The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-09-20
Nor.A POLITICAL MURDER.


Committed that has pretended to Justify the
murder of Dixon, in YaSoo, Miss, elthe. on
political or other grounds. As, however, a
tremendous noise has been made over the Hur
der by the Republican press on the ground
that il was political murder, the following
from the New York Sun ought to be conclu-
sive on that point Says the Sun:
\ gentleman prominent! in railroad circles
in this city formerly resident of Iazoo, Miss,
was in that city on the day of the shooting of
Henry Nj. Dixon, Independent candidate for
Sheriff of Iazoo county, by James III. Banks
dale the Democratic candidate tor Chancery
Clerk. This gentleman has given represeR-
'atiye OF the Sun the following
II am we'll acquainted" he SAID, with all
the parties connected with the shooting. The
circumstances leading to the shooting had
nothing to do with politics. Personal matters
caused the whole trouble.
Henry Dixon was a friend of mine, as the
saying goes knew HIM as well as any man
in Yazoo. He was, | think native of Viz
ginia. He came to Yazoo during the war as u
sutler with the Union army. After the war he
married lady who owned three plantations
and had 500, 900 in money. When Dixon died,
aged 2S, one of these plantations was all that
was LETT This had mortgage against it for
all it was worth,
Henry Dixon's business for years was gam
bling He dealt faro in bank in Iazoo. Like
most southern towns Iazoo has its share of
gamblers, the residents readily supporting the
business | don't think that Dixon run n skin
game for the reason that | don't think he
knew enough. He was willing enough to take
advantage of his customers at any kind OF Il
game but he lacked the smartneSS. lie had
no ability except in reckless daring and Bravo
DO. He had always been leader in the Demo
cratic party of Yazoo county. No one ever
took more prominent part in 'bulldozing'
negroes or intimidating white Republicans
than he did. Three years ago the Sheriff of
the county was Il Republican, number of
the gamblers Of Iazoo were indicted among
them Dixon. All of the indicted parties but
Dixon went INTO another county. A deputy
sheriff named Mitchell went after the gamblers
and arrested some of them. The Sheriff of
.hc county and Deputy Mitchell became very
obnoxious to Dixon and others, and they de-
ierminCd 10 drive the officers out OF the county
or put them out of the way. At political
meeting held at that time Mitchell was pres
cnt The meeting was hot one and Dixon
was thc most prominent actor IA II. In tue
excitement Deputy Sheriff Mitchell ""- >Iloi
dead. The circumstances under which he Was
killed led to Dixon being accused Of his muir
Yanzoo believes that any one else killed Mitch
ell.
Dixon and Barksdale were always good
friends. Barksdac is member of one Of the
best families in Mississippi He is about %
wears old and unmarried. His uncle. j. I.
Rarksdalc Of the firm of Barksdae 4 Smith,
is a wealthy and influential citizen of the cOun-
", and is widely and favorably known IN New
York business circles. The reason that Dixon
became candidate tor Sheriff was that he had
lost great deal of his property, and the rest
was heavily encountered. The office of Sher-
if of Yazoo county is worth from $4,000 to
$4,000 year Although Yazoo county is Re
publican the Republicans had no ticket IN the
field. No one in Yazoo county had done more
TO bring about the state of affairs that led the
Republicans to think it was unsafe to run u
ticket than Henry NJ. Dixon. But he con
ceived the idea of getting the Office, and he IN
terested the negroes in his cause. He assured
them that he would stand by them. They
knew his reckless character, and believing
that he would do all he promised, they made
him their leader. He desired the office in or
der that the income from it might help him
in his financial troubles.
AT the beginning of the campaign 1t was
James Barksdale's intention to try for the
Democratic nomination for Sheriff. Dixon
went to him. Jimmy he said, you don't want
TO be a candidate against me. Go for some
thing else and lie, me get sheriff if can
"Barksdale consented to withdraw his name
as a candidate for Sheriff, and accepted the
nomination for Chancery Clerk. This Office
IS almost as good as Sheriff. The canvass
opened, and everything went peaceably for
time. Finally it TRANSFERRED that the presence
of Barksdale on the Democratic ticket was
strengthening that ticket throughout Then
hiS IN RI Cta
He set atloat many damaging stories, and
capped them all by charging Barksdalc with
maintaining illicit relations with his own SIS
ter This so enraged Barksdae that he sent
word to Dixon that he must look out tor him
self when they met
ON the day of the shooting Barksdale was
standing IN the principal street of Yazoo.
There Is only one business street and il runs
clear through the place. Barksdale had shot
gun.for he was likely to meet Dixon at any time
He was talking to some friends when Dixon
came down the street. When Barksdalc saw
him he cried out:
Henry, defend yourself!
Henry Immediately drew his revolver from
his hip pocket Barksdale fired. Dixon ran
TO Il hallway on the opposite side of the street
Barksdae fired his other barrel. Dixon re-
turned the fire five times with his revolver
Barksdale's first shot had been the fatal one
Dixon fell in the hallway.
From the same hallway, about three years
sgo Henry N. Dixon shot and killed Samuel
Harrison, an amateur detective. The County
Treasurer's office had been robbed, and Dixon
was generally believed to have been the ring
leader IN the crime. Harrison took upon him
self the dangerous task of shadowing Dixon,
for the purpose OF procuring evidence against
him say dangerous task, for Dlxons gen
eral reputation in Yazoo county was that of a
man who cared nothing for human life that
stood IN his way. Ifyou were his enemy you
were never safe IN his presence; if he was a
friend to you, he would go any length to serve
81 60