The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-29
The Yazoo Murder.
Dixon Killed by Order Of the Democratic
Committee.

When Frank Dixon, the brother OF the man
man the Mississippi Democrats murdered,
arrived in Washington he had not recovered
from the nervousness caused by the strain OF
excitement under which he has lived for sew
eral weeks past. As he walked the streets he
seemed to look suspiciously at every one he
met, and the least sudden noise would startle
him. He explained this by saying that he had
not yet realized that he was among peaceable
and friendly people, and that he still felt al
times as though some one was about to attack
him. Tuesday he was so far relieved from the
strain that he was able to give an account of
the murder. After telling of the notorious
canvass of 1875, and of the Yazoo mob last
month, he went ON to say that his brother
finally determined to run at all hazards and so
announced in Yazoo City. This disturbed the
Democrats. They thought they had succeeded
in preventing Dixons candidacy, but then
they were no better off than before. To make
matters worse, the Registrar, who had just COM
pleted the registration of voters, declared it as
his opinion that Dixon would be elected by at
least 5000 majority. AT Democratic mass
meeting held just previous to the menaees of
the mob ON Dixon's house, Congressman Single
ton and the uncle Of young Barksdale addressed
the crowd. 1t was afterward decided to hold
another large meeting ON the 10Th of August
This meeting was held, and it furnished the
Democratic conspirators with another oppor-
tunity to damage Dixon. Resolutions were
adopted declaring against Dixon, and in the
report of the proceedings which appeared in
the papers of the next day the statement was
made that two persons had overheard Dixon
announce his intention of shooting Barksdale
on sight. On the Monday morning following,
Dixon addressed note to the secretary of the
meeting, denying that he had made such
threat, and demanding the names of the two
persons. This information was refused.
Meanwhile, the members of the Democratic
committee urged Barksdale to kill Dixon, or
the ticket would be defeated. On Tuesday
morning Barksdale went to the store OF Dr.
Mccormick armed with his shotgun. McCor-
mick is the Chairman of the Democratic COM
mittee, and took the place of man named
Harlow because the latter could not be ap-
preached in the Dixon affair. Mccormick
knew that Barksdale intended to shoot Dixon
as did also q number of other Democrats who
saw him with his gun. Instead of tryin to
prevent the personal encounter" which the
Democrats of Mississippi now pretend so much
to regret, no warning was given to Dixon not
withstanding the fact that it was well known
he would walk Dy lIlt SlOrc
About o'clock he was passing by, when
Barksdale stepped out and fired. Sixteen
buckshot entered Dixon's clothes, four pene-
trating his back and shoulders, and four his
right hand, so that he could not use his pistol
with effect. 1t is stated that other shots were
fired from windows near by.
The statement made about the paper
Dixon was preparing was accurate. Had
he lived the paper would have been
completed. His death was. undoubtss
dely fastened to prevent the disclosure OF
the secrets he was possessed Of. An lndepen-
dent mass-meeting had previously been ar
ranged for the Goth, and, although Dixon was
buried on that day, the meeting was held.
The Democrats tried to prevent1t by tnreats,
but the extremes to which they had already
gone had made them timid, and no further
violence was attempted. The independents
nominated full ticket, giving the colored
people several offices, and declared that tney
would stand by their ticket at all hazards, de-
Tending it with shot guns, II necessary.
In conclusion, Frank Dixon said that there
was not the least doubt in his mind that his
brother was murdered by order OF tae Demo
cratic Committee, and he knows that the chair-
man of that committee planned the assass,iia-
ton. Barksdale proved Wiling TOOL, ana ne
was selected to commit the deed. Had ne re-
fused or failed there were 40 or 30 others VINO
would have done it. He says turther, tnat
other plans of assassination had Deeh maue,
but none had proved successful. lie mas nearo
of men lounging about the aiieys Vi l"%oo
CITY, and even Disgusting themselves IN
women's dress, with the purpose of killing his
brother, but they were always folled by aeei ;m
dent He expects that there Will be more XIII
ING in Yazoo before the election is over. Had
he remained there he would certainly have
been killed. Flanagan and colored man
who had been an Independent candidate sup
ported by Dixon had been compelled to leave,
the latter sacrificing nearly all OF his properly,
Mr.. Dixon says that the condition oil affairs
in Yazoo City may be better understood when
it is known that, although contrary to law, the
prevailing custom is to carry revolvers, and 1t
is not an infrequent thing to see men eongre-
gated together with their shot guns over their
shoulders to redress personal grievances. For
himself he says, he never thought OF going un-
armed, and since the mob surrounded his
brothers. house he never went to bed without
pair of pistols and shot gun by his SIDE; ne
does not believe that Barksdale will be indicted
by the Grand Jury. If the lndepenSaIelhal M
ticket is given a fair chance, he says, IL VIII po
elected, as over two-thirds of the voters OF tne
county are negroes, who Will vote Soliu'S ioi
ha candidates,