Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-28
rHR ISRAEL rHoMAsoN CASE.

DluC0 VIC pCOp1S VI OOAuhlOl1 "iS
so indignant and outraged that 8
number of them were moved the
other night to burn Governor Por-
terand the members Ofthe Supreme
Court in efigy, it may be worth
while to give a brief history of the
causes leading to such a state OF
feeling in that intelligent commu-
nifty. On the evening Of April 9Th,
1875, Mr.Rufus @. Jackson, a highly
esteemed citizen Of the village of
Mount Pleasant, in Maury county,
was foully murdered on the road
leading to his house just outside Of
town. The object was evidently
robbery, as he was not known to
have an enemy in the world. A
few days before he had displayed a
large roll of money in the presence
of Israel Thomson, a wagon
maker Of bad character, liv-
ing in the suburbs Of the
place, who had been suspected
of other crimes. Thomson had
been seen lettering near the spot
that evening and suspicion pointed
to him at once. A negro detective
was brought down from Nashville
to work up the case. He ingra-
tiated himself with Thomson and
obtained from him a confidential
statement that he killed Jackson,
but only obtained $2.75. The boot
tracks around the spot where the
murder was committed, and thence
across a field, corresponded exactly
with a pair Of boots found in the
house of a negro named Smith,
living near Thomason's. Both
were arrested, but Smith proved by
his whole family and some visitors
that Thomson came to his house
that evening and borrowed the
boots overnight. On the other
hand a little white boy, aged thir-
teen, at Smiths house that evening,
declared that Thomson never
came to the house. Thomson
was convicted of murder in the
first degree upon this circumstan-
tai proof. An appeal was taken
to the Supreme Court and
his sentence affirmed. On that
occasion Thomson, who is an
ignorant man and of a very
low type, rose and declared in the
most solemn manner that he wal
innocent, and that whether he wa
hung or not the world would some
day know aud admit the fact. ThiI
made a profound impression. HI
afterwards joined the church, anG
said he was ready to die, but con.
tinued to declare that he was Gin.
nocent as an angel" The Supreme
Court recommended a Communication
of the sentence to Imprisonment
for life, which Gov. Porter granted
and on the 25th inst. he was con
veyed quietly from jail in time 70.
a train, on which he was taken t,
Nashville. The people still believ
ing him guilty were greatly exas.
perated. Had they known of tn.
Communication in time, Thomasol
would have been mobbed in th.
jail at Columbia. They were tn.
more set against Thomason becaus
he was commonly regarded as a ba,
man. His grandfather, Israt
Bennett, was hung for murde
fifty years ago this month upo
the spot where the sheriff ha
erected the gallows for Thomason
The best citizens of the place in
public meeting held last Saturda
protested against executive inter
ference and said it would lead t
mob law. 1t occurs to us at thi
distance that the good people 0
Columbia and the surroundin
country have taken counsel wit
their prejudices and passions NOR
than with judgment. The efig
business cannot injure Governo
Porter or the Supreme Court
but it may place the leader
Of the movement in a YER
unfayorable light before the publ,
especially if it turns out tbs
Smith, whose boots were worn b
the murderer, committed the dee
himself, and was shielded by Il