Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-30
" hite'4 story Of his Crime.

W hite's story of his Crime.
Hayes White was brought to this
city last evening and lodged in the
county Jail during the night. He left
this morning by the early ferryboat in
charge Of officers, for Marion, a large
crowd of curious people following
him to the river. AT Forrest City, on
his way here, a crowd boarded the
train with the intention of lynching
him, but failed in their design, as the
conductor had him locked up safely in
the baggage car. His story is that
after being tried and put under bond
for robbing Trexler's store he asked
to be allowed to go and see his family
and a chance to give bail, but his re-
quests were refused. The guard, Hen
bricks, stopped and got a supply Of
whisky, and at every house they pass
ed, boosted that he was taking a thief
to Jail. The guard continued to pull
at the whisky bottle and abuse him
all along the road. AT last
he (White) grew angry, and
drawing a pistol from his bosom,
placed it against Hendricks, and fired.
Swepston sprang from his horse and
White dismounted, using his horse as
a barricade. Hendricks, who was not
dead, fred at White, and then took
refuge behind a log. White walked
by Swepston, telling him he did not
want to shoot him, and proceeded to
fix the colored guard, Hendricks, for
good and all. He then demanded
SwepstOn's pistol, told him to mount
his horse and go, which he did in a
hurry.
White then went home, and the
next morning, when arranging to
leave, saw Sheriff Beattie and Deputy
Maddox coming and prepared to de-
fend himself. A moment more and
Sheriff Beattie had showed the door
open and snapped his gun at him. The
cap failed, and with Swepston's re-
volver White shot Beattie down, but
says he did not know who it was until
he had done so. He then stepped to
the door and fired at Maddox, who
had his gun in shooting position. He
then skipped, and avoiding the rail-
roads until he got in the neighborhood
of Forrest City, stopped one night
there with a negro preacher named
VIM. Leaving Forrest City Friday
morning, he went through Cotton
Plant, crossed Cache river, and stop
ped at Stewards place neal Augusta,
and was finally captured in hat neigh
borhood.
SAFE IN JAIL.
White arrived at Marion about nine
o'clock this morning, and was landed
within fifty yards Of the Jail. A large
crowd Of spectators had collected to
witness his debarkation. All was
quiet and no demonstration occurred,
nor were there any remarks heard
among the spectators. White went
from the boat to the courthouse
escorted by the officers, and
when arraigned, said he had
no defense to offer, nor did he
care to employ lawyers or legal ad.
visers. The court appointed Colonel
Lyle and George Phelan to defend
him, and set Tuesday next as the time
for his trial. After being arraigned,
White was quietly conveyed from the
courthouse to the Jail and locked up,
no obstruction being offered by the
citizens.
The Indications point to a determi-
nation OH the part Of the populace to
let the law take its course and to give
White a speedy trial.
The colored parson, Vim, who har-
bored White at Forest City, is in Jail
at Marion. He went wei the river
on the early ferryboat at tho same
time with the prisoner, having an APP
pointment to preach there tomorrow
to his colored brethren. He hadn't
read the morning paper, hence knew
nothing of the public report Of his
completely in harboring White until
after the Overton landed at Marion.
The preacher is not likely to hold
forth TO his flock tomorrow.
-@U