The Indianapolis journal., 1884-01-17
The Fear of Death Deters Men from Report
ing Facts Concerning Barbarities In
ficted on the COlOred People.
Vigorous DenunciatiOn of Mr.. Hewitt
by an O'DOnnell Sympathizer.
Slow Progress of Important Measures in Con-
gresS- Sale of Liquor in the Capitol
Other Washington News.
MISSISSIPPI TERRORISM.
A DeplorabIe Condition of Affairs-An Appeal
for Help and Sympathy.

A DeplOrable Condition of Affairs-An Appeal
for Help and sympathy.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON Jan. 16-Letters received in
this city from Mississippi describe the existence
of a condition of affairs in that State which
seems almost incredible. In every instance the
writer's beg that no use may be made of their
names in connection with any publication that
may be made of the facts furnished, because vio-
lence, and perhaps death, would be visited upon
them should they be detected in exposing the
barbarities constantly being practiced in Misss-
sippi upon colored people A gentleman writing
from Jackson under date of Dec. 80, prefaces
his letter with this admonition: II want this
private, for the reason that if you should use
any part of it with the press, my shall
not be made known. Heretofore have not hes
itated to write about affairs here with freedom,
but the situation is now so critical that am
forced, from a sense of duty to my family, to
act with great discretion" Following are ex-
tracts from this gentleman's letter, which, with
the letter from Vicksburg, which follows, fur
nish additional particulars of the recent murders
| in Yazoo:
"You have doubtless been thoroughly informed
of the murder Of j. p. Matthews, and the pro
lQOUlOn OF UD6 murderer TO Ihe ONCE OF town
marshal; the rough riding over the will of the
majority of the voters in the last election in
Madison, and the tragedy of Christmas eve in
Iazoo. Last night that trouble eliminated in
the murder of four of the prisoners, including
| William Foote. The deed was done at o'clock
in the evening, and was accomplished without
any resistance on the part of the sheriff Foote
was shot in his cell. He resisted his assailants
! as they entered, and felled one with hand-iron
wrapped in a towel. He fought like a tiger, but
! finally fell pierced by ten bullets. This mob
was very bitter against FoOte, and were deter
mined to hang him. From trustworthy informa-
| ton, / am convinced Foote had nothing to do
with the killing resulting from the fracas at
| Yazoo, not even being armed on the fatal night.
He was returning from Christmas tree as the
| difficulty began, and vent among the white men
| in the interest of peace. He was knocked down
| with a stick, and shot while down, but not seri-
ously. The man who did the killing was James,
| who was killed the day following in resisting ar
| rest Two of the were hung to the Jail
| wall, and died horrible deaths.
|. Our State government is making strenuous
efforts to induce immigration. The conduct of the
citizens of Yazoo, Copiah and Madison within
the last two months will not serve to induce
many Northern men to settle in a community
| afflicted with such lawlessness as ours is. The
| State government makes effort whatever to
! cheek this condition of affairs. The murder of
these men effectua1ly blots out the last remnant
of Republicanism in Yazoo They were marked
on account of their activity in politics and
pretext was made to murder them. There is no
law here for those who oppose the Bourbon De
Inocracy, and strange as it may appear, we have
those among us calling themselves Republican
who are in constant conference with Bourbon
Democrats, to put down Republicans who
are opposed to Bourbon dominition
/ want to leave here and if l could
dispose of my property would not remain TWEEN
tyfour hours. We don't know where to look for
help or sympathy. The North looks upon us
with Indifference, the Congress Of the United
States is against us, and our condition is indeed
dePlorable."
A letter from Vicksburg, dated Jan. 3, CON
tains the following:
''W. H. Foote was brought from Yazoo here
to be buried by the different lodges. but the cti-
zens of Vicksburg said that they considered it
! an insult to bring Foote here for burial and in
formed members of the Knights of Pythias
Odd d-fellows, and the Masonic order that if they
made a street display they would have a riot,
and that they (the white people would shoot
them while in the funeral procession. A. NJ.
Paxton and others told the colored men that the
white men had two hundred rifles loaded, with
which to prevent the colored men from having
funeral procession of the different orders. In
consequence of these threats it was decided not
to have a funeral procession. Mr. Birchet, the
mayor, and Mr.. Groome, the city marshal, were
among those who circulated among the colored
people delivering these threats. They even
threatened the minister, Elder Caroline and di-
| rected him to be very cautious how he should
speak in the pulpit in regard to Foote's death