The weekly clarion., 1876-02-09

The Grand Jury of this Judicial District
of Hiuds county adjourned at O'Clock, on
Monday, and submitted the following re-
port:
JACKSON. MISS, Feb. 9TH, 1876.
Hon. Geo. F. Broom, Judge Circuit Court,
lSt District Kinds county
The undersigned, Grand Jurors, beg leave
respectfully to submit this report, and. hav-
ing finished their labors, ask to be dis
charged. The duties devolved upon the
jury at this term have been tedious, delicate
and com plicated; but they believe they
have performed thea conscieutiously.
While some persons have escaped indict-
ment in cases that We're thoroughly investi-
gated, it was because of an honest difference
of opinion among them, and not sufficient
number favoring Indictment to enable the
jury to find bill
The riot at Clinton has been thoroughly
Investigated, and while it is evident that
many persons were killed, both white and
colored, the jury have been unable to find
any single witness who saw any man kill
another, or to Identify any person engaged
in the continuation of hostilities, resulting
in the death of any individual on the day
following. More than one hundred Wit
nesSeS have been before the jury and sub
jected to the most Scrutinizing eXamina-
CiOns. Although, there were among this
number many who were present on
the ground the day the riot occurred. no
one has been able to tell Just how this sad
was committed, By every witness we gath
cred The fact that no hostility was conten-
plated, or any preparation made III antici-
patton of SUCH an event. The necessary
arrangements for the barbecue and speak
ing were being made for some weeks prior
to the day OF this occurrence, but on the
part of the white people or black people, we
have failed to discover any plan or intention
! to bring on trouble or precipitate a collision.
1t is evident the white people had not antic-
fad noi fI0b la t1l6
Der present, the lack OF arms among them,
and the nferiority of the arms they had
and it is equally true of cotOrtd people
Though their nun lers were as an hundred
20 one. they had but few arms, and present
on the occasion were their women and
children. We are satisfied that the results
of that day were not anticipated, and that
the bloody beginning and ending, which
brought sorrow and atfliCtion &c so mary
families, was not the work of forethought
and preparation. The few arms that were
present on the occasion were there be-
cause of habit so common in this country of
carrying afms With or without the
necessity for doing so, and the or
igin of the difficulty will, perhaps, forev-
er remain unknown. 1t was a time Of
great political excitement aud party reel
ing, which n2 dluat intensinad the feelings
OF msn when the tight began but in the in
ception played no part. Politics had moth
ing TO do in our opinion, with the origina
no purpose or premeditation on the part of
either party to bring on any trouble. How
ever, after the fight began, men run mad
with passion. committed deeds most revolt
ing III atrocity and brutality, pursuing and
staying wounded mea who were unarmed
snd the killing OF inen away from the scene
Of troubles, and killing some men on the
Sunday morning following. Who these
parties were, that were immediately en-
gagged, we have not aapn aole to ascertain.
aOn4e 4en on both sides were seen with pis
tolls. and seen to shoot, but whether they
killed any one or not could not be proven.
No witness testified directly as to the kill
ing of any particular man, by another, who
was seen and known by the witness.
The Jury also investigated most thor
oughly the killing of Charles Caldwell and
Samuel Caldwell IN Clint9n on the 3Oth of
december, 1878. We have been unable TO
find the party or parties engaged in
this deed. The whole affair is shrouded
in mystery and though nearly every
man. white and colored, who lives in
we have nQ proof sufficient to attach guilt
to any man. There is a theory of this case,
but its solution fastens guilt upon no par
ticular individual or individuals We have
bad every witness that cQG!d lie heard Of
who wac likely to know anything of the
affair, but utterly failed to elicit any evi-
dence upon which We could take any action.
We have examined the Jail, and find ev-
erything clean. and believe the wants and
health or Iha prisoners are strictly cared
for. We recon- mend that the Sheriff be au-
thoriZed and instructed to have the grating
in the windows re-fastened and secured.
Some of the iron bars have bean tampered
Rith TO sucn an extent rs to render their
removal matter of easy plishment,
and the aperture thus made would give
pie room to permit ans prisoner to make
his escape into the jail-yard, from W hich
final escape could be made without diff
Guilty. The jail-yard fence needs new
posts and railing in some places, and should
be repaired at ONCE