Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-14
BLOODY WORK.
Nighthawks slaughter Three
Victims Near Aastin, Miss.

Thomas Conkey and Prince helms
had their Threats cut and were disem-
bOweled on Saturday morning last
between l and 2 am. by a.squad of.
masked murderers on the road be-
tween Benefits Landing and Austin,
Mississippi. They we're in the custody
of three officers of the law at the time,
and were taken 0y force from their
possession, to be left dead by the
roadside, victims to the vengeance Of
their bloodthirsty and merciless slay-
ers.
The circumstances, as far as can be
ascertained, are about as follows: On
Thursday last, a man named Armi-
stead, whose relative was some time
since murdered in DeSoto county,
Mississippi, near Horn Lake, by a
negro named Ed helms, and for which
the latter is now in Jail at fernando,
Mississippi, appeared at Austin
and made affidavit that Conkey and
Prince helms were accessory to the
murder of Armistead. A warrant for
their arrest was issued and placed in
the hands Of Deputy Sheriff j. Jones,
WHOM company with Chas. Bowen and
Mr.. Gray, as special deputies, started
for Benefits landing, twenty tive
miles distant on Friday, to execute
the arrest. Conkley and helms reside
near Benefits, and they qnietly sub
nitted to arrest, starting on horse
back with the officers on Friday even
ing.
While on the way, and some time
fter midnight. a dozen or more mask
ed men emerged from the woods
took possession of the prisoners, and
proceeded to slaughter them in th,
most barberous and uumerciiql man
er. First cutting their threats, til,
ictims were then slashed across ii.
wells crosswse and were thus le
by the roo dside. Cobkley was a much
liked old darky, formerly Of Lagrange,
Tenn, and nc stood we'll with all
classes, white and black, in the neigh
borhood where he resided. He leaves
a family to mourn his bloody and and
unexpected taking of. The other vic
tim had no family it is said.
The motive for the murder is sup
posed to De an effort to avenge the
recent assassination of Rufus Arm
stead, manager for Mr.. Ed. Hart, near
Horn lake. The assassin was captured
in the vicinity of Benefits landing,
and its Is possible hat he
may have been harbored or
fed by Prince helms and Tom Con
key. Much excitement prevails in
the vicinity Of Austin and Bennet's
landing, among both white and black
people. The latter are huddled to-
gether in communities, all much fright
ened, many have quit work and talk
of leaving the county. A meeting Of
white and black citizens of Austin
was held yesterday and the bloody act
of the nighthawks was denounced in
unmeasured terms. Strenuous efforts
are in progress to discover the per.
petrators, and various personsare sus-
pected of having a hand in it. 1t is
reported that the murderers have
threatened to kill j. P. Thurman, Mr..
Harklerodes and DR.. Holloway citi-
zens of the vicinity, because they
we're friendly to the murdered men.
On yesterday an inquest was held
on the body, said to be. of Ed helms,
found with a rope around his neck
and lying dead in the woods on the
road between Horn Lake and Her.
nando. The jury pronounced the man
not Ed helms, though he bore a
resemblance to him. Ed Nelns, an
uncle Of the man of the same name,
who killed Rufus Armstead, was ar
rested on Friday or Saturday last, and
while on the way to Jail at fernando,
was taken from the officer or officers
by masked men, similar to the man
ner that Conkey and Prince helms
we're. 1t is rumored that more than
one was killed by this band. The
information regarding this last tragedy
is meagre, though it occurred only a
|, short distance from this city. 1t is
: evident that the bloody avengers Of
/, Armstead do not expect to stop their
work Of human slaughter until the
last person who had the slightest
knowledge of that affair is numbered