Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-14
MFR. Cunningham Interview ed.


they felt that he would have the support
of some OF the Cross county cut-throats.
Ee did just what had been predicted, and
d it q little earlier than was expected.
1t is rather surprising that the smooth
| t0ngued assassin should try to work this
| thin story about the recent confinement OF
his wife, and the exposure of riding from
1 the house to the railroad. Let us refer to
| the dates. Mitchell was arrested in Mem
phis on the night of September 18th. The
| child had been born several days, proba-
| bly, a week, before that time. He was
| carried to the Arkansas penitentiary on
| the 18th. According to the above letter,
| Cunningham went to the Arkansas place
| about the 1st of November. Then the child
| must have been about five weeks old. Cum
| bingham went with two other members of
| the Blacklist Cunning and Trolling Club
to inquire on what terms Mrs. Mitchell
would lesve the place. Justice Egnew and
Mr.. Fred Scheiber were the other mem
bers Of the committee. Mrs. Mitchell said
she would leave, but would have to be
| paid $50. This charge was for the logs her
| husband had removed from the clubs
grounds and for skiffs, nearly all of which
we're claimed by the swamp citizens. The
committee told her they did not want
these things, but would pay her SO to
| leave the place. Mr.. Cunningham's talk
was kind and friendly. He told her he
could get the place in short time. They
talked about how long it would take to re-
build the log-hous9 on MitchelPs place.
According to Justice Egnew and Mr.
Frank Graham. who were present, Mr..
Cunningham did not threaten or talk
ruiely.
THIS statement shows pretty plainly the
falsity of the story which it was claimed
vas told Mitchell.
| The cause of the dispute between Mitch
I'll aud the club may as well be given.
The last time Mitchell was in Memphis,
previous to the trip on which he was ar
rested, he claimed that the club owed him
S53. The cl1sb had a meeting, which
Mitchell wss requested to attend. He did
not attend, however. They agreed to pay
him the amount he claimed, part of which
was for work he had not performed. They
told him to return the clubs mules, which
he had said would not be preded in the
swamp during the winter. He pretended
to be indignant, went to the w7mp. tore
down the log portion of the eli b-house
and hauled the logs to a place he haC
formerly lived on. He said he WI Id put
the mules in livery stall in
Forrest City, to eat their hsaos off
or to be recovered by the clut
through law. So the trouble with tht
club was caused by Mitchell himself. Tht
f mules were recently brought ever ant
| sold, and the secretary had been endeav
oring to learn how to send the money t.
Mrs. Mitchell, who was not near an ex
press Cffice or money orde. Office.
A reporter was sent to zee Mr.. Gun
+ ningham, who made the following state
l | ment:
az did not say anything definite abou
the time she would be allowed to remain
in the house. Justice Egnew and Free
| Scheibler were the other members, ant
g | Agnew did good deal of the talking.
/ spoke kindly TO her, but told her sh
t would eventually have to give up tn
: place. When we were there the baby re
t ferred to was more than a month old.
: was not understood when she would leave
5 The club had agreed to give her fit,
J. dollars to leave the place. After the mule
= were brought in and sold the secretsT
9 was to send her the money whe
he found how it could be sent
All the story about the yer
young infant and the forced removt
t is vilely false. 1 spoke kindly to Mri
= Mitchell, and the club was making al
rangements to pay for her leaving plac
= on which her husband had long sinc
It forfeited his lease. She and her furnitur
n were carried to the depot in our Wagon
/ If her physical condition was impaired,
d must have been by the walk from tn
/. railroad to the house, when she returned
before the birth of the child. She ha
gone away, to remain till after the birt {
3. the child, but returned without lettin
Mitchell know, and had to walk to th
=. house. When the child was born Mitcf
ell was in Memphis, on the last trip befol
his arrest, but l shall not say where
A heard he was stopping that night. A
Ie this story about my treating Mrs. Mitche
Ie unkindly is false, told to work up syn
IS pathy."