Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-05
CARD.
Circumstances Of tho killing OF Jerry
MIlehell and his WIFE.
bNRnsfoWS TtNn sopi.l

BIRnsrowS, TEN, sopi.I.
To The Editor OF the Gazette.
BY request Of the citizens of this
community, | write you Ia reference
to the cause, manner and eircum-
stances of the killing ofJerry Mitchell,
colored aud Mariu Mitchell, his wife,
On Satu day afternoon complaint
being made 10 me by ntlidnyits fJerry
killing and stealing hogs on threedif-
ierent occasions, issued "A warrant for
his arrest, sent for j w. Dewcs, con
stable of this precinct, who had gone to
Paris that day. II being Saturday
respectable turnout OF the neighhor-
hood was present, attending business
generally, some We're apprehensiye
especially those who had lost hogs
that II thomatter was delayed, Jerry
would get wind of IL and ovade the Of
ticers, therefore IL was decided to at
tend 10 the matter at once. | depu-
TIED and qualified, according to law, a
special deputy, one IN whom | had the
utmost confidence that he would
discharge his duty to the best OF his
knowledge and ability according TO
law, at the same time giving all the
instructions In regard 20 his conduct
aud legal authority and responsibility
In the discharge of his official duty.
lie accepted the appointment, took
the papers and three other good cit-
zens 10 accompany him 70 Jerry's
house, some three miles from this
place. In about three hours said dep.
uty returned Co make his official report,
which Shove:
Tint whilo attempting to arrest Terry, re-.
distance was maje win force and arms aud
he was compelled TO use such force as the law
contemplated, aud that Jerry AID his WHO
were killed white attempting TO MAKO said
nrroaL
1 will further say II became my
official duty 10 preside at an inqnlsi.
ton held over The bodies of the de-
ceased parties and have All the evil
denoe for the state we could procure in
my possession, which IS to be. revealed
only 10 the courts hut suffice
IL to sny that Il cor
toborates the report made by
the deputy. and that L is the general
opinion of thiA community that the
killing was done purely aud entirely
ia neli.deiCnse and i will venture to
say that there Il not sheriff In the
state Who is capable OF discharging
his duty who would have been more
lenient on such AN occasion, or would
have jeopardi2ed his lie TO such an
extent us this deputy and his posse
did They subjected themselves and
their lives 10 three shots from the
opposite party, all of which took effect
upon one Of the posse, wounding hi M
seriously, therefore, a single shot wa
returned, and II was only accidental
that the wounded man was NOT killed
AS both parties were face To face, ant
not more than five 10 len feet apart
These three shots. ell OF which tool
effect, was the opening of tte lata
tragedy,
As am evidence that they do not con
slider themselves guilty of any crime
they are ready aud willing 10 surren
der themselves to the authorities n
any time; they are not evading Tia,
law, but are ready 10 submit To its nc
tion and have a right to its protection
BY alllaw-ahiding citizens, in referenc,
TO the deceased party. IL was generally
aeeeded by both black and white that