Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-11
DIXON's DEATH.
An Eyewitness Story of the Killing.

S~lhVlhudtl Enqulfer.I
New YORK, September GA gen
tleman well known in railroad circles
who was in Yazoo and saw the shoot
ing Of Dixon. said to-day to a Sur
reporter:
Henry Dixon was a friend of mine
He was a native of Virginia. II,
came to Yazoo during the war as {
sutler in the Union army. After the
war he married a lady who owned three
plantations and had $780, 900 in money
When Dixon died one o fthese planta.
tons was all that was left. This hac
a mortgage against it for all it was
worth. Henry Dixon's business fol
years was gambling. He dealt faro in
a bank in Yazoo. [ don't think that
Dixon ran a skin game for the reason
that | don't think he knew enough.
He was willing enough to take advan-
tage of his customers at any kind of a
game, but he lacked the shrewdness.
He had no ability except in reckless
daring and bravado. He had always
been a leader in the Democratic party
Of Yazoo county. No one ever took a
more prominent part in 'bulldozing'
negroes or 'intimidating' white Re-
publicans than he did.
Three years ago the sheriff of the
county was a Republican. A number
OF the gamblers of YazoO were indict-
ed, among them Dixon. All of the
indicted parties but Dixon went into
another county. A deputy sheriff
named Mitchell went after the gam
blers and arrested some of them.
The sheriff of the county and Deputy
Mitchell became very obnoxious to
Dixon and others, and they deter
mined to drive the officers out of the
or put them out of the way.
a political meeting held at that
time Mitchell was present. The
meeting was a hot one, and Dixon was
the most prominent actor in it.
the excitement Deputy Sheriff
Mitchell was shot dead. The circum-
stances under which he was killed led
to Dixon being credited with the
murder. Dixon never denied it, and
no one in Yazoo believed that any one
else killed Mitchell.
AT the beginning of the campaign
it was James Barksdale's intention to
try for the Democratic nomination for
of the county. Dixon went to
Jimmy, he said, you don't
want to be a candidate against me
90 for something else, and let me get
if | can Barksdale consent.
ed to withdraw his name as a candi-
date for sheriff and accepted the
domination for chancery clerk. This
office is almost as good as sheriff. The
canvass opened, and everything went
peaceably for a time. Finally it trans
pred that the presence of Barksdale
on the Democratic ticket was strength
ening that ticket throughout. Then
began his tactics to weaken
Barksdale. He set aaoat many dam
aging stories, and capped them by
charging Barksdale with maintaining
illicit relations with his own sister.
This so enraged Barksdale that he
sent word to Dixon that he must look
out for himself when they met.
ION the day of the shooting Banks
dale was standing in the principal
street of Yazoo. There is only one
business street, and it runs clear
through the place. Barksdale had a
shotgun, for he was likely to meet
at any time. He was talking
TO some friends when Dixon came
down the street. When Barksdale
saw him he cried out, Henry, defend
yourself: Henry Immediately drew
revolver from his pocket. Banks
fired. Dixon ran to a hallway on
The opposite side of the street. Banks
fired his other barrel. Dixon
returned the fire five times with his
revolver. Barksdale's first shot had
been the fatal one. Dixon fell in the
hallway.
From this same hallway about
three years ago Henry NJ. Dixon shot
md killed Samuel Harrison, an anna
teur detective. The county treasu-
Office had been robbed, and
Dixon was generally believed to have
been the ringleader in the crime.
Harrison took upon himself the dan
yerous task of shadowing Dixon for
The purpose of procuring evidence
against him. Dixon saw him coming
one day, stepped into the hallway, and
IS he passed shot him down."