Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1877-11-16

Letter rrOm Squire Hughes
abouG lhe killing Of Russell
Graham.
OAK RIDGE, Nov. 10Th, 1877.
To the Editor Of the Herald
In this, our day and time, when the
hand Of man is swift 10 shed the blood
Of his fellow-man, no undue tenderness
to the memory Of the dead should stay
the hand of justice 10 the living. No.
tees of death by violence are Of such
frequent recurrence, that they have al
most ceased to touch the quick Of u
cauterized sensibilities, and scarce a
thrill Of surprise is awakened by the
recital Of tale Of horror that in days
gone by would have chilled the blood
in our veins 10 contemplate. This
should not be so, and the strong hand
Of the law should unflinching!y hold
the sggressor amenable for his acts.
Yet when 4 man is slain strictly in self
defense, the world should know II,
that no accusing finger may be pointed
q: he man who kills 10 prevent being
he'd. This last Is my reason for
placing before the public, through your
pape-, the facts as ascertained before
my examining court, in which e. X.
McIvor was Arraigned for the killing
Of Russell Graham, at Oak Ridge,
Warren county, on the evening Of No
vember 6, 1871. A. d. Christian, G. X.
McIvor, and Peter Parker, colored,
were sworn Judges OF the election S.
P. Grant and II. Y. Young, Clerks.
Robert Grant and Russell Graham were
appointed BY Mr.. John Flanagan Dep
uty Sheriffs 10 aid me as peace officers.
The election opened, progressed and
ended without the sound OF a harsh or
unpleasant word. At the appointed
time, counting commenced, and stimuli
taneously with II, Mr.. Graham opened
q series Of uncalled for Interruptions,
which were borne with commendable
forbearance by the Judges. Finally,
my own patience giving way, l inform
ed the Judges that they were the sole
a~rbitrators Of the count Of ballots, and
then left for home. Mr.. Graham was
very violently opposed 10 the election
Of Judge Warren Cowau, because the
Judge, on an occasion OF public speak.
ing at the Ridge, had administered
10 him a singing rebuEe for unnec-
essary interference with him in the
progress OF his speech. When the votes
were probably about one.hSlf counted,
Mr.. Mclvor called out the names Of L.
Z. Furlong snd Warren Cowan on The
same ticket, whereapon Graham placed
his hand on Mr. Grants tally sheet
and said both names should not be
counted on the same ballot. Mr.. Nc
lvor held up the ticket and asked the
decision Of the other Judges, which, Of
course, was given in favor Of the count
OF both names as they stood. Mr.. Nc.
Ivor said 10 Mr.. Grant: Go on Sam,
count the vote y whereupon Mr.. Ora
ham drew his pistol, a Smith Il Wesson
fve-shooter, and swore It should not
be counted. Mr.. McIvor said 10 him ::
"Graham, you must cease your inter-
ference; | am n OF the Judges OF
this count; you have nothing 10 do
Win ~ wv otC OnIg u COhStlN avn
Of the peace" Graham replied "Give
me that ticket" McIvor refused, again
telling Sam Grant 10 count the vote.
Graham advanced upon McIvor, thrust
his pistol against his throat, ex.
claiming, Give It up, Cd
d-n you, or I'll stick h! 10
you In o minute. Mr.. McIvog threw
his arm around Graham, and grasped
his pistol arm. At this juncture the
other Judges and Clerks wen; hurried.
ly out Of the house, putting out the
lights in their confusion. Four pistol
shots were fired. No one saw who did
the shooting, but McIvor came on! un.
but except a slight wound across Que
OF his fingers. Graham was IN 4 dying
condition. Graham rarely yer eft his
house without one or two pistols and a
sixteen shooting rifle, which, when at
the Ridge, he usually deposited in the
sleeping room of Mr., Cumming stone.
Under these circumstance Mr.. Graham
died, and ! decided the killing justin.
able Homicide. j. i. HuGHEs, j. p.