The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-08-18
The GreenyiIle Shooting Affair.
What ]. Allen Ross Got for Meddling
RADICAL RIOTERS.
One of Amos COlOred BriGadiers
i'm the Row.
Vicksburg Herald

Vicksburg Herald.l
GREENvILLE, Aug. Is, 1875.
The career of lawless insolence so
long INDUCED in by the Rev. Senator
Gray and the Rev. j. Allen Ross, and
encouraged by the officers Of the laaO, pro-
duced its legitimate and long expected
result on Thursday afternoon.
Gray, simply because the Brill Bros,
(quiet, respectable citizens, who keep
clothing and furnishing store, had de-
clined, some time before, to sell him
suit of clothes on credit, accompanied
by the Hon. j. d. Webster and other
ruffians, made a most wanton and I'M
provoked attack on one of the Drills, at
the time quietly sitting in front of his
own store, and was arrested by the town
Marshal before he had done any damage
to Brill. As soon as arrested he sent
messenger for Ross, who was at the time
engaged in game of draoo in a saloon
not far off, to come to his assistance, as
the "white men were imposing OH him."
In response to this call, made by Gray,
who in the meantime had given bond for
his appearance, with Webster as surety,
and had returned to the immediate vicin-
ity of Brill's store, Ross soon arrived,
inquired of Gray who had insulted him,
and learning that Brill was the offender,
rushed into the store and up to Brill,
who was standing behind his counter,
and asked him how he dared to insult
his friend, then struck or pushed him
back, and at once drew his pistol and
commenced firing at him. His first shot
missed Bril-, who managed to get Der
ringer out of the cash drawer, with which
he shot Ross in the face, the ball passing
through his nose. This shot probably
blinded Ross, for his second shot at Brill
entered the ceiling, and the rest of his
shooting was very wild. As soon as the
shooting commenced two or three citizens
rushed into Brills store. Ross turned
and pointed his pistol at them, and they
commenced firing at him, striking him
twice, once in the neck and once in the
shouldr-blade, neither shot penetrating
deep enough to do much harm and
Ross made his escape to his own house,
where he still remains. The commu-
nifty were fearfully excited; reports
were freely circulated that Gray had
sent out runners into the country to
call in the negroes with arms. The
whites quickly turned out with arms, pre-
mined to submit no longer to similar out
RACES and any imprudence at this time
would, doubtless have led to most serious
consequences. The police force waslargely
increased; ameeting of citizens was held,
at which it was resolved to tender to the
Mayor a party of twenty-five men, to act
under his orders as special police in keep
ing peace, and as many more as he might
need. This body was accepted by the
Mayor, and in conjunction with the pO-
lice. kept guard during the night. On
the next morning, the Mayor and Coun-
ell waited upon Judge Shackleford and
INQUIRED of him if he would as cOnserva-
tor of the peace take cognizance OF the
cases of parties engaged in the distur-
Dances of the day, that might properly
be brought before him, experience hav-
ing taught that to bring them before any
of the Magistrates here would be but
mockery and farce. Judge Shackleford
having replied in the affirmative, the
Mavor caused the Marshal to make the
affidayits against Gray. Ross, and Web
ster. and himself. at the request OF their
counsel. made affidavit against the then
white men engaged in the shooting VIZ
Freelav. Brill and Vaughn, who volun-
tarilv appeared, and waving examination,
0ave bonds of $1,000 each (the same
liked by Judge s. } for their appearance
at the Circuit Court. Gray could not
be found. Ross was reported too sick to
be removed from his house. Webster
was arrested and tried. The charge
against him, of an assault with intent to
kin, was not sustained, and he was dis
charged by Judge Shackleford, although
the evidence disclosed the fact that he
was clearly an alder and abettor Of Gray
in his attack upon the Drills, and that he
urged him to resist arrest. Gray was ar
rested yesterday and released on his per-
sonal reCognizance to appear before Judge
8, tomorrow.