Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-26
.0ARROLLI0N'S TRAGEDY
TIE CAUSES WHICH LED 10 THE.
SHOOTING.
A Detailed statement Of the Man
ner In Which the Fight Started
and the Names Of the Killed.

Since my last special | visited Carroll.
ton to get particulars, and gleaned the
following: Some months ago Robert
Moore, a young man from Letlore
county, came to Carrollton and met
there Ed. Brown, colored. They had
some words and the negro smeared
and poured on him molasses, which he
carried in a jug. Some time after
ward j. N. Liddell, it,, of Greenwood, a
friend Of Moore, happened to meet with
=. Brown and made some allusion to his
treatment Of Moore. Brown gave him
lmpudence and Liddell started at him,
but was prevented by bystanders from
attacking him. The negro then went
and armed himself, and induced others
to do likewise. They stationed them
selves on the street, some behind trees,
and when Liddell came after supper
from the hotel be saw them, and asked
what they meant, whereupon Ed.
Brown responded: 1T was none Of his
damn business" AT that Liddell
struck at Ed. Brown with his fist, and
Ed. and Charles Brown, his brother,
both simultaneously fred upon Lid
dell, one ball striking the elbow Of his
right arm. About this time some if-
teen to twenty shots were fred from
different quarters. Liddell pulled his
pistol and hit Ed. Brown In the abdo-
man, and received one shot In the
ieshy part Of his leg. Chas. Brown
was shot In the shoulder.
All remained quiet and the parties
who had taken part In the ARRAY were
brought before the mayor forthwith,
waived an examination and were held
to appear before the next circuit court.
Threats were continually made by the
TWO brothers Brown that they would
have Jim Liddell's blood, and further
that they had FIVE dOubIe-barrelled
shotguns loaded seven fingers deep and
they would kill the first "son Of a.
who puts his foot on their ground"
On the twelfth instant they made aft
davit against Jim Liddell and others,
including some of the best citizens OF
the place, and men who knew nothing
Of the difficulty, charging them with
assault and intent to murder in the
previous difficulty.
Yesterday the trial having been set,
Ed Brown boosted in the street that
he had his body guard and would shoot
the first nan that would make a
motion at him.
The case was called Immediately.
Upon calling the case, the court
house was filled with negroes, whit
stationed themselves around and abou.
the Brown brothers. The attorneys
while proceeding, were suddenly sur
pTised by the appearance of about ont
hundred white men well armed
Perceiving the noise of the entrance
Ed Brown at once drew his
pistol and fired in the direction OIL
Liddell, who was between his
attorneys. T%hereupon the firing began
in general. The result was that ten
were instantly killed and two have
died since. Some escaped by jumping
through the window, a distance Of al
least twenty feet. On most of the
dead bodies arms was found.
The room was completely filed with
smoke.
The judges bench is on the north
side of the room and the benche:
facing it were towards the South. II
is a very large courtroom, with
windows all around. Icounted on The
wall one hundred and thirty-6ve shots
in the wall and on the benches thirty
shot holes. One shot struck the north.
east window sash an glanced into thu
wall. Five other shots show
on the north wall from thu
direction Of the benches. Th,
blood was in streams on the floor il
the court roon. The mob then left al
quietly and quickly as they came in.
The general impression is that thiI
will end in further trouble, as hereto
fore a few OF those darkeys killed con
stantly created a bad feeling and LEI
other good negroes to produce strifl
between the whites and blacks.
The good people Of Carrolton depre
cate all this and regret that a few limo
cent colored people were drawn II
this fuss. yet 1t would have never end.
ed had not these steps been taken.
The following is the list Of tht
killed: Andrew Robertson, CLARK
Brown, Ed Brown, Joe Long, JohI
Money, Simon Kane, jim Harris
Amos Mathews, Scott Moore, French
Hughes, Coley Little and Jim John
son.
The following were wounded /: vii
Dodd, Jim Keys, Christian Preacher
Jim Hows, and Jake Kane.
Very seriously Bill Ewing, Chas
Price, Henry Cole, and Ooley Thomp
son badly shot and reported dead.
Payton Hemingway and Walter Nc
Hand, jumped through the window
carrying the sash along. The forme
was shot slightly in the hand. but i
otherwise. unhurt. Amos Matthews
was shot dead while trying the same
mode Of escape. One colored mai
rolled himself out Of one Of the ives
windows, fell out on the brick pave
ment, got up and made his escap'
unhurt. AS he was getting out tire
three shots were fred at him ant
struck the window sill, and one sho
-.nnt thuo,tnh tkn -lnco Mnvs al 4