The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-23
Investigator Among EssIe..

There are some thirty colored cxiles
from Crittendcn In this city. A majority
Of those negroes permitted 10 remain Of
home are warm sympathizers with the
banished parties, and manage TO keep
them moderately well posted as 10 the
status Of affairs. An ArPEAL reporter
went after these Crittcnden relics last
night, and found them still the center OF
attraction around Beale street, IIadden
avenue and DcSoto street, and the Bealc
Street Baptist church. Most OF them, in
fact, attend every service at this house OF
worship.
Tue first exile encountered was Clerk
Dave Ferguson. Dawes troubles seem 10
prey upon him. and he was endeayoring
10 drown them In the flowing bowl. Ask
ed about the indictments, in his drawsy,
drunken sort Of way Dave replied:
81 seed several parties from over dar to-
| day. Ono OF dem wuz a member oh do
gran Jury, John Murray, | bclicbo his
name wuz. from dc loworpart OF dc county.
lie said dar wuz twelve or fifteen indict-
mcnts foun' aginst white and cullud mon.
lie didn' know none OF dc names"
"Whcre is Murray now p
Ties done gone home"
"What else did you hear p
John Oglcsby tolc mo dat ono Of dc
white men who wuk Indicted fur carryin'
u gun wuE tried anil acquitted"
did you hear that the grand jury had
traced tho anonymous letters 10 your Office
and that they were in the writing Of
Ramsey"
"No, sab. didn't hear dat OATS all
wrong, cause dcy wuz not writ In liar"
Judge Dan Lewis, another OF tho do
| posed and exiled negroes, came In Mt this
| juncturc, but left soon after putting n few
questions TO Ferguson and learning his
muddlcd condition. The reporter nc
companied Lewis, who rcpudiated the
story Of Oglcsby M the mcrcrt bo.h. lie
did not believe any white man had been
tried.
"Mr. Nightingale, In his sermon al tho
Bcalc street church tonight. referred 10 the
first act Of violence growing out Of the
troubles" said Lewis 20 the reporter rs
they walked from fcrguson's boarding.
house toward the church.
"What did he say7"
ole said. in speaking ut length on the
Crittcndcn county troubles, that woman
who came from there today told him the
body Of a colorcd man had been found
swinging FROM n limb, with his throat
cut"
"who was tho colorcd man9''
III understood him TO say that the finsl
impression was that II was Sandy Odom
but investigation proved Il otherwise"
what had Odom done TO DO thu
trca,cd3'
Nothing at ALL lilo was q farmer, liyct
about six miles from Madison, and repro
scntcd Cnitondcn county lin the Legiala
ture. lilo was In Memphis last week, and
, had been warned not 10 return. lie did
80, however, last Thursday or Friday"
who found the body7'
81 did not hear"
"Whcrc was Il iound?"
81 heard Il was near Odom's house."
What were the particulars, ~ relates
by Mr. Nightingale
Gle didn't know any further than IN,
, discovery reported by the woman"
was Odom In Marion irqucntly7'
. Eyes, he camc there whenever ho Ia,
. business 10 transact"
, Associate Editor Harvey. Of the Watch
, man, came NJ about this time, and hal
. version about tho lynching. lilo was a
; the depot when the afternoon train on IN,
. Kansas City road came In. In converse
/ ton with \. Stevenson. n colorcd pas
, singer agent for the road, he learned q
the summary vengeance. His information
, was that Olom was the victim: that II &C
currcd between Marion aud Cawiorl'
, vile, aud no contradiction had rcache
his ears
[, "You heard about DR.. Stith, didn' I your
! asked Lewis of Harvey.
, Harvey had, hut tho reporter hal mol
aud asked Tor the facts surrounding hi
? caac.
Lewis answered: "Dr. Stith was In Mem
phis AT his own yolition, and rcturne
home saturday In response 20 an urgcn
summons TO the bedside Of his sick wife
: No sooner had ho landed at Marion tina
, lac was harvested and put In jail.
D "May liz he WIS one Of the parties Ia
dicicd by the grand jury, suggested th
. "May he 20. but they couldn't indie
, him any morc than they could YOU"
( "llow many indictments wcrc rcturned1'
, 81 heard thcnc wcrc between thirty an
, forty"
, "Arc You involved In thcm -
81 don't know II 30 | have no, bee
molcuied"
"wha. are you going to do about sc'
ting hack7'
"rhcy scnt word ovor hep that u yo
returned you would be- hung, intsrrup,e'
Harvey, addressing Lewis The other
could ne,urn aud be put In Jail. bu. the
would hang you"
Then I won't 70 back, said Lewis
emphaiically.