but were
topped on the corner south Of the Jail by |
he shouts Of sentinels, who, in loud voices,
rdered none to pass the corner. Reese |
Of the NelrS, as he was pressing
D the front for items, told the pIrty who
allied him, to go slow or he would tele-
raph that Il was not raining and
THE PORTER RIFLES WOULD CONE;
Mt the orders, which were accompanied
2 frequent and emphatic threats, were
sadily obeyed and the jsildeiiverers pro-
sedej unmolesled with their work, break
~ first the outer door by several weil-de-
vered rams with a GIG scantling. Having
blamed an en- rance, five men, apparently I
reviously selected, entered the Jail with I
rJy pound sledge hammer and went up
airs. AsceT;ainiDg from the prisoners
one among the number being WOOdsOn's
ife-that their man was in cell No. l, /
ley at once raised the siedge, gave a 4
W mastery and well-directed blows, Z
hich broke 10th locks and staples +
I'd gave them a free entry TO q
WOODSON'S LAST ABODE. o
They at once carried him down stairs,
ounted him between two chosen guards, q
ID proceeded with him out the Salem I
Ike, TO The celebrated ln-r al the Silem +
idge, one and one-half miles from hsre. {