The Magnolia gazette., 1888-06-09
SOME "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
BY COL. J. NJ. GALLENT.

When came to this county
those who held office, as far as
can recall them to mind, were as
follows, viz: Capt. Willie Jack
son, father of Colonel and DR..
jackson, Senator of this county
and franklin; David Pemblc and
Edmund Smith-after whom
suppose Smiths precinct was
named members OF the lower
House; Gabriel Fielder was Clerk
of the Circuit Court; Mr.
Baker, whose given name have
forgotten, though l boarded with
him aycar, was Clerk of what
was then called the County Court !;
Judge Van Tromp Crawford,
father Of Mr.. w. S. Crawford, j
think presided over this Court /;
Morgan Davis was probably
Sheriff. at least he was soon after
1890, and Aaron Robinson was
ASSESSOR and Collector. The
other officers | have forgotten.
Possibly / may be mistaken in
some Of the names mentioned
above, as ! was perfect stranger
IN the county at that time, and
would not feel much interest in
The names Of the county officers
lr 1892 d convection was held and
adopted d consultation, which es-
tablished a new order of thlncs
in many respects. Richard A
Stewart was The delegate from
the Senatorial district, and Isaiah
Cam and Richali Hurst, father
Old. W Hurst, I lliirk were tho
delegates from the county, This
constitution was superseded BY.
the constitution 81 1S57. For
sane years after ! came 10 the
county, thugs. went on in TIM
even tenor of their way, without
any thing occurring to make. ;
ripple in the, current Of events.
The AIurrelI excitement was the
first thing TO break this quist t aud
peaceful stale of affairs. M
event has occurred in the histor,
Of this State, from 1880 up to the
hlc war, tAut Created 50 great an
Excitement. .and lcdtQ SO dcplora-
bic consequences. (. | WAS once
familiar wiRls ALI the. prmciaa
facts connected with tlilssAffar,
bus | have now such an indistinct
recohertion,nf some OF thept that
4 caunet undertake give them
all. About 1905 Marcel made
bis appearances in this STATE, or ut
least made himself known as Il
robber. He committed robberies
IN several counties. His range
extended from about the nilddle
Of the S;a'e south, though it i,
probable he never was in this
cnnty. lie was fnally captured
III Yszooor lInlincs county, was
fried. convicted and scn'enaed to
The peliteulia,y for tenn OF
years, lyinle in the pen;tentlary
he had an attack Of Asiatic chol.
cla, but recovered. What be-
came Of him after serving hi,
time out T. do not remember
There was a young man by tn,
name OIL Virgil A. Stewart (wheth.
cr-a native Of this county or moi
| do not know, but I have seer
his fatiier's grave on the place
now occupied by Mr.. Lafayett.
TbomFs1n) ssvhoa associated him,
self with MurreA for the avowed
plrpos. of learning his history
and the objects ne had in view,
and ultimately to deliIer hun uI
tothe civil authorities. But there
were some people who were some
what skepIical about this bein.
his true object, lie. however
became q noted character for
While, and went about the coun
Try with il guard around him, les
some Of MurreIl' 5 associa tes nigh
Kill him. He published nara
tive, giving an account Of what he
bad learned during his intercours
with Afurrell This puhiieati,,,