The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-05
\ Graphic Sketch of One of the
Most Noted and Decisive Poll
teal Contests on Record.

State in the memorable year of 1875,
when Ames and the carpet-bag regime
were driven from place and power
like chaff before an angry wind.
In the hey-day of Republican
supremacy in Mississippi, a Republic
can city administration was planted
here with Hon. John McGill at its
head as Mayor, and while the general
upheaval was going on in rs which
redeemed county and State from the
curse of Republican misrule, this city
administration remained intact and
began to fortify itself by negro and
Republican influence for an indefinite
lease of power. For fourteen long
years, by the Republican influences
which concentred here, it has main
tanned that supremacy-notu nchallen-
ged and without dispute, but in spite
of every effort that until now was
made to dislodge it. For fourteen
years the Hon. John McGill has been
elected and reelected Mayor over
some of the best Democrats of the
State, and the anomalous picture
presented of Republican, negro
ruled city in the midst of Demo
cratic State and county controlled and
ruled by white men. 1t is no wonder.
therefore, that such a government
should grow corrupt and arrogant and
the friend instead of the terror of
law breakers and evil-dOers generally.
But all things earthly have an end,
and this Republican city administra-
ton was to prove no exception to the
rule. AS is not unfrequently the case,
too. it was, like Belshazzar of old, in
an unguarded moment of fancied
security and strength, to invite its
own destruction.
On Christmas Eve, with the date of
another election just ten days off and
no organized opposition that seemed
to dare show its head, the reigns of
restraint were thrown down, and law
lessness and disorder allowed to reign
supreme. Being especially unfricndly
to Prohibition. which is now i'll force
in Kinds county. the idea seems to
have been conceived by this admins
tration and its supporters to encour-
age all the drunkenness, disorder and
lawlesSness possible, in order to bring
the law into contempt; but, as is often
the case, the devil over-reached him
self. That awful night of December
oath. 1887, will long be remembered
in jackson. Crowds of drunken or
malicious mischief makers paraded
the streets and smashed show
windows and signs without molestatiOu
by the police, two negroes cut each
other with knives or razors, about
twenty other fights, more or less
serious, occurred in various parts of
the city, and to complete the awful
work of the night Melville Mitchell,
one of the first young men of the city
and son of DR.. +. j. Mitchell,
Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum,
was brutality murdered on the streets
by having his throat cut by a negro
desperate, egged on by negro police
man, and the negro murderer himself
was killed on the spot, while also
trying to carve Percy Gambrell,
Mitchell's companion.
The Sunday and Monday following
were sad days in Jackson, and late
Monday evening petition signed by
a few resolute and determined white
men of the city (among them the
Martins, Gambrells and Henrys),
was circulated calling meeting fol
that night to consider the situation
and plan the overthrow of the murder
stained city government. Owing to
the short notice, the meeting was not
large one, but it was resolute.
1t was presided over by r. II.
Henry, of the State Ledger, and
Capt. Frank Johnston, Judge Brame
and others made speeches, and a
rousing meeting was provided for for
the following night to nominate full
Democratic ticket, and adopt suitable
resolutions.
When the next night came Repre-
sentative Hall was crowded to over
flowing with white citizens anxious
to overthrow the city government and
the committee on resolutions reported
the following:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Your Committee
on Resolutions ask to present the fol-
lowing:
WHEREAS, The Democracy of this
city, recognizing the just reproach up
on them for so long suffering Repub-
lican administration in the Capital
City of Democratic State, and hav-
ing determined to no longer submit
thereto, therefore
Be it resolved by the Democrats of
the City of Jackson, in mass meeting
assembled, that we tonight nominate
candidates for Mayor and Aldermen,
and hereby avow our purpose to elect
them.
ResOlred, That, in general terms we
assart that the nresant City Govern