The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-06-08
THE MISSISSIPPI MASSACRE.
Gov. stones qualification and the A;tornt.
Generals Indignation.

Generals Indignation.
MEMPHIS, TENN, May 25.-The Av-
alanche of to morrow will contain the
lengthy interview of correspondent
with Gov. Stone, of Mississippi, in re-
Iation to the Kemper County massa-
ere. in which the Governor states
that he has done all in his power to
bring the-guilty ones TO trial, by re
questing Judge Hanom, tue Circuit
Judge, to cali an extra session OF his
court for that purpose, and that under
the laws of the State the Executive
has no power to do anything in the
matter. He had gone to DeKalb as
soon as he heard of the riot, but when
re arrived the rioters had dispersed,
and nothing was left for him to do ex-
cept to 60 and see Judge Hanom and
ask the judicial officers to take steps
to bring them to trial. The Governor
thought it exceedingly doubtful if a
jury in Kemper County would convict
the rioters, all of whom we're we'll
known and resided there.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE,
JACKSON, Miss. May 16, 1877
Editor ydckSCn (Niss.) Times:
Il noticed in your paper of yester-
day an allusion 10 the Attorney Gen
eral in connection with the Governor
relative to the Kemper County TRACE
dy. You first copy from the New York
Times the following:
"'It was last week that Gov. Stone,
of Mississippi, went to Kemper County
to ascertain the facts concerning the
recent massacre there. He returned
to Jackson Monday, 18th inst, hav
ing learned that two Republicans had
been shot in the back in the Jail, and
he had urged Judge Hanom to con-
vene the Circuit Court in special ses-
sion at an early day for the purpose of
making a thorough judicial ivestiga
ton OF the whole matter"
''To which you reply:
eyes, it was two weeks ago last
Sunday that the mob took possession
of DeKaib and murdered their victims.
Judge Chisholm was buried yesterday.
We have not learned that any arrests
have yet been made, nor that special
term of the Circuit Court has been
called, for which, we believe, a notice
of thirty days must be given. 1t does
seem that his Excellency Governor
Stone ought to be able, with the as
sistance of his legal adviser-the At
torney Geueral-to devise some means
to secure the prompt arrest and pan
ishment Oft the guilty parties.
'Now; as Attorney General of the
State of Mississippi, / feel called upon
to Say: That, as the legal advisers of
the Governor, the statue provides as
follows: The Attorney General shall
keep his office at the seat of govern
ment. He shall give his opinion in
writing upon all casses touching public
interest, when required by the Gov
ernor fCode of 1871, section 164- J
Touching the kemper County affair,
the Governor has never asked my
opinion or advice, or in any way con-
ferred with me on the subject, and
therefore / will not be held responsible
for any omission or commission of the
executive in the premises. Now, since
Judge Chisholm and his heroic daugh
ter are both dead, it would seem that
the tragedy is complete, and if the
press of the State persist in their at
tempts tc palliate, excuse, or justify
such violence, murder and brutal as
sassination, il will only serve to invite
repetition of such disgracefui savagery
and admonish all good citizens of the
State to flee to Mexico or San Domingo
for a better enforcement of the law
and for higher rade of civilization,
G. E. HARRIS"