The Red Cloud chief., 1884-06-13
Copiah County Justice.


Nobody, we presume. is surprised at
the verdict of the jury which acquitted
E. b. Wheeler of the murder OF j. r.
Matthews at the polls in Copiah
County. Mississippi. on election day
last November. 1t was evident from
the beginning that the trial was to
be Il f~arrical p~retenSe. the conclusion OF
which had been predetermined. 1t was
simply 4 burleSque upon the admins
tration of Justice, and an insult not only
to the family of the dead man but TO
the conscience OF the Nation. The
crime committed by Wheeler was en-
acted in broad daylight. witnessed by =
considerable number of persons. openly
avowed by the offender. and the whole
community recognized him Is the per-
petrato:. In short. there was no secret
about it. no attempt 1T concealment-
1t had confesSedly no justification what
ever except the fact that Matthews pre-
sumed to exercise his rights rs q citizen
to vote. alter having been forbidden to
do so by an irresponsible body of Bolr-
bon Democrats. which. in anticipation
OF his diSobedience had appointed
Wheeler rs his contingent executloner.
1t was not asserted, even, that
Matthews had done, or intended to do,
ANYTHING unlawful. He sought To in
~teriere with no man rights or priv
leges. and demanded only that his own
should be respected, but made no eXhi-
bitiOn of turbulence by way of self
v~indication. He merely went to the
polls and voted. and was instantly shot
I.nI IN fIn p,a-annn o. tho ..lp.tInn 0ttI-
Ger, and other persons standing about
Ii was n bu>ineSs-like performance
which exc ted no surprise on the part
of the Bo rbon Democrats present. and
no excitement followed. The corpse
WAS removed and the voting proceeded.
all on one side OF course. until the time
arrived for closing the polls. Wheeler.
the murderer, STAYED around. shotgun
in hand. entirely unconcerned. He
finally told the Coroner what lie had
done. and that official considerably de-
termined 10 spare the county the eX-
pen>e of an inquest. inSomuch Is moth
ing could be learned in regard to the
ease beyond what everybody knew
on 4 public meeting of Bourbon
Democrats was held and duly set the
seal of its approval upon the deed
Nothing more was deemed necessary.
The .'best citizens of Copiah County
had spoken. and that Wa enough. But
to their utter amazement. people out
siie of Copiah County, outside of Mis-
beyond the confines of the
South. even north of the Ma
son and Dixon line. began to talk
not Serv ng rs Democratic
organs had something to say in con-
Finally the matter came
to be noticed in the Senata of the United
and committee was appointed
by that body to investigate this occur-
renee whic the ''best cti7ens' of CO.
piah County supposed tnev had dis
posed of completely and satisfactorily.
A report was made BY 2 majority Of
the committee in c~Ontrayen,ion of
Copiah County sentiment.
Then it was concluded that perhaps
there should be the form of n judicial
in order TO meet the absurd de-
mands of public opinion in other COM
An Indictment was found by
The Grand Jury, L court was convened
n petit Jury carefully packed for
the occasion. witnesses who did not
To test fy We're ordered into the
OF the Copiah County sheriff,
by him allowed TO take themselves
AWAY to parts unknown. ami the trial"
vent o~n-resalting As already stated.
)f course. the ..1e-t citizens of Co.
'iah County will now expect the coun-
.ry to be satisfied. Ha~n't Wheeler
tried by 4 jury of his peers a1d &C
What more can be askedo
S pot the civilization of Copiah County
ind. cated?-Troy (N. ~ Times.