National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-19
Southern Bmll-DoHing.
MoSrGoNERy, ALA, June 10,

MONTGOMERY, ALA, June 10, lS10.
TO he Editor Of The National Republican;
SIR: As a private citizen of Alabama write
you. have no interest, politically, In the
conduct Of our people toward the United States
officers but as a citizen have. In your paper
of last Friday, June 10, under tho heading
" Bull.Dozng the Court" you say: THE state
ment is that great rabblo collected around
the courthouse, and, when court adjourned,
the multitude gathered around the judge and
district attorney and followed them with
demonstrations Of displeasure, that increased
to an extent which rendered II necessary for
the marshal to escort them, &C." As to this |
know nothing except from hearsay, rs l was in
and about the court but few times during this
term but do know that the Selma defend
ants charged with fraud in elections last fall,
had u lot of bullies in Montgomery, who looked
and talked as If they were ready TO assassinate
the judge, district attorney, or any one else, II
by so doing point for the defendants could be
gained.
Ono notable demonstration was made by
Fred Ferguson, esq, the solicitor for the State
| Judicial Circuit and who is of counsel for
some of the election fraud defendants, on
Charles L. Morgan, United States Distrot-At.
| torney, at the Exchange Hotel, as Mr.. Morgan
was going into the dining-room to his supper.
|
| friendly with Morgan, got together, In the
Office of Exchange Hotel, at tho head of the
stairs, q lot of his bulics from Selma and
Montgomery, armed and equipped according
TO bull.dozng law. aud as Morgan reached the
| top of the steps going toward the dining.room,
said TO him, Morgan, don't want you to
speak to me any more" Morgan, passing on,
answered 'If you so wish it, have no de-
sire to speak to you" Ferguson then said
"You have falsifed your word to me-" Nor.
gan, still passing on to the dining-room re.
Piled 81 have done no such thing" Fergu-
son and his crowd of bullies wero about to fol-
low Morgan ilts 5i,o dining-room when one OF
the gang said Lets wait until he comes out
again." This stopped them, when Judge
Brickle. of the State Supreme Court, went into
General Shelley's or General Peters room
and notified them Of the pending outrage, when
a rush was attempted by Others of the Selma
desperadoes to aid Ferguson. whoreupon Gen.
eral PETERS drew his pistol aud threatened
to shoot the first man who attempted to go
past him, which brought them to a halt. Fer.
guson and his pals were then influenced to de.
sist, and the probable assassination of District
Attorney Morgan was prevented. | am in
| formed that Ferguson, with u moral courage
almost unknown to these bull dozers, and
against the earnest entreaties of his squad, rose
to the dignity of true manhood and apologized
for his wanton insult and outrageous conduct
toward District.Attorney Morgan.
The court (tho judge, district.attorncy, mar
shall, clerk, or other otiicers) was not "bul!
dozed to an extent that the trials had to be
suspended" True, the Selma cases were con
tinued, but for reasons which were sufficient ii
courtesy, If not in law. The Government
officers did all they could to force a trial, unit
the plea OF sickness of defendants attorney
was interposed, whom continuance wa
granted.
. hope the public will believe me whom say