The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-07
THE LYNCHIyG AFFAIR N OKTIBBEHA !
The Fiends Guilty of Arson, At
tempted Rape and Assassination.

Full AND AUTHENTIC PARTICULARS
EDITORS CLARION: l should deem anything
| from the pen OF a citizen Of okubbeha county
at this time superrogatory in connection with
| the lynching of the Two negroes, Johnston
| Spencer and Nelvyn Porter, yesterday morn
ing this place, did l not know the toe
ready hand with which telegraph operators,
! &c, publish TO the world exaggerated and sensa-
tionaI statements.
Our community are deeply shocked At act
50 revolving, and We depreeate il, however
necessary it may have been Tor the protection
of society against a species of IawIessness 50
terrifying and barbarous.
The facts in the case are simply these: Mr.
Jordan Moore, most excellent gentleman and
farmer, with head white with the frosts OF many
winters, living five miles south OF StarkyiIle
has been the victim continuously for over six
months OF most daring HOUSEKEEPING and
theft The keys OF every department of his
house, even his parlor, and those OF his stables
and barn have been taken out of his bedroom
al night and used in plundering and breaking
him up in his old age. After chasing the burg
lars out of his house time and again, he dis
covered their mode of operating and changed
his locks
This step for time puzzled them and it
became necessary for them to resort
to new plans or give up their work.
About the LIST of April, Mr.. Moore
visited his stables, was his custom, early one
morning and without any premonition, the
flash OF pistol in his face, lthe powder burning
his flesh, without any further injury, caused
him to seek safety in retreat So great was this
gentleman reteeRce, though in SttrSville that
day, this circumstance was only made known by
his wagon driver, a colored man. His neigh
borhood and his friends felt great solicitude
for his safety and were very apprehensive of
further attacks, though they knew man
white or black, could raise the weight of
finger against Mr.. Moore justly.
1t could truly be said of him that he lived
without an enemy. Notwithstanding, on Fri
day morning, the oath of April, about twilight,
his eommodious barns, containing h is stock
gear and most bountiful supply OF provender
was discovered in angry flames, and totally de-
stroyed with other out buildings.
An axe was found on the ground belonging TO
Johnston Spencer and the ownership confessed
by him, and the shoe tracks approaching the barn
and about it, which correspondent with his led to
his arrest and confinement in the county Jail. On
Monday morning following (the 2sth of April
before daylight, another crib, wagon shelter,
&c, were discovered in flames, which drew to-
gether the neighbors only to it moulder into
ashes with contents. simultaneously with this
burning, and while the crowd were at the FIRE
the screams of Mr. Moore's daughter at the
dwelling brought assistance only in time to see
negro jump out of her window in his stocking
feet and make his escape under the house. Ow-
IN 1ayili Sb
purposes not accomplished.
The fact that Spencer was in Jail, led the citi-
zens to suspect that it was point on the part of
his friends to relieve him (Spencer) from susp-
cion, and Nelvyn Porter who living and
farming with him, was arrested under this idea
The first search revealed in his pocket the par
lor key, and then taking off his shoes, his wet
and muddy stocking feet lit having rained the
day before), pointed to him the demon who
had entered through the window OF the young
lady's apartment Porter became very much
excited and about this time unthoughtfully
raised his hat and out dropped a bunch of keys,
recognized by Mr. Moore his. This was
more than Porter could stand and broke to
run, pursued by black and white citizens, and
after running four or five miles, continually
shooting at his pursuers. he was captured.
He acknowledged everything as detailed
above, duplicating Johnston Spencer as his ac-
cessory and boon companion III the whole mat
ter since they first began operations last fall.
Their trial before magistrate was properly
counsel, and after a full investigation were re-
manded to Jail, in default of bond to await ac-
ton OF ne>t -rHnd jury, without a dissenting
voice TO The Iilt
The citizens were lily prepared for this great
and daring outbreak on the part of Spencer and
Porter, since our jail now holds colored parties
charged with the burning of Col. 5. ID. Sessions
kitchen three or four months ago, his dwelling
narrowly escaping.
Besides, in March last, one of our best citizens
was waylaid in the dark and shot by a colOred
fiend and barely escaped, after slow recovery,
his life.
The pretext for this shooting was frivolous
and our community only spared the shock
ing ordeal of ynching by the escape of the
perpetrator.
Mr.. Editor would have this horrible affair
smothered and hid from sight, but since it must
go to the public want it done with the glare of
truth.
This and this only, has prompted the detail
ing of these facts in connection with an affair
much to be regretted. VIII send you copy
of finding OF jury &c.
Yours truly