The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-08-30
Statement from Sheriff Lee of
LnMrcmCc County.

August llth, 1883, | was informed
that Joseph f. Loftin was ut \. w.
W. RusSell's wounded and wanted
/ me to go to him. was also informed
/ that he had two guns and pistol.
Mr.. Webb Laugston and ] FASTENED
/ to here he was. When We arrived
at the gate, sent Mr.. Langston to
tell I.Oftin | was there and wanted
To come in where he was. After sew
cral minutes, Mr.. l.angston returned
and stated that Luftin said To "Come
in. but not attempt to arrest him
! immediately went in, and as enter
ed the door spoke to him. He, with
pistol in hand, said, "DOn't try to
arrest me, for don't want To shoot
you" | saw he was considerably cX
cited and knew he would shoot " lille
in that state of mind, so thought the
easiest way was the best, and | began
to talk and coax him to surrender.
He asked me if | would diSarm him.
put him in Jail and send him back to
the Pcnitcntiary. | told him plainly
| would. He replied. IL hate to- go
there; don't bother me yet, but stay
awhile" ! plainly saw he WAS yield
ing, and that could presently disarm
him without any violent means. BY
this time, several gentlemen had
come. Among the rest, Mr.. Charles
Ellzey. Loftin seemed to he afraid of
Mr.. Ellzcy. and again became excited.
70 assure him that no one meant to
harm him, aSkcdand slightly search
cd Mr.. Ellzcy, not that | cared for
his being armed, but in order to get
Ioftin's arms before anything rash
was done.
am sure Mr.. Ellzey is Il reason
able man and can understand this,
and will denOunce some of the rash
acts that have been committed against
me. As to disarming private citizens,
there is no truth in it.
When ! got ready to start, | took
LOftin's guns, gave one to X. y. Dan
iels and the other to DIR. Larkin, and
made him give me his pistol, which
hcltcd around myself, and come to
Monticello and placed Lottin in jail.
Up to this time, did not know who
shot Loftin, neither had | seen or
heard of Stringcr's guard. He was in
Jail two days and was reliably i'll
formed that he would be mObbed.
cared nothing about Loftin, and
would have been glad could he have
been put out of the way, neither do
ccnsure amy man for trying to mob
him, but it is dreadful thing to hold
prisoner for an Infatuated mob, thus
becoming officially, legally and NOR
ally responsible for his life. SO | run
him eff and placed him in the Peniten-
tiary.
returned to Monticello to find my
self homeless, but not fricndless. lis
true, | occasionally heard of LOftinS
being in the county, and when found
out his contederateS and route, Sc
cretly went to laying plans to trap
him. 1t is not necessary to state what
plans, for all intelligent men know
such things must necessarily he Sc
cret.
Finally, deputized B. B. Stringer
and Il. ID. Fugler, as they thought
they could get him, and wanted the
reward. In the meantime, we talked
over the matter and decided still
hunt would be best. And when Mr..
Stringer shot Loftin, suppose there
must have been at least fifty men who
knew it before did, for was late in
getting to church and then was the
time for them to have taken him, but
on the contrary. no one wanted to go
with me to where he was.
Before resign | would be glad that
the men who participated in that
meeting would sign their names to
the article asking me to resign, so |
would know how many live i'll Law
renee, Lincoln, Pike and Marion coun-
ties. At least think the Chairman and
Secrttary'S names should have been
attached to the resolutions.
see in the Press that the so-called
citizens of Lawrence county adjourn
ed to meet on the 18th inst. This
proposed meeting is uncalled for and
illegal, and |, as Sheriff of Lawrence
county, respectfully and politely re-
quest all good citizens not to attend
said meeting, and | shall take some
legal steps to disband the other class.
Such meetings have demoralizing
tendency and drive men to despcra-
ton. If this state of affairs continues
instead of having one man in the
woods you will have one dozen.
Then you must remember that in at
tending these meetings you are back
ing up bad element and thus en-
corage them to do their heinous deeds
and thereby you become accessory to
their crimes.
Respectfully submitted,
ID. NJ. LEE,