Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-02-19
The Threatened LymchfRsg 1
apElnKREela.

The Threatened Lymching a.
Springfield.
All of our readers viii remember
the horrible murder Of Mr.. Laprade.
farmer living near Springfield,
Robertson county, in this state,
last fall, by lot OF negroes, the de-
tails Of which are too revolving to
be recounted. Two of the negroes,
Bell and Jamison, were lynched
soon after. and the others, who were
said to be implicated In the murder,
namely: james Higgins, Lock
Mallory, Lum Small, Anthony Duff
fy, James Elder and Robt. Thweat,.
were sent to the Nashville jail for
safe Keeping, until they could have
trial by the circuit court at Spring
field, tears being entertained that if
left in the Springfield jail, they too,
would be lynched by the Infatuated
citizens of Robertsoncounty. How
we'll founded were these fears, the
scene that took place at Springfield,
on last Monday and Tuesday nights
will sufficiently tell. The circuit
court being in session, the prisoners
were taken from the Nashville Jail
Monday morning, by Sheriff Bats,
of Robertson, Acknowledgement b.
d. Bell and ex-State Senator A. E.
Garner, and conveyed to Springfield
for trial by the court.
The following special to the
American, from Springfield, will
tell the tale:
SPRINGFIELD, Feb. 1.-THE pris-
oners arrived from Nashville at ten
O'Clock this morning and were ta-
ken Immediately to the courthouse
where the circuit court was in ses-
sion, Judge Joseph G. Stark, presid-
ing. There was an immense crowd
at the courthouse, an intense inter-
est was manifested in the trial.
The state announced itself ready
for trial, and the defendants asked
whether they had attorneys to de-
lend them. One of them stated that
he had employed Nashville attOr-
ney, who would be out on the after
noon train. The other five prison.
ers replied that they had none, and
Junge Stark appointed Messrs.
Crunk, Hicks, WickmOre, and the
Messrs. West. All the other attOr-
neys at the bar were engaged in the
prosecution. The counsel for the
defense then retired with the pris-
Oners, and, upon consultation, ask
eel for subpHnas for absent witnesses,
three of whom they represented to
be in GAINESVILLE and the others in
this county. They answered that
they would ask no continuance, but
would be ready for trial on WedneS-
day morning, whereupOn the AttOr-
ney General said that he would send
| to GAINESVILLE for the witnesses and
/ have them here tomorrow. The
attorney general, by affidavit, ask
ed for aud obtained an attachment
| for a witness in Nashville. The
court ordered panel of one hun
| dred and seventy men summoned
! for tomorrow morning, and the
prisoners were remanded to Jail.
About 5 O'Clock this afternoon,
Judge Stark received information
that mob would probably attempt
! to take the prisoners to ;night. He
at once telegraphed to the Governor
j for twenty-five or fifty men to pro-
/ tect the prisoners. The Governor re-
piled that the Nashville military
companies would be ordered out.
Sheriff Bats called to his aid all the
men he could obtain, about twelve
or fifteen in number.
About half-past ten tonight some
| twenty-five mounted men rode into
town, coming from the west, and
proceeded TO the Jail. They came
armed with guns, pistols, ETC., and
were evidently bent on taking the
prisoners. They dismuunted and
broke open the Office door, and some
thirty men who were in town went
down toward, but not to the jail.
The mob and citizens were address
ed by Judge Stark and Attorney
GeneI al Bell, who both urged the
| mob to desist, assuring them that
the prisoners should have fair and
impartial trial, and, if found guilty,
should b., punished to the full eX-
| tent of the law. Through their
spokesman the mob said that they
had learned that the murderers
would be granted change of venue
and, if the Judge would promise
| they should be tried here. they
would disperse. Judge Stark repli-
ed that no application for change
I l. u do n
he grant it if made, but that a pam
ell of jurors had been made for the
trial, and an attachment issued for
an important witness. If the wit
ness could be secured, the trial
would be proceeded with to-mOr-
row. The mob then called upon
Judge Stalk to know if they (the
mob) if found out, would be prose-
cuted if found out, to which he re-
piled that he knew none of them,
nor did he want to know any of
them. Acknowledgement Bell then
delivered short speech, in which
he said he would prosecute the pris-
oners with all possible energy.
The mob then mounted their nor
ses and rode off in double file, firing
off their pistols as they left. The
remarks made COZ WINGED those who
heard and saw the mob that it was
composed of men of intelligence
and good citizens.
Upon their arrival here at mid
night the Nashville military pro-
ceeded to the Jail at once, and are
now on guard there. Everything is
quiet at 2 a. m. and no further at
tempt of violence is anticipated to-
night.
The following is how the Nash
vile military companies happened
to be called out:
A dispatch from Judge Stark, at
Springfield, to Gov. Hawkins was
sent from the telegraph Office to
Gov. HAWKINS rooms at the Max
well house but, as he did no come
down from the capitol until after
dark he did not receive the tele-
gram until about 6 p. m. The dis
patch read as follows:
"Please send % or 90 men at once
to protect the prisoners. They are
| to be mobbed tonight. Send an ex-
| ira train. Answer