Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-22
MARY BURTON.
The COIored Public school Teacher
Arrested Near Bagnio Charged
with Being an Inmate
Thereof.
Wild and Brutal Conduct by the Mob
of Her own Color, who were Pres
ent During the Arrest-The
Result.

10 q D2gQlO Oh OoSOUO eHcoSj w INC
police. A crowd Of negroes, over hum
dred in number, lit candles and escorted
the girl to the Adams street station
house. Mary Burton has recently been
teaching in Bolivar county, Mississippi.
and used to be member of the choir OF
a colored Baptist church in this city,
her home being in Turley street. She Is
a graduate OF + isk university, Nashville,
and has occupied the leading position
in the colored society OF Memphis. The
negroes last night exulted over her ex-
posture, and would doubtless have
mobbel the woman had she not been In
charge of Policeman Wilson. They
tainted her at every step, and upon
reaching Madison street, near Third,
uttered q yell that was heard long dis
lance, but understood by none Of the
citizens"
THE ADDITIONAL FACTS
relative to the arrest OF the woman are
mere given. Mary Burton was very
much admired among the darkies, and
herself superior to them, she
was exclusive in her associations, and
often refused the attentions Of the shin
ing Young bucss about the city. Owing
10 har high notions Of lie snG refusal to
ssCciaIiate with many Of the colOred
she excited their envy and
malice, which, night before last, termi-
mated in her arrest, and aroused one OF
the most disgrsceful mUb5 that was ever
permitted in this or any other city. 30
FAR as we have been abe to learn, the
girl was believed to be intimate with q
white man, and was said to be often in
his company. Leaving her mothers
residence, on Turley street, Thursday
afternoon, she proceeded TO conspicu-
Gus house on DeSoto street, south Of
Monroe. Several Of her discarded ad-
mirers, among them a negro named
Carter, had for weeks been logging
her pathway, and Thursday secreted
themselves near by the DeSoto street
house.
CARTER AND HIS SPIES
remained in the vicinity during the af-
ternoon, in the meantime sending out
word that they were watching Mary
Burton and had her besieged. This in
formation spread among the young ne
groes, who, as soon as it was dark, be-
gan to congregate at the watch place.
Carter, who appears to have been the
leader in the matter, agreed upon q
plan for the public exposure and arrest
OF the woman, and by half-psst nine
o'clock large number Of candles and
matches were in waiting to light up the
subject. From all indications it seems
that The negroes had arranged to escort
Mary Burton to the stetiODhouse, and
probably tear her to pieces on the way.
At any rate, policeman was called III
to arrest Mary Burton, and Officer Will
son proceeded to enter house No. 80,
DeSoto. Seeing the crowd Of negroes
and the officer, Mary Burton fed into
an adjoining house, occupied by negro
women named Sarah Williams and
Mary Carter. In the meantime the
crowd of negroes had
SURROUNDED THE HOUSE,
and engaged in the most obscene and
indecent conduct. In fact their conduct
was riotous and disgraceful to the repu-
tation OF city like Memphis, and il
white men had been engaged in similar
conduct, the act would have
received public condemnation at
home, and be published abroad
az another evidence of southern disloy-
ally. But amid yells, excavations and
hurrahs, SIS we are informed, the officer
made for the building where Mary Bur.
ton had secreted herself, and entered
against the will of its occupants. Mary
Burton was arrested, and when brought
out of the building was surrounded by
the negro mob, whose conduct now par
took of fiendish delight. fHow are you,
Miss Mamie?" exclaimed Carter, who
with others, lighted candles, gave yell,
and INDUCED in all manner of taunts.
The negroes, who, SIS above stated, were
mostly young, pressed close around the
prisoner, and seemed not only delighted,
but anxious, though not sufficiently
courageous, to
OFFER BODILY HARM
to the woman. Surrounded by this
mob, the policeman started with Mary
Burton to the stationhouse, the route
being up Madison street. When the
crowd reached Third street, the negroes
gave a series OF yells which awoke the
neighboring citizeps and astonished all
who heard the noise. The crowd was
variously estimated at from one to two
hundred. They took up the entire pave
ment and spread over the street, run
ming against all bystanders in an I'M
manner. The readers OF
the papers were doubtless a little cha
eriued when yesterday they learned
that the cause of all the yelling the
night previous was the arrest and con-
veyance Of a negro girl to the station
house. 1t was a singular sight, indeed,
and inasmuch as the negroes had laid
the plan for her arrest and assembled in
such large numbers at the place, for the
purpose Of prostituting the law to the
of their disgraceful
conduct, the affair might have been pre-
vented. AS the crowd proceeded up the
street it ELECTED general inquiry, and
had the facts at that time bsen known,
doubtless many a riotous negro would
have been checked in his conduct. Upon
REACHING THE sTATIoNHoUsE,
the crowd kept up the unruly con-
duct, and the officers closed the doors in
order to keep the negroes outside. In
front of the police station, the pavement
and street were q solid mass of vulgar
and even the railing under
The awning was jsmmed by negroes
anxious to get peep inside. Mary
Burton was locked up on the charge of
being an inmate of house of ill-fame,n
as were also Mary Carter and Sarah
for excepting a house OF ill.
lame" Tue negroes were finally dis
but here and there were groups
very much excited, and expressing de-
ire to carry their prosecutions still fur
her, and do violence to the object of
heir malice. During the night, Mary
Burton's aunt, a large negro-womaD,
visited the stationhouse fer the purpose
IF giving bail in the required sum Of
twenty-five dollara, ana having her
niece released. Owing to the
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE NEGROES,
t was agreed to let her remain there
Intii morning. This was a judicious
for it is not likely that the
negroes would have lost an opportunity
20 execute their threats against the girl;
n fact, had not Officer Wilson arrested
Mary Burton at the time he did, she
would doubtless have been mobbed and
DrutalIy injured, if, indeed, not killed,
Oy the crowd. AS late as one O'Clock
asst night grours Of negroes could be
;een in various parts OF the city, await
ng her release.
THE SCENE YESTERDAY
n the recorders court was one of pecu-
lar interest to the colored population.
Quite q number assembled near by, and
L was apparent that they were by no
means at loss for some remark ex-
lressive of their feelings. Recorder
Duff examined into the case, add after