Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-08
The MIssIssippI Tragedy.
MRS. oH1soLM DESCRIBES THE MURDER OF
HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER AND
THEIR FRIENDS.

MRS. CH1soLM DESCRIBES THE MURDER OF
HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER AND
THEIR FRIENDS.
Letter to a Friend at washington.l
My husband was murdered for no cause
except loyalty to the flag, which he thought
would protect all citizens. Gilmer was
murdered on the street on the way to de-
liver himself to the sheriff. He was held
by one of his guard while he was shot by
his son.in-law. Mcclellan was an old gray
haired man, and British subject. He
Omen assured me he could not become a
naturalized citizen, because the United
States government was not strong enough
to protect its citizens. He was a man with
out blemish. Knowing he could neither
be bought nor frightened, the sheriff called
him down, delivered him unarmed TO the
mob, who dispatched him, firing two loads
into his head after he was dead. This
saw myself. My boy, after having had his
hand shot off, turned quickly and placed
his shoulder TO the door which the mob
was breaking open with axes and iron bars.
At this time l was on the outside, having
gone home a short time previously by di-
rection of my husband. Putting my band
through the grating implOred my boy TO
leave. My son Clay caught him in his arms
and ran behind lafee iron cage, but be-
fore Clay could spring back TO lake his
place against the door, Johnnie cried out,
| "Oh, my father" and sprang between his
father and Rosser, who he saw was in the
| act of shooting him. Rosser placed his gun
| at the heart Of my little boy, and fired its
| contents into his body. At that instant
my husband obtained the only loaded gun
| there which had been brought from our
house, and killed Rosser. When put my
head through the grating / saw Cornelia
lainting aud rubbing her face. told her
| for her fathers sake to rally. She gathered
| her little dead brother in her arms and ran
| behind the cage. Aiter the lock had been
| chopped out of the door | sprang inside to
| give the alarm that the mob had fired the
| Jail. My daughters face was covered with
| blood from wounds caused by shot which
had rebounded alter striking the iron bars.
told my husband to fight his way through,
| not knowing then that the guns which had
| been left by the guard had been loaded
| with powder only, by the sheriff. With
| Clay's assistance l carried JOhnnie's dead
body down stairs through the hall to the
| outside door. Turning, 1 saw renewal of
the attack, and my husband coming down
| with our daughters arm around his waist.
| At this time old Henry Gully was at the
| door. l urged him back, holding the door
with both hands. lie put his gun through
| the grating, and Corneli8, throwing her
arm around her fathers neck, told Gully
| TO Kill her and spare her father. Gully
| placed the gun within few inches of her
| and fired, her arm receiving the contents of
both barrels. Another gun was handed
| ny u DOy, WHICH nb uTeu duu SuOl
my husband. Phil Gully ran up with a
| club, but another shot finished him, and he
fell exelaiming, "My precious wife, die
innocent; my entire family murdered ;
but ifany of my children live want them
to know 1 have never done an act or har-
bored thought which would make them
blush" Clay tried TO stand between him
and his murderers, while Cornelia and
ran TO the door TO obtain help TO carry my
husband home. The blood was running
from Cornelia's shattered arm, which she
held up and begged for help, The answer
was a shot which struck her leg. BY this
time about 25 of the crowd ran in. 1 has
tened back to where my husband lay and
seized a gun. The leader started back and
fired a shot at me. l then fired at him, and
the crowd fled again. My son and myself,
with the help of one OF tue demons who as
sisted in killing my husband, carried him
home. We were pursued by the mob TO
our gate. Corneia kept her bleeding body
between us and them. Arriving at home,
l found the servants had fled with the
keys, and we had to force the window open,
through which we climbed. A kind negro
brought my dead boy home, but was afraid
to remain. My once happy family is now
reduced to myself and two little sons. Clay
is watched and threatened. / have been
warned that my life is in danger. My heart
is broken.