Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-29

dVVudiuOduCtb VI ANCtuoi olbO OaAiou ~
the stationhouse and asked permission
to view the remains.
soLD HIS FARM.
Some days ago the father Of the
dead murderer sold his farm, a quarter
section of land situated two miles from
the river, near Norfolk. in Desoto
county, Miss. The purchaser was
Mr.. j. T. La Prade, a popular citizen
Of Stsr Landing, and on Thursday
last that gentleman paid its former
owner $3.50 in cash for the realty sub
ject to a previous mortgage upon it.
Nelms' father went down the river
from this city last Tuesday to close up
his interests in tho old homestead.
Mr.. w. IL. Rawlings, an officer con-
nected with the jail at Senatobia, ar
rived in the city this morning and
identified the body Of helms. Jim
Riley arrested at the time helms was
killed, is the latter's uncle by mar
riage. He claims that he had been
advised of Nelms' probable coming
some days ago, and he expected him to
arrive by the NJ. &C. railway.
At the time helms escaped from the
Senatobia prison a few nights since,
four other prisoners got away. One
named Jim Morris cold, was recap
tured and returned to his former
quarters. Morris was under a charge
of horse stealing. Another
Of the escaped prisoners
named Lewis Flower, charged with
petty larceny, was also retaken here a
day or two since. 1t was from these
that Captain Davis a~scertained, or sur
missed, that helms would be harbored
in this city, perhaps by his mother,
who lives at the house of a Mr.. Ba-
con, on Alabama street, in the south
ern part Of the city.
One of the colored jurors who
served at the time helms was last
convicted, called at the station house
this morning and recognized his re-
mains.
NFTMs' CRIME
was the killing Of Mr.. Rufus ARMS
tead, manager on the plantation Of
Mr.. Ed Hart, fourteen miles south Of
this city, on the evening of May 9th,
1880. The act was committed about 6
o'clock, just after dark. While
Armistead was on his way from the
stock lot to the house, helms, from an
ambush, shot him just as he passed
through the gate, the load tearing his
stomach f~earfully. and causing death
in a few hours. Armistead had moi
done injury to helms, and indeed did
not know him helms had been em-
ployed by Mr.. Hart in person that
very day to do farm work, and had
hardly spoken to Armistead. he eyi.
IDENTIFY hired himself to Mr.. Hart with
the intention of killing Armistead, as
it was proven in trial that he had saic
he would have the blood of an ARMS.
tead if he had to kill a child to &C.
complisb his end.
helms escaped at the time
but was subsequently captured in thu
cane brakes Of Tuniea county, aftcl
having been closely pursued for sew
eral days by dogs and men. He wa.
in a half-starved condition and prett,
well tagged out when taken. Severa
colored men who harbored helms il
that vicinity were afterwards murder
ed by unknown persons, said to havl
been masked at the time, and tn
story is current that two Of tb,
slaughtered men we're tied to To
backs of their animals, will
their stomachs upward, and thei
bowels we're ripped open with butcher
knives. The perpetrators of these al
legged diabolical acts have never beer
brought to justice.
After Nelm's arrest he was tried
convicted, and sentenced to be hung
His case was appealed to the Suprem,
Court, which tribunal remanded i
for a new trial. At the second tria
he was again convicted and sentenced
The day arrived for his execution
and when the morning of it came,
telegram from Jackson, Miss, an.
nounced that the Supreme Court hat
again interfered, causing a stay 0
proceedings and a postponement Of thr
hanging until the technicalities OF tn,
trial could be decided on.
Meantime the friends of Nelm
busted themselves in his favor, and
few weeks ago his jailer awoke to FIN,
that he and four other prisoners ha,
escaped in the darkness of the night
while he slumbered aud dreamed.
INQUEST.
Equire Quigley held an inquest a
IL o'clock on the body Of Nelms
Nearly an hour was occupied in hear
ing testimony, the following witnesse
being examined: Captain Pat Hack
EFT, Isaac Riley, A. Bodkin, Chief W
G. Davis, John Armistead and W. II
Rollins, jailcr Of DeSoto county
Mississippi. Their testimony wa.
substantially the same as published.
Drs. Williford and Marable examine,
the wound, and gave it Jas their opinion
that helms must have been standiDI
with his breast straight toward tn
Chief and his head turned a little I,