The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-05-18
PERGUSON'S M%URDERERS.
Dunbnr Shot and Killed by n
kheri6's Posse.
Bostwick Arrested and Confined in
Jail.
Several Attempts Made to Lynch Him
Quiet at Last.

Quiet Mt Last.
Wearc under obligations to the publish
ers of the IIazlehurst Democrat for an
extra" containing full particulars of the
| shooting and killing of Dunbar and the ar
rest and imprisonment of Bostwick, and
the attempts made to lynch him by the in
furiated citizens of Copiah county. The
| following extract from the extra" will
be read with interest by our subscribers:
Thursday evening, Mr. VIM. Ferguson,
| who is a sworn deputy Sheriff, and a
posse brought Bostwick to Hazelhurs', a
prisoner, and also brought the news that
Dunbar had been shot through the brain.
Mr.. Ferguson had gathered Il posse, and
searching for the two murderers near the
residence of Mr.. West Dunbar, and came
upon them Wednesday evening about sun
set, in what Is known as the hurricane,
about twenty-four miles southwest of Ha-
zlehurst. Bosuwick and Dunbar were call
ed upon to surrender, but instead of sur
rendering they fred upon the parties. and
simultaneously a shot gun was discharged
putting nine buckshot through Dunbar's
brain, and five though Bostwick's hat.
Bostwick ran off and was not captured
until next morning, when he was found
between a feather-bed and mattress, at the
house of Mr.. West Dunbar. He surrendered
himself, and was brought to Hazlehurst
for confinement in Jail. Dunbar never
spoke after being shot and has since died.
Bostwick was carried before MAYOR
Groome yesterday morning, and Monday,
the 22d inst, was set to give him a pre-
liminary trial.
Last Friday night a crowd of infuriated
citizens of the county anne in on the
eleven o'clock train for the purpose of ia
king Bostwick from the Jail and hanging
him. The Sheriff summoned the citizens
to his aid, for the purpose of protecting
the Jail, and the citizens of our town turn
ed out in force, and baffled the plans of
the men who came here for the purpose of
taking the life of Bostwick. The excitement
subsidized after the morning train had pass
ed, and the last of the men had departed.
On Monday morning about halfpast
four o'clock, another crowd of men, num-
boring about fifty, all armed with double
barrelled uns, came into town, broke the
locks form the doors of the Jail, and star
ted with Bostwick for the nearest tree. A
few citizens followed and plead for the life
of the criminal, and asked that the law be
allowed to take its course. At first it
seemed that all efforts to save him would
be unavaiIing, and Mr.. J. A.. Horne then
came forward and wrote down his confess
sion and his will, which we append below:
HIS CONFESSION:
Eb. Dunbar came to me and told me
that Austin Ferguson was in town, and
said he intended to kill him that night.
Eb. was drinking; | advised him not to do
it; he said "No, this is my time; | must
do it tonight" he told me he wanted me
on the railroad between Polk Ferguson's
work" said, "Austin says he has nothing
against me, and cannot have any thing
thing to do with it," He wanted me to be
present to help, if any one was with Aus
tin. We laid our guns in an old house
near the saloon, went back and got our
guns and entered the back door of Low
ing's saloon, and saw Austin at the counter;
| put my hand on Eds shoulder and beg
ged him not to do it, but he still insisted;
| sat down, with my hand to my head; in a
moment | heard the gun fire we then went
ont, together, to Mr.. Dnnbar's house at
about halfpast eight o'clock; | should have
gone in with Eb. to wipe out any opposi-
ton that might have been offered to the
execution of his desi gns. 1t was and Eb.
Dunbar who shot at Ben. Jones, merely
to scare him. have not threatened the
life of John Cason. but Dunbar did.
SUBSEQUENT CONFESSION:
Neither Ben. King. jr., nor W. c. Low
ing, nor any other person, knew anything
of, or were accessory..to the killing.
MY WILL:
What little I nave of this worlds goods,
consisting of one horse and bride, one
hundred dollars in cash in the hands o. the
butcher, one-half interest in one wagon,
some stock belonging to the beef market,
is to go to nv brothers wife, and say to her
that 1t is my dying request that she and
my brother live together till death part
them; in that case l want her to keep my
effects. Tell my brother | think / will go to
heaven; l nave prayed all the time since
nv arrest, and am not guilty of this crime.
Tell my sister to keep the little boy named
for me and not change his name on account
of this, and raise him to be a better man
thar | have been. Tell my aunt and cous
in 1 die innocent, and thatsI have not been
as bad a man as::I have been represented.
My burial expenses to be taken out of
my effects.
[Sisned] ROBERT F. BosTwTcK.
Thus, time was gained for the men to
reflect what they were about to do. Two
ministers were sent for to pray with the
man whose soul was about to be launched
into eternity. The Revs. Mr.. Bingham
and Weems responded to the call, and Of
fered up %fervent prayers. The prayers had
the desired effect; the hearts of a greater
portion of the"'men were touched, and a de-
cided feeling was expressed to return
the prisoner to Jail. Advantage was taken
of this better feeling, ard all worked with
a will to prevail upon the men to return
the prisoner, and leave the law to take its
course. Fortunately good counsel pre-
vailed, and the prisoner was again con
fined in Jail.