Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-03
THE MOE.

Nashville was the scene last Friday
night of a mob and Lynch law under
the shadow of the Capitol and almost
within hearing Of the Executive office,
and certainly in the presence Of the
Mayor and the police, as we'll as an i'm
mense crowd Of people looking on as
spectators. A policeman named Frazier,
an excellent citizen and an efficient
officer, was shot and instantly killed by
a desperate negro named Reed while IN
the discharge OF his duty. Frazier had
a large family dependent upon him for
support; be was q popular man in the
community and bis murder at the hands
of a desperate. whom he was trying to
arrest for wiie-whipping, excited a gen.
eral desire for speedy punishment. The
negro was captured and placed in jail,
though the crowd that followed him
there wanted to hang him at once.
Threats we're freely made that he
would be lynched, and the authori'
ties we're fully advised what to expect.
Governor Porter notified the Sheriff to
be on the alert, aud the latter attempted
to summon q posse to guard the jail,
but could not enforce his orders. Those
summoned took the other side Of the
question in sympathy and refused to
serve. So when nightiaIl came on an
immense and excited crowd proceeded
to the jail and overcame the police and
all the guards, and after working two
hours like a company of sappers and
miners, broke down the four doors be-
tween them and the prisoners cell and
dragged the wretch forth. Thence they
rushed toward the river, shot him twice
on the way, put rope around his neck
and threw him from the suspension
bridge. The rope broke and the body
was lost in the river. The full particu-
lara are published elsewhere in this issue.
1t seems that only a small force actually
worked at the jail, bat they had the conu-
tenance of the throng outside, and the
officers Of the law were either power
less or s~ympathized with the
lyachers. The negro no doubt deserved
death, but it is to be deplored that the
people should permit themselves to be
wrought up to the pitch Of overriding
the law to anticipate justice. Such
events are sadly demoralizing, and do
us great injury at home and abroad.
Our laws are ample to try, convict and
punish all criminals when caught. When
law is successfully defed in one a
the public conscience becomes blunted,
and excuses are liable to follow by
which the innocent as we'll as the guilty
may suffer. The Banner denounces the
affair in very plain language. 1t says:
lntf6 WAS ~ mOU. AucIC was u
crowd Of spectators blocking up the
street in front Of the jail, very quiet and
ADMINISTRATIVE. There could not have
been more than a dozen men who we're
the real actors. 1t will not do to say
this could not have been prevented
Either the jail should have been pro!
tected inviolate, or else, if the prisoner
wal permitted to be taken out, then he
should not have been put in at all, but
handed over at the outset to the amateur
eKecuioners. No doubt the negro 90,
his just deserts. But Nashville has sus-
tanned a worse injury. A dozen mus
kets, with bayonets at the muzzle, and
ball cartridges at the breech, would have
prevented the forcing Of the Jail last
night, as it would suffice t. do at any
time. This is the second time Nash.
vile has suffered a like disgrace. Il
ought to be stopped very decisiveIy, OIL
else the jail should be abolished as q
superauous nuisance. That's the bust
meas Of the situation, without any sham
or sentiment.