The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-28
The Yazoo Tragedy-Dixon's Career.

| The Yazoo Tragedy-Dixon's Career.
A dispatch from Yazoo City, Miss, states
that Jas. H. Barksdale, who shot and killed
Henry M. Dixon in that town on Tuesday
last has been released on $4,000 bail, the
prosecuting attorney consenting to the bail
ing. The history of the difficulty in Yazoo,
which has eliminated so tragically, is thus
summed up by the New York World:
Capt Dixol was alwaysa Democrat, land
was we'll known in Mississippi as a planter.
His courage was unquestioned. In 1875 he
Was presented with a massive solid silver
pitcher. on which was the inscription 'sTo
the bravest of the brave, Capt. Henry M.
Dixon. from his democratic fellow citizens
OF Yazoo county, as Il testimonial of their
| high appreciation of his brilliant services in
the redemption of the county from radical
rte." What these services were is not
more clearly stated. In June last Dixon
announced himself an independent candi-
date for sheriff of Yazoo county. He was
lnd0rsed by such democrats as eX-Judge Il.
>. Hudson, OF Yazoo City; Major Doherty,
the county treasurer; Prof. Gadberry, long
professor in the medical college at Louis
vile, Ky, and nearly thirty representative
planters and merchants. There was a regu-
lar democratic candidate nominated against
MIN by a convention. EARLY in July regis
tratlon began. number of democrats tried
to prevent the registration of Dixon men.
Some OF these on the last Friday of July col.
lected at the town of Benton, and gave out
| that Dixon was about to assemble large
armed force OF negroes at that point. Pres
emily Capt. Dixon and two friends rode up
10 buggy. He faced the crowd of adversa>
ries, defied them, and returned home Thlth-
er mob followed him, and demanded that
ne should leave the county. never to return.
n fs1 l.. !
to stay the mob, who threatened to burn
their houses and his own. Finally, to save
the property of neighbors, he agreed to with
draw as a candidate. Mississippians who |
knew the man and the region assert that |
personal terror OF Dixon had much to do |
with the opposition to him. He is believed |
to have killed many men, aud it is known
OF him that in 1875, when he was redeeming
the country from radical rule, he on one oc.
casion compelled crowd of negroes to hang
their own leader. He had heard that a
movement was preparing among the negroes
against him, and rode alone on horseback to
the place where the negroes had gathered |
together, carrying a rope over his saddle
bow. When he came upon them he covered |
the leader with his revolver and ordered him |
to step out. The man obeyec. Selecting
four other negroes by name he babe them |
come to him and take the rope which he
gave them. Put it around that man 3 neck
he said. They obeyed. 'Now, then, one of
you 20 up that tree and reeve it over that
bough.' This was done. Now, then, pull
away, you three! The three men pulled,
and upon Dixon's command made the rope
fast when their unfortunate leader was fair
ly swinging in the air. Dixon sat on his
horse cycling the scene until he was satisfied
chat the man was dead, and then. forbid
ding the negroes to cut him down for "a
hours, ordered them to disperse, which they
did. and quietly rode off home.''
The Washington Star of Friday says:
s'The mother and sister Of Henry NJ. Dixon
reside in this city. The brother is a clerk
in the Treasury Department. Capt. Dixon
was boy of fourteen when the war broke
out, and was a student at Georgetown Col
lege. He was induced to run away and join
the Southern army, but was captured after
four months absence and remained neutral
during the remainder OF tue war. He mar
of very wealthy Mississippi planter who
died rot long after this event, leaving his
large plantation in The Yazoo country to
Mrs. Dixon. Young Dixon went there to
live, and has been resident Of Mississippi
for thirteen years. lie kept aloof from poll
tics until 1872. when he organized the rifle !
club and was made captain of the bull
dozers. His experience seems to have dis
gusted him finally, and in 1874 he left the
club. The deceased was son of the late
Maj. Henry Dixon, who was shot and killed ]
in Alexandria about the close of the wa-.''
A Washington dispatch says ''Senator
Lamar was asked for his views, but declined
to give them. He would not be interviewed,
ard had nothing to say about the manner in
which the contest has been carried on in
Mississippi. Besides, he had no information
of Dixon's murder, but believed that when
all the facts were made known, it would not
prove to be a political murder, but the re-
suit OF a street brawl. He abhorred murder
as much as any one, but declined to make
comments upon this affair because he knew .
nothing OF the details, and in this time of
political excitement his words were liable
70 be misquoted and his opinions miscon-
;trued."
James II. Barksda C, who killed Dixon, a
las heretofore borne an excellent reputa- =
ion, and prior to the present campaign the
TWO men were on friendly terms. Banks ,
dale is a nephew of Hon. E. Barksdale,
prominent democratic candidate for the /
United States Senate, editor of the Jackson
Clarion, and chairman of the State execu.
i've committee. He was also a nephew of
Gen.. William Barksdale, distins uished
who who was killed whilst
a Confederate brigade during i.
he late war.