The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-09-27
a Cons aunfcasfoa From Col. w.
Calvin Wells

LAW lO minus. As JnaJ article
places me in a false attitude | take
the Liberty of addressing you on
the subject. My connection with
that matter has been entirely mis-
conceived by your informant. |
will proceed t. state in detail the
part played in that affair
When the two men bad been cap
tured, arrested under warrant aud
brought TO my Mill near where the
gCave had been robbed, the husband
and fathcr-in-law of the lady whose
grave had been robbed, were there
with their feelings narrowed as no
man can POSSIBLY fully appreciate
unless he could be rlaced in the
same situation. These men were
armed and their outraged feelings
urged them to rush upon the negroes
and shoot them until they were
dead. / had but little acquaintance
with these two men. Some OF their
most intimate friends came to me
and requested me to talk to them
and advise them not to kill them.
Ny limited acquaintance with them
caused me at first to decline TO adj
wise them; but as my friends insisted
privately stated to them that they
would certainly get themselves into
trouble if they did it. They made
no reply, but my friends told me
that at first they were enraged at
the advice | had given them, but,
upon reflection, they determined to
leave these men in the hands Cf the
large body of citizen already congre-
gated there. Some of these citizens
cnuuired of me whether or not they
could be hurt if the citizens en- mdSSe
should take them and hang them.
| replied by relating an incident that
occurred with my regiment in the
army. | told those who were il
conversation with me that If they
,rere determined to Kill them, then
thought it best for them to send for
a magistrate, let the negroes have
fair trial before him, let al the
facts be developed and ascertain
certainly who We're the guilty par
ties, and then # they rere determin-
ed to kU them, they could do so
after the officer had started to Ray
mond. But by all means if they did
kill them to take them and hang
them with as much order and de
cGrum as a sheriff would do under
a sentence ofthe Court; and that if it
was done that the very best citizens
do it. My advice prevailed, a magis-
trate was scnC for, and about the time
the trial began took the train for my
home at Raymond. At that time
there was another negro under arrest
for the same offence, one of the two
having stated that this third man
had assisted in the theft. What oc-
CURED subsequent to that | do not
know personally, but am informed
that the third man, on the invcstiga-
ton, was released The Deputy
Sheriff started With the two men
and when he had gone about a half
mile, the negroes were taken from
him and as they were fixing the rope
around the younger mans neck, he
resisted made an effort to escape and
was shot. The other man was hung
TO a limb. On the trial, they con
fesscd all, and had in their posses
sion part Of the bones Of the
woman sawed or broken into short
pieces in bags for conjuration, as
they stated. 1t is not tue that |
advised the killing Of these men.
My advice, in my opinion, saved one
man. That crowd did not seek adj
vice as to the advisability of killing.
Their minds were made up as to
that, and all that | might have said
against j. would have been Of no
avail.
1t is true that l was a member of
the Democratic Executive Commit
tee of Kinds county, from 1879 to
1877 and took an humble part in the
management of that campaign, and
| have no apologies to make for it.
But what conceivable connection
that can have with this transaction
| am unable to conceive. Certain it
is the Democratic party is not
responsible for what did the even
ing that transaction took place.
do not consider my connection with
that matter ''shamefu!," as you put
it, but in the highest degree honor.
able So far rs my being legally
and morally responsible for the blood
Of these men" | stand ready to an
swer both to my country and my
God for that charge. | am glad
you feel called upon to assist Judge
Wharton in preserving the laws OF
the country. Should YOU desire t.
go before the grand jury, beth you
and your informant, stand ready
to applaud you and hm for your
noble conduct in thu, seeking tc
bring me to justice. w"s born and
raised in this county, anG | feel nc
hesitancy in placing IN, life ant
honor in the hands of her people.
Not content with holding me N
TO your readers as q murderer e.
postal of inquiry could have secured
you all the facts in forty-eight
hours) }, you take occasion to express