Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-09-16
THE CHISOLM TRIAL.

So far as we can see from the re-
ports of the trial of Gully for kill
ing Chisolm, it was impartial on the
part of the Judge. The verdict
was what we expected. That it
was a red-handed murder, pure
and simple, dastardly in every par
ticular was clearly developed. A
correspondent of Chicago Tribune
who was present at the trial
comes to these conclusions:
"This verdict means that although
the Sheriff of Kemper county swore
that he conducted Chisolm and Hop
per to the Jail and locked them up,
mob came there, of which the de.
PENDANT, Henry ]. Gully, was one,
wrenched the keys from his hands,
though they had no business with
them, unlocked the doors of the cells
of these men who had surrendered
themselves to the lawful authorities of
the county, killed Chisolm, his son
Johnnie, his daughter Cornelia, and
his friends Mcclellan and Gilmer; yet
these acts were not murder under this
state of facts. Since the trial it
transpires that Mr.. N. w. Hop
per, who was locked up in one cell
of the jail, and whose life was
also threatened, and who saw ChisOlm
shot, saw the defendant Gully about
the Jail with shotgun, heard him
giving orders to some of the men,
and, in short, who saw more of the
affair than any other witness who was
put on the stand, was not put OH the
stand at all. The excuse was that he
came into the courtroom and heard
some of the evidence of other wit
nesses while rule of Court was pend
ing excluding all witness on both
sides from the courtroom. How
Capt. Ford, the prosecuting officer in
the case, should have allowed the
State to be deprived of its most inn
portant evidence in this manner does
not appear to be easily explained"
The whole thing is a farce, broad
burlesque on justice. The verdict
further means, that public sentiment
in Mississippi, or in some localities
at least, is such that murder COM
mitted in the interest of political
party which is in power there, il
justifable and that the murderer
will not be punished. The Gully
got on a big drunk after the tria
was over, of which the Tribune cor
respondent says:
''This inebriety, however, was JUST
fed under the circumstances, ant
would doubtless be sanctioned ii
places of higher civilization thar
Kemper county. The people here o
the best intelligence and cultivation
pronounce theswhole trial farce AM
a libel on justice; but. unfortunately
they are in the minority and do no
control the prevailing sentiment.
It is more than probable that fresh
difficulties may arise out of the pres
ent complications. No one can tel
what the end may be-"
A special term of the court wi
be held next January for the tris
of the savage mob that took tn
life of Judge Chisolm and his in
nocent children, but we hay
no idea that single one
them will ever be punished
It is burning shame an
o disgrace to our civilization. BIZ
the murder will be avenged
Though political prejudice and pal
tisan hate may transform a ma
into a demon and incite him
deeds of inhumanity that woul
make Modoc blush, yet there is
God Who reigns and rules over
and Who has said, "Thou shalt NJ
kill" He sees the tears of bite
inconsolable grief shed by tt
widow deprived of her husband b
this murderous band, and hears Ii
cry of the orphan whose father FL
an untimely grave. We believe
day of terrible retribution vi
come, when deprayed public sent
ment and packed juries will te
M avail