National Republican., 1884-06-28

piled:
"Nuth'n, massa."
Then l:
"Don't be afraid. Whats the matter ?
Why do you leave tho road 2"
He advanced toward mo hesitatingly (;
then 1 told him my name and whore l
lived.
His faco frightened at once. and he
came up until he stood by my horses
head, the girl still holding on to him, and
he said:
"Beez yo do Yankee kunnel whar live
on Massa Blacks plantation ?"
eyes,
'Beez yo' do gemon do white folks war
talkin' right smart about?"
"Yos, I guess So"
"Well, den reckon yo' is. Bless dc
Lord ~
By this I could half imagine the trou-
Bile, for had observed that the & iris
frock was stained and stiff with blood
that had flowed from deep gashes upon
her head, neck, and shoulders, and said
TO him:
"Tell me all about IL, uncle" In
response to this invitation tho man ap-
preached until he stood at the side of my
horse, where, with his hand at times
resting on the stirrup of the saddle, and
at other times engaged in wiping the
tears from his eyes, he told me his story
in voice that, equally with his manner,
indicated mis- perfect trust in me.
Briefly told, this negro's master, MARS
hA IaI d, hnA Nl..I
girl at his side, his daughter nearly to
the following morning, was "a stan'in'
thar in he own doah. doing muffin
'cep'n' watchin' Mars 81 done shot dc
boy t'nel he wor dead"
They had run away from the planta-
tion, the old man and his daughter. and
travelled on foot through the swamps
on their way to town in search lob
Jest" Uncle Isam. that was his name,
was on u quest for justice. He had done
heerd dar wor booro in Azoo City" and
hoped to find what he wanted there.
Gen. Bell, formerly of the Missi ssippi
river marine brigade; was "tryin &" to
plant on place near Tokeba. / should
pass his residence on my way home.
There was no longer q bureau in town
for the freed people. Iso in formed Isam,
and requested him to accompany me to
the generals home, whero we would all
talk tho matter over and advise him what
to do.
knew there was little to hope from
the law officers at Yazoo City, and did
not know but Isam would do bett or to
abandon his quest altogether. But after
Gen. Bell had heard the story he accom-
panied Isam to town, resolved to ascertain
for certainty whether or not any notice
would be taken of tho matter. A war
rant was sworn out by Isam, charging his
employer with murder, and placed in the
hands of tho sheriff for execution.
Three days afterward, being in town,
met this sheriff, who informed me that
he had business on the creek"-that
was MARS Sis" home-which would
necessitate q journey there, and on his
return he would bring Capt. Cambre-
that was Mars Sin with him. But the
case was neglected until Mars 81 came in
voluntarily and gave himself up.
On the hearing before tho same justice
who had fined Pomp aud mo it was proved
by six witnesses for the state that on the
night before the killing Mars 81 arrived
homo nigh on to midnight" that the
girl who had been set to watch for his
fallen asleep herself, and was not prompt
to admit him; that on being admitted he
flew at the girl with his stick and beat
her. Screams, heard at the quarter a
hundred or more yards distant, brought
her father, who took her in his arms and
carried her to his home; that the follow
ing morning Mars 81, accompanied by one
of his neighbors, aud, both armed with
guns, was advancing on Isam's house to
force the girl to return homo with him,
seeing which, Isams son, who stood in
the door on the watch, turned as if to re-
enter and 'shet do dos" that as the son
began this movement Mars ST raised his
gun and shot him dead.
For the defense 1t was shown on tho
testimony of Mars 81 himself and his
daughter that 'as Mars 81 approached to
recover the gal the son turned like he
wor g'wan to take down his gun"-a
squirrel gun which was hanging on the
wall inside the house-'and Mars 81
thereupOn fred in self Defense" All
agreed that the fatal wound was in tho
front and side. Mars 81 admitted the
chastisement Of the evening before; that
the father had taken tho girl away; that
she was but 13 years of age; that he was
advancing on tho house to recover her,
accompanied by his neighbour that both
were armed with doube-barreled shot
guns, and that it WAS Cambee's shot which
killed tho boy. Mars Sis lawyer, an old
one, testified that he had known Capt.
Cambee for many years before the war
that he was an old citizen Of the county,
highly connected and greatly respected;
that he had been known as kind master,
and was IA high toned, honorable gentle
man." and then announced that tho
defense rested their cause.
Tho attorney for the prosecution re-
tanned for Isam, after great difficulty, be-
gan his speech by Offering as an apology
for appearing for lsam tho fact that
there are strangers in our midst, and my
refusal TO appear for this negro might be
misconstrued to the injury ofour people,"
But he had never appeared in cause
so repugnant to all his finer feeling" and
so forth.
The attorney for the defense appre-
ciated the situation and the feelings of
the opposing counsel. Here was "a nigh
toned, honorable gentleman in jeopardy
of his life on the testimony of negroes.
They would not deny the killing. They
justified it. But they had iallen on
times Tho most that could be
made of the charge was manslaughter.
They would plead guilty to that. 1t was
within the knowledge Of the court that
by the laws of tho commonwealth the
only testimony offered by the state was
inadmissible. However, for the present
they were under tho rule of military
despotism. He appreciated the delicate
duty imposed upon his honor; he was
under duress, and they would consent to
bail.
So Mars 81 having given Mr.. Stockdale
and another well known and leading
citizen as surety for appearance when
wanted, was released, and that was the
end of it.
"Never indicted2"
mo"
"Nothing further ever done about itG"
"No."
Gen. Bell and / were present at this
hearing. Pho court room was packed
with whites, and Us we left the hall and
Il ha fat lao, t,,.