Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-22
Injustice TO Heck Giles.


EDITOR INTELLIGENCER-A few DAYS ago
there appeared in the Memphis APPEAL an
article in reference to The past history, cap
ture and imprisonment of Mr.. Heck Giles.
As the article does very great injustice to
Mr.. Giles's character, aud may do him con-
siderable harm in his corning trial, hope
you will publish this letter, and trust that
the Memphis APPEAL will give equal pub
licity to this that it dad to the aforesaid erro-
neous report. In the frs place Mr.. Giles never
was a moonshiner in any senssof the word he
was never in his life engaged in the manu-
facture or sale Of whisky, either legally or
illegally, fact that can be established by
fifty or more as reliable men as there are in
Henry county. He was raised upon farm
six miles from Paris, and nsver in his life
followed any business but farming, with the
exception Of 8 few trips made South with
tobacco. l know positively that he never
was in the "mountsins of Ess! Tennessee"
and did not know, so far as | know,
anyone who lived there. He never
accumulated considerable property" in
any way, but was raised a poor
boy, and when be lett this country did not
own a loot of land, and did not have as
much personal property as the law allowed
him. La References 10 Killing Deputy Mar
shall Torbelt | will say that the recount
SlfOh III iut hfIEAL Is l%i6c III
every particular. Instead of the killing of
Torbett being ga cold booded murder" /
venture the assertion that jury of twelve
impartial men, after hearing the facts in
the case, would render verdict of iusti-
fable homicide. Mr.. Giles at the time of
the killing announced his willingness at any
time 10 be tried by jury OF his countrymen
l could give you ali he fsc.s in the case but
do not deem it necessary, as it will perhaps
soon become matter of judicial iuvestiga-
ton. "a dozen men like dragons Teeth
sprsng up from the bushes" is about as III
terly false as anything could be. There
were no bushes within 500 yards of the
house, and no men were present at
the time of the killing except the
writer and one neighbor. Some men
who were going to church arrived soon
alter the difficulty and carried Mr.. Torbett
from whsre he lay in the yard aad placed
him on bed in Mr.. CHESS house. Mr..
Alexander left Mr.. Giles's house Of his
own accord, and was not molested by any
one. II Mr.. Giles had been the desperate
smuggler and mooushiner the APPEAL
would have the public believe, he could.
easily have killed Mr.. Alexander, and
would have done 80, as Mr.. Alexander had
been trying 10 kill him. Will say 10 con-
clusion that Heck GILES sustains as good a
character for industry, sobfiety, and all
qualities that constitute a good citizen as
any man in this comfy. OSCAR GILES.
The writer OF the above, Mr.. Oscar Giles,
is one OF cur beat end most reliable citizens,
and We would INTERESTINGLY beIieve any
statement he would make.
F. F. Porter, NJ. D., NJ II. Freeman, Sheriff,
R. Blakemore, z. H. Mills
4. H. Taylor. J. P, w. A. Dunlap Attorney,
]. s. Dawson, james 5. Alden,
w. A. Hill, S. Mellon ex-Mayor,
W. &. Collier, W. L. Covington
J, M, Corun, N. D., II. q. LeFils, Mayor,
J. K. Crosswcll, Register.