The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-13
Nellie Dinkins, Colored, Says She
Heard These Words.
She Was on the Bridge When the
Hack Drove Upon 1t.
She Saw a Man Get Out of 1t, and
He Was Joined by Others.
She Saw Four Men In All. and Saw
Two Men in the Act OF
Shooting-The Cruel
Beating.

special Dispatch to The Appeal
BRANDON, Miss, March 12.-It was
early o'clock in the afternoon when
Judge Mayors took the bench. The attor-
neys were all in their places, and the off,
cials seemed TO have enjoyed the rest
which the Sunday recess had afforded
theh. The jury was brought into court.
They have stood their confinement re-
ruaarkably well, and no one OF them showed
<Rny signs of WEAKNESS. They are appar-
Entity in excellent health and spirits. Col.
1lamilton WIS glad to greet his friends,
most OF whom spent Sunday In jackson.
He is looking thoroughly natural, and ii he
is not very full Of hope Of a favorable re-
sult,he disguiscs his true feelings most ad-
mirably. Tho members Of his immediate
family are all with him. The prosecutor,
the Rev. J. b. Gambrell, was surrounded
by number OF friends, several Of whom
were brother preachers. The day was
bright and cool.
NELLIE piSKISs. coIoRED.
Lived last March at Mrs. Charlie Camp
bells In Jackson. Was about five or six
steps up on the bridge when the shooting
began. When aloig about the gas lamp,
noticed carriage ON the other side OF the
bridge. The gas lamp Is along there in
front Of Mrs. Cabaniss. Was going to
West Jackson TO pay acolored man named
johnson dollar she owed him. II was
night, and she left Mrs. Campbells later
than usual. The hack Stacked up when II
got to the bridge, and one gentleman got
out and then two got out, and there was
nnother coming along there meeting
these. Saw the gentlemen coming just as
the hack got TO the bridge. He was COM
ing from toward the west, on the sidewalk.
Witness had not got quite TO the bridge
when she saw him. The hack passed on
by her just before she got to the bridge,
after II had crossed the bridge. Il wasgoing
toward the posioflice. Witness went
i four or Eve steps up on the bridge, and
heard pistol fire. Didn'tsee the flrst one,
: and locked up and saw two fires. Aftersh
hea,.I ,he pistol fire twice ON the strcet-car
side heard some body cry "Murder"
"Hclpl" 30, Col. Hamilton, don't do that
any more" Had left the brick sidewalk
and had taken about Eve Stops when she
heard the shooting. The two shots came
from the slreet-car side OF the road, and
after witness heard these che turned and
ran away. Witness was walking slowly
as she went down. was sick with the
rheumatism. Witness was at the end of
the bridge toward the postoificc. When the
hack was got by witness, 1t appeared 10
be in terrible hurry. She was walking
on the foot-wallS.
"was Il the ioot-brdgc or the road.
bridgc?'
at was the road bridge. II was the
bridge the people all walked over" When
witness first noticed the man coming
towards her he was up on the bridge a
little ways The carriage when first
noticed was just coming across the light Of
the first store beyond the bridge. Hadn't
seen the carriage before. Witness pointed
out on one OF The photographs where she
was when she first saw the carriage, the
direction In which she was walking. and
where she was when the carriage passed
her. When witness first noticed the car
riage going fast II was OIL the bridge.
When the hrst shot was fred witness was
looking down. She then looked up and
saw four men there. She was on the side
walk and the Others on the street car side
! OF the bridge. Saw two men shoot In the
direction in which witness was. Saw the
flashes Of the pistols. Saw two pistols
shoot at once. The last witness saw OF the
man who was shot at, he fell on his knees
or his all fours, and witness then ran under
the bridge and heard something groaning
and somebody beating or slapping Wit
ness hardly stopped under the bridge, but
rcame out and ran north till stopped by
wire fence, and then turned and went
besk the way she caiuo. Didn't see any
\ body at all on either side OF thestreet. The
beating or stamping was alter the shoot
! ing. Did not notice the carriage as she
went back. There was no carriage on the
bridge when witness heard the flst shot
Cross-examincd- know what time
II was when she left Mrs Campbel'a
They had company there that night and
supper was later than usual. Was suffer
ing good deal with rheumatism, and that
WIS one OF the three nights when Il hurt
her most. She had had Il all winter. Never
has paid johnson the dollar she started out
10 pay. johnson has little store. Wit
ness met an old man with gray beard be.
tween the corner and the bridge. He was
walking slowly. Saw no one at Ms. Am
broyce gate. Doesn't know Charles Fran
holi, Andrew Goyan or J. ii. Lewis.
Witness IL not short-sighted, and did
not say she was dim" sighted before
Judge Peyion. Her testimony 10 that cf.
feet was read 10 her, but she disclalmcd
any recollection Of H. Says now she IL
not near sighted. but was four or five
years ago. Never noticed how many
horses were In the hack, or the color. Is
--eertain the men got ont ON the bridge.
Does not know whether they got out Of
the end Of tho hack or ON the side. Only
knows she could see them. II appeared as
n two got out side by side. Witness was
about the lamp post when she 1rst saw
the man coming toward her. Saw the
hack first aud the man shortly after. Did
not notice where the men were standing
aitcrihey left the hack. Does not recolleci
whaiher she said anything before judge
Peyion about the second. Does not rccol'
lect that sho told Judge peyton that the
man meeting her fred the second shot
The man hallooed "MurderW Then he
halooed "IIelpl" Then, ooh, Col. Hamil
ton, don't shoot no morci' Halloocd "mur
der and "help' more than once. Three
shots were fired before he halloocd "mur
slor - Tho ohootino disturbed witness