The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-23

Some moments elapsed, the parties still
retaining their relative positions on the
sidewalk, when Butler again raised his
pistol, and placing it against Thompson's
breast, said: Turn me loose or | will
kill you" Beanland then let 90 Thamp-
sons left hand. because" to use his
own language, Il saw that Butler was
going to shoot him." Thompson re-
piled, saying, shoot, YOU" etc.
Butler Immediately fred, the ball, pass
ing through the lower region of Thomp-
sons heart.
Thompson's only remark after the
shot struck him was, Charlie, YOU have
killed me-? Butler held his victim with
his left hand and his pistol with his
right, and eased the dying man TO the
pavement, who, before life left him, and
being sobered by the fatal wound.
breathed fervent prayers for his soul
and for his wife and child, and then
died.
Thompson, it is admitted on all hands,
was unarmed; small pocket-knife, a
few dollars in change, his tobacco, pipe,
memorandum book, and bunch Of
keys We're the only articles found on his
person. Butler Immediately surrendered
himself to another deputy sheriff, and on
the following morning, the 9Th instant,
was indicted for manslaughter by the
Grand Jury then in session, and was adj
mitted to bail by Judge Featherston,
in the sum Of twenty-five hundred dol
lars.
Our informant says the above state
ment is to be received with some grains
ofallowanCe upon only one ortwo points
One is that some Of the witnesses stated
that Thompson was choking Butler with
his left hand when Batter commanded
him to loose him or he would kill him
and called Beanland to assist him in tax
ing this man." This, however, is con
tradicted not only bv the ease with
which Butler could talk, but by numer
GUS eye-witnesses, who said that Thomp
son never, at any time, had his hand on
Buffers throat. Others state thai
Thompson never even had his hand about
| Buffers collar, but only on his sleeve oil
shoulder. 1t was universally conceded
that Butler, who had frequently before
arrested and imprisoned Thompson FOL
violating the city ordinances, could have
done so easily on this last and fatal oc
casion without resort to his pistol, anC
had he said the word being in suprem,
authority at that moment and place, ht
could have had ten, twenty, fifty, or {
hundred men instantly by his side K
bi,y, -, I,a ,,pta1Cos r.
the presence of the Mayor Upon thi
point we inquire: "Had Butler an,
right to make the arrest at all?" FL,
had no warrant, and no breach o
the peace had been committed or threat
ened in his presence. Was he not, there
fore, trespasser Sab initio" upon poo
Thompson? The public of this entir
State win demand q fair trial for tn
slayer, and nothing more, nor will the,
be content, let it be observed, with any
thing less.
Capt Thompson, though Il man o
only forty-one years Of age, had been
leading and prominent Democratic ed
tor for over twenty-threc years in Mis-
sissippi, saving the four years spent il
the Confederate army. He died wit
the harness on as the editor Of the OK
ford Eagle, the recognized orthodo
Democratic paper of Lafayette county
His widow, Mrs. Eliza A. Thompson
and Miss Bruce Thompson, sister G
the deceased, both of whom learned thei
trade as printers under Capt. Thompson
will continue the publication of tn
Eagle, taking it up where the decease
left off.