The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-06-18
A Shameful Verdict.

Nobody, we presume, is surprised at
the verdict of the jury which acquitted
g. b. Wheeler of the murder OF j. p.
Matthews at the polls in Copiah
County, Mississippi, on election day
last November. 1t was evident from
the beginning that the 'triar' was to-
be a farcical pretense, the conclusion of
which had been predetermined Itwas
simply a 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 a
considerable number Of persons, openly
avowed bv the offender. and the whole
community recognized him as the per-
petratOr In short, there was no secret
about IT, no attempt at COnCealment.
It had confcssedly no Justification what
ever except the fact that Matthews pre-
sumed to exercise his rights as a citizen
to vote, after having been forbidden to
do so by an irresponsible body of Bour-
bon Democrats, which, in anticipation
of his disObedience had appointed
Wheeler as his contingent eXecutiOnerl
1t was not asserted, even, that
Matthews had done, or intended to do,
anything unlawful. He sought to in
terfere with no mans rights or privi-
leges. and demanded only that his own
should be respected, but made no eXhi-
| bitiOu of turbulence by way Of self
/ vindIcatiOn. He merely went to the
polls and voted, and was instantly shot
dead in the presence of the election off
/ GERS and other persons standing about.
1t was a business-like performance
which excited no surprise on the part
of the Bourbon 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 uucOncerned. He
finally told the Coroner what he had
done, and that official considerably de
tcrmined to spare the county the eX-
pense of an inquest insomuCh as moth
ing could be learned in regard to the
case beyond what everybody knew.
Later on a 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 was enough. Bu
to their utter amazement, people out
side of CUpiah County, outside of Mis-
sissippi, beyond the confines of tn,
, chivalrOus South, even north of the Ma
son and Dixon line, began to talk
, Newspapers not serving as Democrat
organs had something to say in con
I. demnation. Finally the matter cam
to be noticed in the Senate of the Unite
States, and a committee was appOinte
by that body to investigate this occur
renee which the "best citizens of CO
Piah County supposed they had dis
posed of completely and satisfactorily
, A report was made by a majority {
the committee in cOntraventiOn
prevailing COpiah County sentiment
Then it was concluded that perhaL
there should be the form of a iudicii
b trial, in order to meet the absurd d
mands of public opinion in other con
: munities. An indictment was found b
{ the Grand Jury, a court was convene
, with a petit jury carefully packed fC
the occasion, witnesses who did M
; want TO testify were ordered into Il
Z custody of the COpiah County Sherii
. ] anu ~ AAALA LlADNEN " ltlhg lllHLl9Glh
away to parts unknown, and the "trial
] went On-resulting as already statet
. Of course, the chest citizens of O.
! piah County will now expect the con-
try to be satisfied. Hasn't Wheel,
been tried by jury of his peers and a.
quilted? What more can be asked
Is not the civilization of Copiah Count
] Indicated TROY (N T. Times.