Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-17
JUDGE LYNCH.
Th3 Disgraeeful Violation OF Law Near
MurfrsesbOrO-Jesse WOOds0n
Taken from Jail by Mob
snG shot to Death.
District AttOrney-General Caldwell Re-
sis,ed by the hOb-The Story Of
the Tragedy as Told by the
AttOrngy-GeRerai snd a
Correspondent,

Nsshvil c Banner, l5th.l
Much excitement was produced on the
streets yesterday by the special dispatch
in our last issue in reference to the kill
ing of WoOdsOn in MurfreesborO by
mob oflynchers in that city. The press
and citizens of MurfreesbOrO had so pro-
tested The sbsurdity Of the idea that the
people would take the law into their own
hands, that many in this city were dis
posed TO doubt the authenticity Of the
dispatch, and inclined to anticipate that
it was g sensational story. A Banner re-
porter was sent out yesterday evening TO
meet the Chattanooga train, in order to
gather all the facts relating to the mat
ter. On board the train he found Attor-
ney. General Caldwell, who confirmed
the report of the affair as stated in our
columns.
Woodson was carried up to Murfrees-
borO Wednesday morning, and so quiet
did the community appear that no
danger OF q rescue was Rpprehended
Still, the officers determined TO take all
precautions, and make all necessary ar
rangements in case there should be any
attempt to force the jail. The court was
engaged upon WOodsOn's case at the
time, and had made some progress in
making up the jury. -Four jurors had
been obtained, but so difficult was it to
find persons who had not made up their
minds on the case, that some time
would necessarily elspse before a full
jury could be obtained. The county
was secured in order to find persons
properly qualified to sit as Jurors. Some
Of the people, seeing that the course of
justice was taTdy, seemed to be afraid
sv, frio L.
escape his merited deserts.
Work was in progress on the jail,
which at best is but poor excuse for a
place of secure confinement, and nobody
expected that any attack would be made
on the building before twelve o'clock,
if at all. But contrary to all expecta-
tions a mob began gathering after
nightfall, and 10y nine o'clock amounted
to some three hundred or more. All
access to the jail was securely guarded.
General Caldwell attempted 10 make
his way to the jail, but found himself
stopped by large number Of the mob,
thoroughly armed for the work before
them. The insecure condition OF the
jail made it no difficult job to find their
way TO the negro Woodson. After the
necessary precautions against any inter-
ference that would battle them, the mob
went to work. By means Of sledge-
hammers and other heavy instruments,
an entrance was quickly made, and
WOodsOn taken out.
He was soon thrown on q horse and
surrounded by determined men. The
mob with one accord turned their horses
toward the Salem road. About one mile
and half out on that road they stopped,
where tree as soon found for the vic
tim, who was to expiate his crime by q
terrible death, and "without benefit OF
clergy" His body was quickly sus-
pended in air, and then, as it appeared
in full view, continuous discharges OF
firearms were made, completely rid
ding his body with bullets. The mob
then returned to the city and retired to
their homes.
General Caldwell, as soon as possible,
went to the Jail, and found ali the in
mates safely imprisoned but WOOdson,
who, by that time, was dead. An in
quest was held over Woodson's body,
and the usual verdict returned, "Death
at the hands Of unknown persons"
General Caldwell informs US that he
had positive proof that Woodsou was
guilty Of the murder of Mrs. Jarratt, and
that his trial was a mere matter Of form,
and that punishment by the gallOWs
wss a certainty. 1t is also reported that
WOodson had made a confession ac-
kuOwledging himself the perpetratOr of
the crime. General Caldwell said that
the mob was well disguised, and pre-
pared in every manner.
Strong efforts will be made to bring
the Iynchers TO an account.
The following letter from our special
MurfreesborO correspondent gives addi-
tional details Of this tragic business:
MURFREEsBORO, August l3.-Yester-
day afternoon, the case of Jesse Wood
son, colOred, alleged murderer of Mrs.
Jarratt, was taken up for trial, The ac-
cused had no counsel employed, SO the
court appointed MessTs. Avent and Chill
dress, and Major Keeble to act as coun-
sci for him. The counsel, Immediately
upon their appointment, requested an
opportunity to consult together, and to
have q private interview with the pris-
oner. Permission was granted them,
and they withdrew to the sherItt7s office,
remained there about twenty minutes
and re-appeared in court. TheTeupOn
the usual question was put to the coltn-
sci, "Are you ready"' which was
promptly responded to by both sides in
sented by Messrs. Palmer and Richard
SOD, and the encouragement. The court
Immediately proceeded to the task OF
getting up the jury, which proved in
this case to be a matter of great difficult
ty, as few men in the county could be
found who had not formed an opinion
about the Gaze, But up to the time the
court adjourned four men had been OBJ
tained. These four men were given in
charge OF an officer, the prisoner remand
ed to Jail for the night, and the court
adjourned until this morning, when it
was expected that eight jurors would be
obtained and the case proceed. But it
was not written in the book OF fate that
Jesse WOodson was to live to be tried
by a Jury for the murder of Mrs. Jarratt.
When the court Assem- bled this morning
the prisoner was not forthcoming. Salts
factory proof was adduced before the
court that the defendant at the bar OF the
Rutherford county criminal court OF yes
terday evening was no longer subject to
its jurisdiction, but that his case had
been taken up and violently hurried to
a higher court, and one whose juIisdic.
ton is final. There, doubtless, ere this,
his case has been reached, he has been
tried and the judgment rendered. So the
| cause OF the State Of Tennessee as. Jesse
WoOdsOn, cOlOred, was ordered to stand
abated in the Rutherford criminal court.
| The circumstances of his failure to reap
| pear in court this morning, to have the
/ trial Of the case continued, were as fol-
/ lows: At about ten o'clock last night q
/ party OF men on horseback, variously
estimated at from thirty-five to one
/ hundred men, came into town from the
| direction of the Salem turnpike, and
/ attacked the jail, and with force opened
! the doors and took the prisoner out, and
! carried him out to Stone river bridge,
| on the Salem pike, and hanged and shot
! him to death. He was hanged on the
/ same tree and limb so it is said, where
on were hanged two other victims tC
mob violence since the war. A great
/ many citizens went out to the place O
/ execution this morning and found him
/ still hanging. Later in the forenoon
| the coroner went out and held an in'
/ quest over his body. The verdict of the
cornner's jury waI that the deceased
came to his death by hanging, and 10y
/ eeventeen shots into his body, by the
hands OF parties to them unknown
When the mob attacked the Jail, tht
iail-keeper was not there. He had lef
and taken the jail-keys with him, 81
| that the doors and lock were forced open
. But that must not have been a very diff
ficult task, as it was done in very few
moments. II is said to-day that the wifi
] pF thu eyppuia1 man OnW saya that HI