Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-04
H HACK WILLIAMS GANG
The shelby County ~Despsradoes Still
on the War.Path.
The People OF the County should
Rid Themselves OF the Notorious
Bsnd OF "NIgger Killers"
who Infests the viein-
ity OF Raleigh.

oldney merlwether arrived IN town and
was semitic the city hospital to be treated
for a wound received on the side Of his
head. 1t is said that Meriwether and
another colored man, named Henderson
Lanier, we're attacked by Eve white men
Tuesday night, near the Park place,
seven miles north Of the city II will
be remembered that several weeks ago
Mack Williams, a white man, fired on
two negroes in the same neighborhood,
killing one Henry Davis aud wounding
the other Wash Eason) This tragedy
is made the more memorable by the fact
that it took Sheriff Anderson and eleven
musket.arned deputies to bring the muir
derer to the city. When broaght he had
a preliminary trial before Esquire Gallo
way, and the testimony was such as to
induce him to release Williams on $500
bail. The particulars as to the latest
difficulty are as follows:
On Wednesday morning last. about 6
o'clock, a negro called at the house Of 7.
7. Taylor, deputy sheriff, and informed
him that a negro boy had been shot by
seven or eight white men on the night
previous at or near the place where
Henry Davis was killed a few weeks
since, and wanted him to 90 and arrest
the parties, whom he supposed were lead
by Mack Williams. Mr.. Taylor imme-
1istely summoned a posse of men and
went to the houSe Of Pugh aud Williams,
some four miles northwest from Raleigh
on the Point road. On reaching Will
liams' house they found it locked, and
one of the posse discovered a number of
men armed with guns about a hundred
yards west OF Williams house, on the
Point road. Taylor Immediately pro-
ceeded to the point where they were
standing, on the side Of the road, but as
soon as they discovered the deputy
sheriff and his posse coming toward
them they retired into a dense thicket.
Mr.. Taylor called for Williams, and
that notorious worthy came out With his
crowd, all armed with double barreled
shot-guns. Mr.. Taylor informed them
that a negro had been shot by Mack
Williams and John Harrell, and he was
there to arrest them. Mack Williams
aud Harrell denied that they had any
thing TO do with the shooting. and that
they cosld prove an abb. Mr.. Taylor
} demanded their surrender, which theJ
agreed to, but objected to giving up theil
guns. Mr.. Taylor arrested them ant
disarmed them. The gang consisted o
Mack Williams, John Hsrrell, B. L
Beloote, N. W. Warwick, J., 7. Warwick
R. T. Hiudmsn and G. N. Heathcock
!, The guns and pistols we're surrendered
and Mr.. Taylor and posse carried th,
prisoners to Raleigh aud brought then
; before Esquire NJ. B. Pryor for trial
/ No black or white mar could be fount
|, bold enough to swear out a warran
. against the desperadoes, and Esquirl
Pryor discharged them from custody
The desperadoes left RsIeigh in triumph
having browbeat aud overawed the CON
muuity. After they had left a negro
swore out warrants for their arrest, say
( ing that be was afraid to do so while they
we're present.
One of the witnesses to tue shooting
3 Of Sidney Meriwether makes the follow
/ ing statement: About eight o'clock OIL
last Tuesday evening Sidney MeriwetheI
and Henderson Lanier, (negroes) wert
returning from Memphis going home
and when near Williams house, probably
two hundred yards, they we're halted By
Frank Mannus, who was armed with
9 gun, aud be asked them what in thu
, bel" they we're singing for and disturb
ing his family. Lanier apologized, and
said that he was not aware that he was
disturbing any one, and il so, he would
not do so any more; they proceeded uI
the road on their way home and Franl
Mannus still followed them, cursing snt
abusing them, aud when they we're neal
Williams house, say thirty yards, Mar
9 nus halted them and commenced punch
ing Lanier in the side with his gun, ant
ct the same time two or three other mel
. rose up out of the corner Of the fence
armed with guns, and attacked Sidney
Meriwether and run him up in the cor
. ner of the fence and shot him. As sooI
, as the gun 6red Lsnier broke aud rau
. of and was shot at twice but not hit
, All of which has excited the uegros 2,
very much, and a great many have re
fused to 90 into the fields to work ant
| pick Gotten, and are actually afraid t.
leave their houses after dark; it is a per
feet terror to them throughout the whell
ne~ighborhsod. This is not confined en-
q tirely to the blacks but extends to tn
a good aud quiet white population Of tina
particular neighborhood.
THE BEST.
, Smoke KInney's Cigarettes.
Hia Cornorola Entra Nausand pa.;cr