Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-07
SHAW AS GUILTY
As the Peer, PeBniless Assassin, Sim
mons, OF the Murder OF Gen.
Ticker, and 1t Would BE
A Shame and Disgrace TO Our CiviliZa-
tiOn 10 Hang Him and Let the
Older Criminal Escape.

The Okslona Messenger reports that after
eighteen months Of doubts and fesrs, patient
| search and earnest investig alton, the mystery
which surrouded the terrible tragedy that
closed the life Of one of our purest and best
citizens, he's been unshIouded. The tangled
| thread which for many weary months the
| bravest aud best among US were striving to
unravel, with apparently little or no success,
has at last been Strengthened out, and there
| no longer remains a reasonable doubt in the
| mind Of any unprejudiced individual in this
| community az to how the gallant Tucker
came to his death on that dark and gloomy
| night in SspleD Der, 1881. At the conclusion
of the trial Of Matt Simmons, one of the con-
spiritors, which lasted nine days, jury Of
! twelve intelligent white men returned YER
dict Of
GUILTY As CHARGED IN THE INDICTMENT"
within less than half an hour after the case
is submitted 10 them, aud this TOO in the face
of the fact that the prisoner defended BY
the "ablest criminal lawyer in the State"
As we have said, the testimony on behalf of
the State was overwhelming and conclusive
"beyOnd q reasonable doubt" and il is no re-
Election upon the distinguished counsel for
the de -endant, that the jury decided 80 read
lily. The trial OF Simmons developed the
fact "beyond a reason bile doubt" that Smith
Shaw desiring, Guiteau would say, ITO
remove" Gen. Tucker, who, he said, was both
lawyer ard witness against him in the suit
which he SHAW bad brought against Marx
Harris for Islander, did employ Matt Sim
mons to commit the dsstsrdly deed, and that
SMITH SHAW AND DICK SHAW
did accompany Simmons TO the scene of the
tragedy on the night of the l4th of Septem-
Der. 1t was in proof, outside of Simmons
IL.
toward okolons on that evening, and that
Smith Shaw was seen before day on the
morning OF the 18th returning to his home
| from the direction of Okolona. Shaw's
| overtures to Simmons TO commit the deed
| we're proven by the State independent of the
confession, and threats that he had made
| against Gen. Tucker were drawn out OF two
| of the defendants witnesses on cross. exami-
nation. 1t wac proven bv witness put 90
the stand sy the defense that Dick Shaw was
at the house OF Henry Rawles, in Lee county
on the night of the 18th, and that he iu-
formed the family of
GEN. fuckers ASSASSINATION,
aud detailed the mannfr Of his killing
| Shortly after the assassi lation, Simmons was
| shown 10 be lying out in the Bigbee bottom
and the testimony OF two witnesses, lone for
| the State and the other called for the defense
was to the effect, that he (Simmon,) was
| restless and uneasy, and that he asked at the
supper table il they had heard of the death
Of Gen. Tucker. Being answered in the
| affirmative, he stated that he h ed been on
the scout for few days keeping out of the
way of the grand july (Which was in session
for The TWO weeks succeeding the week Gen
Tucker was killed. bees use he was suspected
| Of having something to do with his murder,
or OF knowing { )methiDg about it. Both
| Simmons aud Dick Shaw were Shown TO be in
| possession of new Smith & Wesson thirty
two caliber pistols, aud the ball extracted
| from
THE BODY OF THE MURDERED MAN
was Of that sizs aud character. These and
many osher incidents were proven which
| corroborate the Voluntary confession made BY
Simmons % C)l. Reynolds and Capt. Sykes
i while in the Aberdeen Jail, TO which he wat
consigned in default OF fine imposed by the
mayor OF Smithvile fof car ying conce alec
weapons. The prosecution was ably man
aged, and all the importan: facts bearin:
upon the case Were brought out. Judge
Buchanan msuifestsu the utmost fairness
and impsrtialily anu the cesrest conception
of the law in deciding the many intricate
questions which a. ose during the progress
OF the trial, and in his charges TO the jury
the defe .dants attorneys displayed Yea
and ability in behalf of
THE PRISONER,
which, though succe3sfuI, mark them a
more than ordinary nsn; but the lively
good and true men who coat .uted the iur
deserve the highest con mend -tioh for thei
patient attention inteliiye gent dissection of III
great mass Of ;eEtimony spread out befor
them, and The CO iscientious discharge of a
unpleasant duty. The jury say Simmons
guilty Of murder, and he is, but he canno
be guilty alone. There are others, If posi-
Die, more guilty than he is; and they shout
be incsrcerated in Jail until a jury OF thei
peers pass upon their guilt and the coul
pronounce the sentence. The ends of justic
cannot be met while tie S avs run at larg,
1t would be a shame and disgrace to GU
civilization to hang the poor devil Simmon
whose pove. v q taken advantage of, al
whose cupidity was worked upon by an oldG
villain, and allow Smith Shaw and Die
Shaw to escape punishment because the
have money and influential friends. The
should swing from the same gallows, ell
mercy is shsmed and instica ia cheated