Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-01-10
THE YAzOO CITY TRAGEDY.


The preliminary trial of the perpetrators
of the bloody tragedy Monday night was
set for to-day-B. Prewitt, Williams,
Thornton & Williams. and w. A. Henry
for the prosecution; E. Dienning for the
defense. A motion by the defense for con-
Linuance for thirty days resulted in the
postponement until Tuesday.
This postpoAement intensified the excite
ment that prevailed, and it became evident
to every one familiar with the facts in the
case that the delay had not added to the
length of days the four miserable wretches
had to live. Notwithstanding the fact that
the citizens at their meeting had resolved
to allow the law to take its course, the
facts in the case were so plain that it was
considered that the trial could be nothing
more than mere formality. Though the
surface excitement had subsidized somewhat
since Monday, the deep-seated determine
ton of the people to inflict punishment on
the perpetrators of the tienGiSh act re-
manned.
The coroner's jury, after fou, days. in
vestigation, found that the two Poseys and
Nichols came to their death by murder;
that the instruments used were guns and
pistols, in the hands of Bob Swayze, Mica
jah Parker, Richard Gubbs, w. H. Fcote,
Henry Schiller and Octavius Thomas, prin-
cipals. Emanuel Stevens, Lewis Carter,
Mitchell Brooks, Jr., Jim Grubb, Ras Kel-
ly, accessories, and other parties to the
jury unknown, were implicated; all ne
grOes.
The announcement of this verdict seemed
to arouse the feeling that had apparently
subsidized, and fan the smouldering embers
into flames. These flames were augmented
by the talk of friends and relatives of the
victims of Mondays bloody work into a
perfect fury by the time it was given out
that there had been postponement of the
preliminary trial.
About this time report was circulated
that Fritz Holder, who was shot Monday,
had died. This report was changed later
to statement that he was dying. This
added fuel to the flames. The cry for ven
geance went out from many threats. The
report of the pOStpOnement together with
the news that another name had been or
would soon be added to the death list went
out into the country, and this evening men
from the country began coming into town
with cool, quiet determination written on
their faces, and the same was observed of
many tOWnsmen.
About seven O'Clock the crowd began to
form on Main street, and to the number of
about two hundred they marched through
the middle of the streets to the jail, where
they entered through the gates. The keys
were demanded of the jailer, and were
promptly handed over, and he was ordered
| to retire to his home, which he did.
The crowd then entered and proceeded to
| the cell of w. II. FOOte. The door was
| forced open, and as one Of the crowd en-
tered he was struck by Foote with an and
| iron from the fireplace wrapped in a towel,
| and knocked down. At this moment firing
commenced and Foote was instantly killed,
being riddled by more than dozen bullets.
| Robert SWayZee, another OF the murdererS,
| was taken from his cell, q rope placed
| around his neck, and he was thrown over
| the fence and hung. They then proceeded
| to the cell in which Richard Gibbs was in.
carcerated, but could not open the do rs
with the keys. Gibbs appeared at the graf
| ing of his cell, and, on being perceived,
| was riddled with shot, and rope passed
| into his cell, which was placed around him
| by his cell mate. He was tden dragged out
| and hung from the outside of the building.
| The crow then proceeded upstairs to Mica
| jah Parker's cell. He was taken out, a
| rope placed around his neck, and in the
! balcony of the middle corridor of the Jail
| he was hung, the body hanging over the
balcony. After this the crowd quietly dis
| persed. During the afternoon all places OF
| business and bar-rOOmS were closed.
! That the world may know just why this
| great tragedy was enacted here tonight a
| condensed statement of the fiendish work
! done by the crowd Of negroes, of which the
! four killed to-day were the ringleaders is
given.
The affair occurred last Monday night at
| about ten o'clock. Three men in the prime
/ and vigOr of young manhood were shot down
| like dogs, and two others, also in the prime
| Of life, were seriously, one of them prOba-
| bly, mortally, wounded, all by negroes.
| Those killed were John 7. and Carnot Po-
sey, brothers, and Jasper Nichols, the two
former being merchants and the latter
| steambOatman. The Poseys were sons of
| the late General Posey of Confederate
| fame, gallant and brave officer who fell
on the battlefield at the head of his COM
| mand.
| Nichols was not so we'll known in town
| but leaves a most excellent reputation as
| young man of sterling worth, of industri-
Gus and sober habits. He leaves a father
! and other near relatives.
! The wounded are Fritz Holder and Henry
! Elicit; the former is County Treasurer, the
| latter a general merchant. The shot struck
! Mr.. Holder on one of the lower ribs and
came out at his back, but whether it ranged
| round or penetrated the cavity is not
known now. Mr.. Elicit is shot in several
| places in the side and in the arm. 1t is re-
| ported tonight that Holder will probably
| die. w. H. FOote, Deputy Internal Reve-
nue. Collector for this district, who is a mu-
! lattO, was also wounded in the head, being
| beaten thereon with a stick.
| The killing occurred in this way: While
| Mr.. John Posey were passing a butcher
| shop on Jefferson street, kept by a man
named Lynch, some negroes, among them
John James, we'll known in this city who
| killed colOred man here some years ago
and robbed another, and was fugi-
tive from justice, threw some fire.
crackers in front of Posey. Posey
demonstrated and told him to be care
! full. He was then grossly insulted and
threatened with personal violence by
| James. POsey then went away in search
of some of his friends, and the negroes,
| who had secreLed arms in Lynch's butcher
shop, obtained them, and, on the appear
Rnce of POseY and his friends, opened fire on
them in the dark, Kidding John and Carnot
| Posey and a young man named Nichols
| with bucEshOt, instantly killing them and
seriously wounding Fritz Holder and Henry
| Elicit.
Several arrests were made as follows:
| A. Lynch (white), owner OF the but her
| shop, as &C essory before the fact; w. B.
Foote, Micajah Parker, Bob Swayze, j. K.
Richardson, Wash Hail, Octavus Thomas.
! Henry Schulet and Jim Gibbs, all colored.
! Other arrests will be made. John James,
! the cans of the tragedy. who was q deSper.