The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-01-05

tNoO tAAA IA - ~. 49,
The preliminary trial of the perpetrators
OF the bloody tragedy Monday night was
set for to-day-B Prewitt, Williams,
Thornton 81 Williams. and w. a. Henry
for the ro.ecution; f. Dienning for the
de euse. a motion by the defense tor con-
tinuance for thirty days resulted in the
postponement until Tuesday.
This postponement 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
tho citizens at their me citing 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 hendsh act re-
manned.
The coroner's jury, after four days in
ves.igation, 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
iah Parker, Richard Gubbs, w II. Foote,
Henry Schuler 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 smoulderiug emhers
into flames. These flames were augmented
by the talk of friends and relatives of the
victims of Mondays bloody work into n
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 nunureu Jney 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 towel,
and knocked down. At this moment firing
| oh Eoota xyn m M " killad
being riddled by more than IA dozen bullets.
Robert Swayzee, another of the murderers,
was taken from his cell, 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 a 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 NJ lea
Jah Parker's cell. He was taken out, n
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 barrooms 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 I1ngleaders 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, MORALLY, wounded, all by negroes.
Those killed were John I. and Carnot Po-
sey, brothers, and Jasper Nichols the two
former being merchants and the latter "a
steamboatman. The Poseys were sons of
: the late General Posey of Confederate
fame, gallant and brave officer who fell
on the battle field at the head of his COM
mand. 4.n- Isaac. ..l,
: Nichols was not so we'll known in town
but leaves a most exec llenb reputation as n
t 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
Elle.t; the former is County Treasurer, the
latter general merchant The sho struck
Mr. Holder on one of the lower ribs and
came out at his back, but whether it ranged
round penetrated the cavity is not
Z known now. Mr.. Elicit is shot in several
places in the side and in the arm. 1t is re-
I ported toni ght that Holder will probably
die. w. H. Foote, Deputy Internal Rove
nue. Collector tor this district, who is n mii-
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 tutcher-
shop on Jefferson street, kept by a man
named Lynch, some negroes, among them
I John James, well known in this city who
Q | killed a colored man here some years ago
J | and robbed another, and was a fugi.
tive from justice, threw some fire
crackers in front of Posey. Posey
demonstrated and told him TO be care.
| ful He xNng then GROSSLY inSltlta1 anil