The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-03
The Mississippi Vendetta.

II Is a story full Of dramatic and heart
rending incidents. that of the Mississippi
vendetta which had its fatal elimination
last Sunday in the Jail OF kempor county at
DE kalb. near the eastern border of the
state. Taken from the simplest point OF
view II WAS ono Of those icuds which not un-
commonly arise ia communities where the
laws fail to protect the life of the citizen
and where the passions of rcvongc fear. and
Indignation. being once aroused. and oc-
ca-iouaily rcpltni-hed with fuel. are suf-
fcrcd 90 shoulder until some fresh gust oi
excitement sets them in lurd blaze.
Itappcnrs that several years ago. pruha-
bly, under the lawess administration Of
AMTs, JOHN W. GULLY. Democrat well
known throughout the county Of which he
was once Sheriff. was fired upon by BENJA-
MIN RCsH. n native Republican. The shot
missed JONI GULLY but killed his brother
whcrcupon JONI GULLY returned the fire
desperately wounding RrsH II the admin
istrators of the laws In Mississippi took any
notice Of this CHASTITY tragedy, the de-
spatchcs omit all mention II the fact AZ well
n " the cause II quarrel and the character
as citizens Of GULLY and RUSH. The state
ment that from the date of these grcvous
injuries mutually nilictel thor" was deadly
fcud between the two men Is easily believed
Last December. again. GULLY was way
laid shot. and badly wounded. he asserting
the assassin 10 be- no other than his old foe
RusH, who thcrcupon disappeared from the
ncighborhood The murder OF JONI GULLY
last Thursday hy secret ASSASSIN was be-
lieved to have been the work OF RUsn and
two negroes made affidavit that not only
WAS this supposition correct. but that
number OF prominent white Republicans. all
native South,rucrs, were instigatOrs # the
crime
Remembering the excitement and indigna-
ton which prevailed nj GuLLYs funeral. and
the long fcud between him and his alleged
ASSASSIN, It is not to be wondered at that
this testimony alleging n prcmedtatcd and
diab1lical conspiracy. operated like a fire
brand on pile of finder. But it must be-
said that for wealth Of dramatic effect. the
story of the tragedy which followed thes.,
disclosures surpasscs everything Of the kind
that we ever read The devotion Of CHS
oLMs wife and daughter in accompanying
him to the jail. their heroism IN aiding IN the
defence against the assault Of the lynchers,
CHIsoLMs killing of his own son, who
chhnCcp "a run before the mnXIle oi MS gun
as he discharged it, the seizure by the pris-
oncrs Of the arms intended for the guard. all
form chapter Of incidents such as is not
often crowded into so brief drama.
Was the testimony Of the two negro wit
ncsses true or falsef This is a question for
| which, Of course, the local authorities In
Mississippi should vigorously and by every
resource in their power seek n conclusive
answer. There are places In the Southern
States whore feeling Of soreness between
races and parties survives the bitter poiti-
! cal contests Of recent years, and IL may be
that desperate men there may sock to gain
| some political advantage for themselves, or
] 10 make political capital for their allies, by
| irritating this soreness into violence and
/ hlood-hed. Those who are responsible for
| the good government of the southern States
owe il To- themselves 10 ferret out, expose,
and punish such atrocities, II they are at
tempted. On the other hand it should be-
/ borne in mind, and the lesson should bc I'M
pressed upon violent and eXcitabe men,
that under legitimate state Government
the vigorous and impartial administration
Of ia" laws leaves no excuse for resorting TO
the rough practice of lynch law