Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-09-01
Re-Opening of the Political Murder
Season in the South.

The real truth about the pretended plot of
the negroes of Choctaw county Ala, to mas
sacre the white residents is beginning to
come to light, and the murder of Jack Turn
err, the alleged leader of the negro conspira-
tors, appears to have been one of the most
dastardly of political crimes, of a type which
it had been hoped would not soon recur in
the South According to the story, as tel
egraphed North, evidence had been discover
ed Of q negro plot formed four years ago,
and embracing as many as four hundred con-
spirators, the object of which was to MUIR
der all the white residents on the 18th of
September next. That the negroes should
have formed such plot, that they should
have been able to keep it secret for four
years, and that they should have put their
scheme on paper, formed succession of i'm
probabilities which were simply grotesque
Yet this was the story, gravely put forward
on the strength of which Jack Turner and six
other negroes were arrested ON the 18th of
August charged with being ringleaders in
the plot. On the 10Th about a thousand men
assembled at Butler to decide what should
be done with the prisoners. The result is
described by the Merden Miss. Mercury as
follows
"a proposition was submitted to the meeting to
take Jack Turner the leader from the ail and hang
him there and then, and It was decentiy considered
and debated pro and con, every daring to speak
out his mind, and then voted on. Out OF between
600 and 700 votes given on the question: about 200
against the proposition. The ma ority
sdered to rule, and the chairman announced that
Jack Turner was found guilty. The document found
at Aliens mill was read to the assembled multitude
for information and evidence of guilt. CorrobOrat-
ing evidence obtained from the Rev Willis Ly-
man, who recognized the writing. He the Gus
todian of it, and had lost 1t. He said he employ
ed by the association to for to be ad-
ded to it, and was on his last round. He was paid by
the society so cents day for that service and was
hiring himself to farmers the while for so cents
day Upon this finding of the people the chairman
Immediately proclaimed the death sentence on Jack
Turner, and detailed a committee Of twenty-four to
execute the sentence"
The committee attended to its work quick
ly. The account of the Mercury proceeds
"The hangman's moose was decently adjusted and
time given for prayer Jack did the praying for him
self and prayed eloquenty to God for Christs sake,
that moment to receive his soul in heaven. The
gy moved from its place and Jack Turner dropped
several feet His feet touched the ground from the
stretch Of the rope Men quickly mounted the tree,
united the rope and heavy strong men pulled on the
end of 1t and raised the limp, dangling form little
so that IL could swing more comfortably 1t is belev
ed that the precauton was needless 1t is thought
the neck was broken by the fall, and instantaneous
death ensued. His last requests were to have his
body decently buried at Mount Sterling and that his
wife would come to him and kiss him one time more.
The committee waited little, but the wife could not
be found and Jack had to 60 without the last tender
kiss And thus died Of the worst of his race that
ever lived in Choctaw county-a bold, bad man, too
| dangerous to be let live 4 day longer"
This diversion did not content the crowd,
| who proceeded to torture the other six ne
| groes;
| Jacks captains were more or less scourqed. One
| treated to the indignity of being hung up by
big toe and terribly tortured Still he refused to
'squeal They all prefer death to giving up the Fe-
cret it is morally certain they carry with them"
The Mercury concludes its account with q
compliment to the citizens of Choctaw coun-
| ty for their moderation" which it declares
to be "a marvel and above all praise"
If nothing more were known than the
above account, given by paper fully in
sympathy with tho murderers, it would be
clear enough that tho pretended plot was
only pretext for killing a negro who was in
the way. But Mr.. George Turner, lawyer
of Montgomery county, Ala, who knew this
victim of the Choctaw county mob, says thai
he was a negro without education but Of
great natural force of character, who had
been chairman of the Republican county
committee and had worked so zealously il
the canvas preceding the election of August
9TH as to bring the Bourbons near defeat
More than this, he had appeared last year al
witness against one Carnathan, a promi
nent Choctaw county Democrat, who haC
terribly whipped q negro in his employ
named Manning, for voting the Republican
ticket in November, 1880. The Bourbons
having now a close Congressional canvass OF
their hands in the First Alabama District
seem to have thought it good chance to gel
rid of strong opponent and to strike terro
into the negro majority by connecting THU
story of a negro plot and killing Jack Turner
| 1t was wicked business, and it goes to show
that the Southern Democrats are ready at tn,
shortest notice to revert to their old bruta
methods of carrying elections. OF course i
is useless to hope for justice for his murder
ers from the state courts. The Federal court
cannot take cognizance of the crime unles
it can be connected with Federal election
But when the Bourbon member of the mex
Congress from the First Alabama Distrio
takes his seat it will be in order for tn
House of Representatives to order an inquir
into the methods by which his election wa
secured.