The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-07
THE ELECTION DAY RELIC.
SQUIRE powell NAILS 1T TO THE
CROSS WITHOUT MERCY.
Thirteen Negroes Tried for Attacking a
Dummy Train Load Of Whites in
Charge OF a Ballot-Box, and Five Of
Them Are Bound over to the State.

The police court chamber swarmed with
colored prisoners and spectators yesterday
afternoon.
Squire George r. Powell, associate JUS
tice OF the city court, had too much bust
ness to be transacted in his ten-by fourteen
Office just across the street, and transferred
his paraphernalia, including the plug,
keen perception, quick temper, etc., to the
more spacious quarters.
The cases to be tried were thirteen in
number, growing out OF negro mobs as
sault upon dummy train load of Demo.
cratic passengers carrying with them the
Fourteenth district ballot box on election
day, Thursday last. The names OF the
prisoners were Sam Collier, W. II. Bease-
ley, William Davis, ]. A. o. Broughton,
Henry Robinson, John Gray, alias Tyson;
Adam Cartman, Steve Ingram, T. Hum
pbreys, A. Cowan, Anthony Gray, T. J.
johnson and William Stewart.
The lawyers in the cases were Mr. Nc.
Brooks for the State and Judge John +.
Moss, Col. Nat. Taylor and T. /. Cassels
Tor the defense, the latter being in no wise
associated, but having their own respect.
I've cases.
. Broughton, John Gray, ingram, Hum
phreys, Cowan, johnson and Stewart were
discharged, the Others being bound over
to the criminal court in the sum OF s., 900
each, Cartman being rather singular ex-
ception. The day OF his arrest Carlman
waived examination and was told he could
give bond, but has so far failed to do so.
This understanding, however, operated to
prevent trial yesterday, but he was told
through his attorney, Cassells, to come up
with il in hurry or 90 to jail in default.
Anthony Gray, as developed at the trial,
was the toughest OF the lot, and caught il
in two cases. He il was who led the mob
and did the slashing with painful effect on
J. 4. Ramsey and George Elliott The
cause OF the affair has already been made
known through The APPKAL, and the tes-
timony OF two witnesses, Messrs. Ramsey
and John Matthews, will complete the
case for the press. n substance they tes-
tilted az follows:
When the dummy pulled out from near
the residence Of Mr.. Harris. the negroes
crowded aboard, although informed by MIR.
Harris, the conductor and others that il
was II chartered train on which only Dem
ocrats could ride. Gray and another me-
gro, whose name was not given, remarked,
well ride on dat train or mob de whole
bizness!" The white Democratic passen-
gers endeavored to prevent them, and the
train moved of, but not before Gray and
several others had crowded in. Efforts
made TO push them off, the train then
came 20 another stand after running about
100 yards, and IL was there that Gray drew
his knife and began his bloody work. The
others found guilty were proven to have
thrown bricks at the dummy.
When witnesses in the case OF Henry
Robinson had testified, Judge Moss adj
vanced TO the bench and said: Before
your honor has bound this man over,
would like TO examine the warrant and
= -aall your attention to few legal points in.
volved."
There was an audible smile from the in
telligent ones present, and some one re-
marked: "ie has not bound him over
yet, or said anything about doing so. How
do you know he's going 10 do sop
81 don't know IL, y said the Judge, "but
merely admitted IL for the sake Of argu-
ment."
Eyes, you do know it,p spoke up the
squire in that manner peculiar to himself,
and which every one appreciates.
Without noting the ultimatum, the At.
torney proceeded TO point out the points, "
but he and the squire talked at the same
time; the latter came out conqueror, an.
nounced his decision, and the attorney
collapsed, with the satisfactory remark,
"Well as attorney for eight prisoners,
got four OF them out :"