The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1881-01-06

PRISON, as he called il, at Jefferson
Indiana, for ninety nine years; tba
Gilmore was an inmate ofthe SAN
prison. but that his (Gilmore's) tern
had nearly expired; that Gilmor
advised Mckanna TO feign insanity
aad thus get himselftransfered 10 thl
lnsane Asylum. itom which he could
more easily escape This he did
and in course Of time succeeded il
having himself transferred, and frou
the Asylum he made his escape
probably the latter part of the last,
Or the frst Of this year; that he and
Gilmore then united their fortunes in
the enterprise Of larceny, burglary
robbery and murder. He states that
in Edgar county. Illinois, of which
Paris is the county site, they went to
house where at the time there were
eight in.1ates, al Of whom we're
4aaies except one, and killed four OF
them who we're below stairs, aud
robbed the house, getting $1,000
then set the house on dre and burned
to death those who were up stairs.
They next vent to Kentucky, where
they robbed Eve houses, killed no
one, and got very litsle money. Then
took the train and went to Nashville; I;
went above Nashville about twenty
miles, where they found a man anu
some young ladies, chlorOformed
them; stole a trunk and got but lit
tie money, They then came down
towards Alabama, passing through
LaWrenceburg, Tennessee, where
they robbed a nan named simmons,
Of few dollars; crossing the Ten
nessee River al Chickasaw, they went
to a store on Bear Creek, belonging
to a man named Williams, which they
rotbed Of about twenty dollars and
some goods They we're pursued,
and made their way down to Bigby
Fork, in this county, where they Eaye
been making their headquarters until
the performance Of the tragedy OF
which the account is given above.
McKanna states that the keeper Of
the Jefferson prison OF Indiana, has
offered a reward Of S400 for bis cap
ture, and that there arc rewards Of
81 900 each for him and Gilmore,
offered In Illinois, when they killed
and burned the eight persons 10 the
house aud got the $4,000 He says
they were attracted to the South at
this time Of the year because they
supposed planters we're selling their
cotton and handling large sums Of
money at lheir homes
This may be taken as warning to
our people not to keep their money
about their houses, and by all means
not to allow these birds Of prey,
who are constantly swooplng down
from Northern sinks OF crime, in the
form Of able bodied tramps, asking
food and lodging in our houses, for
the purpose Of prying into our con-
dition that they may murder and rob
us It is a burning shame on the
police regulations of the State, that
such creatures are not taken up
whenever found, and requi:ed to give
an account Of themselves, or placed
in work houses until they have earn
means enough to transport them
back to their homes. The result Of
our miserable police in that regard,
has cost the county of Monroe a most
worthy and sstimable family, and may
cost us many more. There is scarcely
a day passes that We do not find one
of these fends in the form Of able
bodied mendioants, knocking at our
doors and asking for a meal of
v.esuals; and if denied, leave our
premises with bitter imprecations,
Kissing like hot lead through their
teeth upon the heads Of ourselves or
family, for daring to turn them away
without feeding them. 0ur laws ars
ample to protect US against this class
OF persons, and II those In authority
fail to execute them, are morally PAR
uCEPs cRINuSIs. .insthe outrages per-
pe.rated on in1ividuaIs and society
IN consequence OF their failure to give
protection. ClTIzEN.