The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-10-09
THE STANDARD.
THURSDAY, - OCT. 9, 1879.
From the n. Y. Tribune.l
HkemDer'S best Citizeuc 8,

MISS, nave been acquitted. They
killed man, shot his helpless dauoh-
ter, murdered his baby boy, and still
the law has no terrors for them. They
are still the best citizens Of Kempe1
county"
The testimony Of the wife. who
vainly tried with rare courage and
good sense to save the murdered man.
IS told to-day in our columns, as she
left 1t for The Tribune, in ease she did
not live to tell it under oath. That
she IS woman OF more than ordinary
intelligence her testimony shows. and
the events of which she speaks are 50
| tragic and terrible that no one can
imagine that she erred from lack Of
memory. What loving woman would
not remember to her death every de-
tail of such a horrid scene ? 1t was
told with simplicity but with earnest
ness, and kemper's best citizens, seat
ed IN the jury-box, heard it without a
shadow of disbelief. They voted to
| acquit the murderer, nevertheless but
that was ito save the party"
The testimony Of Mrs. Chisolm, it
should be said at the outset, disposes
of all the stories which were set afoot
as excuses by the men who murdered
her husband. She testifes with great
precision of detail as to the presence
OF Mr.. Chisolm at home, at the time
John Gully was killed, and proves that
he had no connection with the killing.
She shows, too, that an attempt had
previously been made to take her hus-
bands life, and that the very men who
afterward murdered him admitted to
her that the stories upon which the
false arrest was made were utterly un-
founded and unworthy of belief. The
names OF witnesses were falsely affix-
ed to the affidavits upon which the az
rest was based, and the arrest itself, it
IS on ly too evident, was merely the
preparation for most cruel and infa-
nous massacre. Said one of the wit
nesses, Henry Gully was in command
that day, and whomever he said kill
would be killed" A great many shots
were fired, for the ''best citizens of
kemper" were such contemplate cow
ards that they could not even commit
dastardly murder without shooting
some women and children by the way;
but the mob did as Henry Gully or
dered, and he has been triumphantly
acquitted by "Kemper's best citizens.T
1t IS not easy to speak calmly Of the
scene which occurred in the jail of
kemper county. Men and women
who want to understand the Solid
South should read the testimony for
themselves, carefully, thoughtfully
and patiently. 1t will bring tears. if
a reader has not heart Of stone: bat
members Of the jury shed tears when
they listened to it, and then went out
and voted to acquit the murderer. be-
cause it would hurt the Democratic
party to have him convicted. There
are not many counties, let us hope, in
which exactly such a scene would have
been possible. The Sheriff was the
mere tool Of the mob. The guards. |
chosen by the victim himself, in the
hope that some lingering human feel
ing might prompt them to do their
luty, kept their guns loaded until
they could empty them into the pris-
3ner they had undertaken to defend. |
Men who had eaten bread with Judge
Jhisolm, and who had lived upon his |
bounty, We're foremost among his
nurderers. Said his heart-broken
wife, Hin Arab of the desert would
'efuse to stab a man whose salt he
lad tasted" But these were not
Arabs of the desert. They were the
best citizens Of Kemper county"
In some countries men are consid-
red below the beastsif they are guilty
Il cruelty to an innocent woman. If I
he IS helpless, what man would not
etend her But the best citizens
t ktemper county not only emptied
heir guns into the arms and then in
o the body Of the brave little boy
7ho tried vainly to defend his father:
hey not only emptied their shot into
he sweet face and soft arms of the
oving daughter who tried to plead for
er father IN vain; but after that
ather was murdered, "the best citi-
ems Of Kemper county" still had loads
their guns, and emptied them into
le limbs of the helpless and fainting
aughter as she lay by the body of her !
wing father. (
This is chivalry. Yes, men of the c
orth, this is the Solid South Look q
1t. The spectacle is not pleasant
le. But it is high time that human
9mgs and hyenas should not meet at ,.
le ballot-box without knowing each
her. Ii we are to share the Govern \
ent of this country with the crea- .
res who call themselves ''the best !,
lzens OF Kemper county," it is T T
orth while a. least to know enough !
them to vote against them. If
ere IS a chance-even the faintest W
ance-that creatures like these, who G
n be found in every county Of the Al
lid South, are to become rulers of Il
IS country, is it not time for civil
ID and decent men to vote them
Wn, OF to get out Of the country as r.
e would flee from jungle infested :.
tigers? The comparison is unjust. ~ ~
gers never lived in Indian jungle so Il Ii
lei, so beastly and so brutal as ''the - -
st citizens of Kemper county" 4, H.