Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-09-09
MURDEROUs MOKE.
A Negro Saved from the Noose at Cen-
tfaita by the Arrival of the Sheriff.

------- |
CENrRALiA, Mo-. Sept. 5.-On
Yesterday evening our quiet city was
The scene of the widest excitement
here since Bill Anderson's
massacre during the war.
About four years ago a young negro
named Abe Jackson was
sent to the penitentiary for burglary,
and before his departure he vowed
vengeance OH various citizens. Jack
sons time expired last November
and he returned to his old haunts.
About two weeks after his return a
business block in Centralia burned
down one night, the origin of the fire
being traced to an in~cendiary, and
suspicion was directed against Jack
son, but no proof could be secured
against him. Afew months later the
large lumber yard of Sears & Wills
vas destroyed by fire, and as Mr..
Wills was one Of the parties threat
eued by Jackson, it was strongly
suspected he had a hand in it. About
a month ago Abe Jackson was again
arrested and sentenced to Jail for
some misdemeanor. He was released
on Friday last, and returning to Cen
tralia, in company with another negro
desperate, he proceeded to carry his
vow of vengeance into execution.
The first man on whom he commenced
operations was Mr.. Barton S. Roberts,
formerly marshal of this pace.
Meeting Roberts, Abe Jackson made
a desperate attack upon him, near
the new brick buildings in course of
erection, but Mr.. Roberts getting the
best of the young desperate, both
negroes began assaulting Roberts
with brick bats, and for q time the
air was full of flying brick. At
length Roberts succeeded in knocking
Jackson down with a brick, and after
repeating the operation several times
the negroes took to their heels.
CAPTURED BY CITIZENS.
The well-known desperate charac.
ter of jackson, and his w%ell-known
threats against leading citizens, to-
gether with his assault on Roberts,
created a fever of excitement, and
soon about fifty armed men were
securing the country for him. After
a hard chase jackson and his com
panion were brought to bay near the
lake. two miles east of here, and
although defiant, obeyed the com
mand to throw up their hands. Al
they were being brought back tt
town the party was met by Mr.
Roberts, whom the desperadoes haC
assaulted, now fully armed, and i
was with great difficulty that he wa
prevented from shooting the negroes
Upon the arrival of the negroes il
town about 800 excited men sur
rounded them, and it was feared tina
they would be lynched, but coole
: counsel prevailed. Anticipating tina
the negroes would be lynched durini
the night, about sixty armed negroe
gathered from the surroundin
. country to protect them, and an equs
f posse of armed citizens were patrol
ing the town throughout the nigf
!, and preventing any n apporachin
the Jail, and it was at one time feare
v a collision would take place betwee
i, the two posses, but the night passe
off quietly. The people are Law
abiding, but there is a quiet dete
mination to rid the community
such desperadoes as Jackson, eve
if it must be done at the end
a rope.
REMOVED TO COLUMBIA.
Special Dispatch to the Ledger.
CENTRALIA, Mo-, Sept. 6, 4 p. NJ
Excitement has abated considerab
and the sheriff to-day succeeded
removing the coon to Columbia t
II