The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-13

~ Of executing the Law in defiance Of
political influence, power and money.
The high position OF the accused men
in this case, the boldness and audacity
Of the crime they committed, and the
social, political and financial influences
brought to bear TO prevent justice be-
ing done, made the trial a duel be-
tween public opinion on the one side
and the defendant, on the other. The
fact that the prisoners were. with one
exception, officers CT the law, intensi-
fed the popular feeling that II they
could, by boldneEs, audacity and polil-
icGl influence, escape the penalty OF
tho law, life was unsafe in New Or
leans.
II is one of The enormities Of the
case that the man who committed the
murder for which Ford and Murphy
we're hanged to-day, and who arranged
the consph acy, has escaped the death
penalty. This man is Judge Thomas
J. Ford, late recorder OF the city OF
New Orleans, and now serving term
la the penitentiRry. Ford was one Of
the shrewdest, sharpest and most dar-
ing OF the city politicians. He worked
himself rapidly 10 the front until he
was "boss" OF the Fourth Ward, it's
absolute political ruler. He always
made his influence felt, and was rot a
little feared by the other politicians.
Elected recorder in 1880, he filed that
office with great credit, and in 1884
was reelected by the largest majority
on the Democratic ticket. He was
filed with ambition and proclaimed
his intention OF being the next mayor
Of NsG Orleans; and there seemed
lit,ls reason to doubt that he would
succeed.
There WAS one thorn in his path in
the person Of A. II. or Gap. Murphy,
also a politician. Murphy was young
NJ ssissippian OF good family, cousin
TO ex Congressman Il John Ellis OF this
State. He had the reputation of being
a man Of great courage and detsrmi-
nation, an amateur slugger, but not
Quarrelsome. Judge Ford and Muir.
ply qunrreled some four years ago over
woman. When Murphy came be-
tore Ford on trivial offense, the lat.
ter denounced him from the bench as
a hoodlum and gave him the extreme
penalty OF the law. Murphy replied
with a challenge and when the Judge
refused 10 accept II posted him all over
town as a coward, uo.troon and a
thief, declaring that Ford had been
discharged by his employer for steal
ing from the till. For this he was ar.
relted on a charge Of criminal libel,
Up to the day Of his death Murphy
declared he had ample evidence Ia
prove that Ford was a thief. He never
offered it, for on the very day before
the case came up for trial he was muir
dered by party Of seven or eieht
men.
The murder was the boldest and
most outrageous ever committed here
aud in the presence OF several hundred
persons. Murphy, who YVES superin'
tendent of the work-house, was SUI
perintending a gang Of fifty o. sixty
men cleaning out the Claiborne canal
While seated at the corner OF Clai
borne and st. Ann streets two mer
suddenly turned the corner with drawn
revolveTs in their hands and opent
fire on him. He ran to the middle o
the street, drew his own pistol and an
swered the fire, At the corner twt
men were stationed, who Joined
his assailaRts. Down Claiborne stree
he fed, his pursuers growing NOR
murdeious every moment, all firing Il
him, until il sounded like ba tie
On Dumaine street one of their bullet
brought him down, when two of hi
murderers walked up TO him, rollet
over his body with their feet, emptie,
the remaining barrels of their re
volvers into him and walked of a
suddenly and rs mysteriously rs the.
had come.
The murder and the TACT that tn,
assassins were unknown, sent thrill
of horror through the community
When. however, Judge Thomas Ford
Recorder; his brother, Pat Ford hi
cousin, Officer John Murphy, an,
Officers Buckley, Caulfield, Favett
and Baders, all members of the com
and guardians OF the peace, were al
rested for this crime the press an,
people were more than ever indignan
at the discovery Of the character @
the men to whom the peace Of tn
city was conhded. la
The time was one OF the most eS
citing in this country. The DistriC
Attorney owed his office 10 Ford's in
fluance, and so did MANY of the der
uty sheriffs and other court oflicer'
The trial showed the people Of Ne'
Orleans that criminal juttice in thei
city was a farce. There was never Q
much bribery and perjury in one cas-
as here. Witness after witness prove
alibis for the Judge and that the dea
mau had attacked Pat Ford, and eve
the States witnesses sold their tel
timouy. The jury-room was con
plete farce. The Fords had got the
men on the jury and their Deput
SheTifs h watch it, aud the juror
I were offered heavy sums Il
, on aCQuittal. la fine, the cas-
reeked with corruption, an
il was by the mertst accider
! that even a mistrial could be secure,
\ Five OF Ford's witnesses were arreste
ioI pHiJulAf eNNNA Va NhulA nav
J since been tried and SAINT to the pen
Tertiary, and one deputy sheriff an
! two Jurors indicted for bribery. tn
/, case was reopened again, the jul
: watched, and an eye kept on the cas-
: Tie Fords had spent nearly all the
, money in the first trial, and were /
= prepared for the second. To the su
! prise OF many the jury brought in
= verdict OF guilty, sentencing two
:, the men to q, a,h-Pat Ford and job
Murphy-and the other three-JudI
!, Ford, Caulheld and Buckley
u twenty years in the penitentisry.
. The Fords did not abandon hop
: They tried the Supreme Court but
!, refused them relief; they tried Il
! Board OF Pardons, which declined
y recommend their pardon, and tn
! we're condemned 10 be hanged FIids
= November Is, 1855. They begg,
!, piteously log a reprieye TO allow the
: to prepare for death, and the Govern
I, granted one TO December 18th, ju
the day before they were to
- hanged. Before the the second ds
!. OF the hanging had come around
!. new aspect was given the case by q
= confession of Tom Ford, He hi