Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-13
CARRIED OFF AT MIDNIGHT.
An Outrage by Federal Officials in West
Tennessee.
Savannah Transcript

Savannah transcript
From recent occurrences in this
county a stranger would be led to be-
lieye that we were again going through
the reconstruction mill, with all the
corrupt tools of those dark and trouble
some days, in full operation, We re-
fer to the carrying off, in the dead of
night, of MeSsrs. Davis and Holmesly.
Some one or two Deputy United States
Marshals went to their dwellings in
the middle of the night, and arrested
and carried them to Huntingdon, and
i~ncarcerated them in Jail without even
allowing them to see any of their
friends, much less giving them chance
to give bond. All this was done on
the evidence of a worthless negro, who
has served a term in the p~enitentiary,
and has been a nuisance and an element
of discord in the n%eighborhood ever
since he came among the people, be-
sides the evidence strongly points to
this black rascal asthe party who COM
mitted the murder. The negro swore
out a writ before a magistrate for the
parties, but left before the trial came
off, and as no one appeared as prosecu-
tor the parties were released. Some
time ago we published the account Of
the killing, which occurred neal Py-
burns Bluff. The negro was shot
from behind a corner of the house, as
he put his head out of the door. the
shot glancing along the sides of the
wall from the corner to the door. A
mdsket belonging to the negro witness
was found under the river bank next
morning, showing it had been recently
discharged, and as the negro has told
two or three stories as to what he saw
and the part he took in the affair, the
proof against him is very clear to oul
mind.
The negro swore out writs against
J james Thomas, James Holmesley and
a Mr.. Davis, all of whom were arrested
and gave bond for their appearance
i and did appear accordingly, but as nc
, one appeared to prosecute the case
! the magistrate, Of course, dismissed
them. In the meantime the negro
! disappeared, and nothing more wa,
heard of him until one Morgan, anC
one or two others supposed to b,
deputy marshals, arrested and carried
g off two of the party without givinl
them a chance to give bond or to show
; that they were not guilty, although w
, have a United States commissioner il
> the county, who has the power anC
authority to try all such cases. Davii
and Holmesly are poor men, and, o.
T course, cannot pay a lawyer to igh
: their case for them, hence they vii
I have TO be at the mercy Of a worth
less negro's testimony. Both of then
? we believe are Democrats, and we sus
pect is the principle cause of thei
; persecution. Homlesly is a very poo
| man, and has a large and destitut,
family to take care of, and they will
/ have to suffer now, unless they arr
], taken care of by the public. We ar,
e told by Esspensible parties that boil
Davis and Holmesly can prove beyont
!. a doubt that they are innocent of tn
:, charge. They are now confined in tn
Jail at Huntingdon, and so far as W
p can learn are in a very destitute con
dition, The negro is at Huntington
or hid out" living at the expense 0
y some parties in this county, as he di,
\ for several weeks in Savannah.