Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-08
The Murder Of the ChIsoIms.
A LETTER FROM MRS. cuIsoLM

A Washington special to the New York
Times of May 10Th, says: Mrs Chisolm,
whose husband and children were recently
murdered in Mississippi, writes to friend
in Washington, under date of May 70,
furnishing additional details of the kem-
per butchery. She says:
NV husband was murdered for no cause
except loyalty to the flag. which he thought
would protect all citizens Gilmer was muir
dered on the street on the way to deliver
himself to the sheriff lie was held by one
Of his guard while he was shot by his SON
in-law. McLellen was an old gray haired
man, and British subject. He often as
sured me he could not become a naturalized
citizen, because the United States govern
ment was not strong enough to protect Its
citizens lie was man without blemish.
knowing he could neither be bought nor
frightened, the sheriff called him down, de-
livered him unarmed to the men, who des-
patched him. firing two loads into his head
after he was dead. This saw myself. My
boy, after having had his hand shot off, turn
ed quickly and placed his shoulder to the
door which the mob was breaking open with
axes and iron bars. At this time was on
the outside, having gone home a short time
previously by direction Of my husband. Put
ting my hand through the grating implored
my boy to leave. My son Clay caught him
in his arms and ran behind a large iron cage,
but before Clay could spring back to take
his place against the door johnnie cried out.
L" 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 the 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 fainting and,
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. After 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 after 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
w It'll NIuH y hSSlSldHCC IaiilCu
dead body down stairs through the hall to
the outside door Turning, saw a 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 | urged him back, holding the door |
with both hands. lie put his gun through |
the grating, and COrnelia, 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 bar
rels. Another gun was handed Gully by
boy. which he fired and shot nv husband.
Phil Gully ran up with club, but another
shot finished him, and he fell, cxcaiming,
My precious wife, | die innocent my en-
tire family murdered; but if any OF my
children live | want them to know | have
never done an act nor harbored thought
which would make them blush Clay tried
to stand between him and his muir
derers, while COrnclia and | ran to the door
to obtain help to carry my husband home.
The blood was running from Cornella : shat
tered arm which she held up and begged for
help. The answer was a shot which struck
her leg. BY this time about twenty-five of
the crowd ran in | FASTENED back to where
my husband lay and seized Il gun. The
leader started back and fired shot at me
then fired Mt him, and the crowd He'd again
My son and myself, with the help of one of
the demons who assisted in killing nv hus-
band, carried him home. We were pursued
by the mob to our gate. COrnelia kept her
bleeding body between US and them. Arriy-
ing at home. found the servants had fled
II