The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-23
JUST A CAMPAIGN LIE.
AN UNANIMOUSLY UNTRUE STORY IN
A NORTHERN NEWSPAPER.
A. Deliberate Libel on Humboldt, Tenn,
and Certain Honorable Citizens, Who
Have Determined to Bring Suit for
Damages.

ulpooh 'Ouh'yt lchh', WIZ Wdb run OuJ |
Of the town the other night and barely es-
capped violence at the hands Of a Demo
cratic mob, the State of Tennessee is not |
included within the boundaries OF Mr.. |
Henry w. Grady's New South" and for |
all practical purposes the town in question |
is still Bourbon stronghold, imbued with |
the old pro-savery rebel spirit, and n |
place where Republicans need not apply. |
Mr.. Mcdonnell is at present in Chicago, |
where he formerly resided for many years,
and to a Tribune reporter yesterday de- |
tailed the story OF his experiences and es-
cape.
81 am an artist in marble work, cutting |
out ornaments, modelling, etc." said he. |
IL went TO Humboldt, Gibson county,
Tenn, about July 30, 1897, to work at my
vocation. remained there until last Sat
urday night, getting into Chicago this
Monday morning April was walk
ing up town as usual. | met on the street
Albert Dodson, the cashier Of the Mer-
chants and Farmers bank at Humboldt.
said, How do you do this evening" He
said, Il will be back directly and let you
know lie said this in boisterous and
quarrelsome voice. / went about my
business, and as | stood in front OF a gro
Gerry store he came back with pistol and
said: Il will let you see, you d---n
northerner, whether you will read north
ern papers or not You must read south
ern papers Crhis man is not 70 my
knowledge addicted to the use Of liquor.
and have never seen him intoxicated.
lie was not at this time under the infiu-
enco OF alcohol in the slightest degrce.)
After while he went down in front of
another store where his brother was. His
brother, Charles Dodson, asked him what
was the matter, and he then said: Il will
put a bullet through that d--n north
erncr.' why, what did the fellow say
10 your Nothing was the reply; 'buthe
reads northern papers; let him read south
crn.' lie added that was down there not
only as an artist, but as q Republican spy
to gather up political information for the
Republican party, and that they were pay
ing me for that Subsequently 1t became
rumored around all over the town that i
was down there on that business. Thurs
day evening Of last week, met Charles
Dodson. He asked me where / roomed.
! said, AT the same place They asked
me why did not go 20 the theatrical per
formanccs which were being given in the
! town for three or four nights. told them
| might 90 the next evening, which | did.
| This was Friday, the 18th inst. AT the
thcatcr Imct party Of citizens Of the town,
among them being Charlie Dodson, Albert
| Dodson, Charlie Fox, q man by the name
| Of Wells, n clerk ut the Dunlap house;
Charles Day, railroad man in the employ
OF the Mobile & Ohio railroad, and q man
named llcckoen. and several others whose
names can't recall, but whom knew.
While attending the theater overheard
young lady who was sitting near me say
to a young fellow This is the last time
we will sec him alive meaning me.
| The party Of men above mentioned left
| their seats, which were near me, went
oil together, and talked and kept look
ing at me all the time rs II they were going
10 organize mob to hang me. did not
90 to my usual quarters that night, but
went 10 another place. About midnight i
heard them say as they rushed by the
place where ] WAS lie Is n sharp north
crnoT; he gave us a flank movement; he
must be one Of Shcrman's damn Yankee
ilankers; We must get rid OF him or we are
gone; he knows our names. The next
morning | went 10 the room that usually
occupied. A colorcd boy met me. Said
lac: Mr. Mcdonnell, are you alive and
my umbrella, leaving all my other things
behind, including weeks salary, went TO
the depot aud took the iirst train 10 Cairo.
had TO fly for my life.
81 received n note, delivered by a color.
cd boy, April ~ or 10, stating that must
quit taking that northern paper (meaning
the Chicago Tribune, which I had taken
since the latter part Of Marchl or | would
die. | paid no attention TO the note,
Of course. heard them say Friday
night, | believe. that II Mcdonnell
IL put ont Of the way there will be- five or
six Of his friends 20 with him, for u the
northerncrs get hold oft those damn lanks
will be down here again, rs they were In
1861.
"li had not overheard these rumons
would have been killed, without doubt, as
these men have often boosted openly b.
me OF hayingkillcd several men. This town
IL right In the heart Of the kuklux. These
men above referred 10 arc Of the young
generation that is rising up. They arr
from eighteen 10 thirty years old. They
nre worse than the old ones.
albert Doison WIS educated for q
preacher, but took the pistol In prcfcfcncC
10 the Bible. Ills father Is quito wealthy
plow manufacturer.
"The town Of Humboldt, Gibson county,
u on the line OF the Louisville & Nashville
and the Mobile 4 Ohio railroads, and u
about eighty.tlyc miles from Memphis.
am positive that would have been dead
man u had gone 10 my usual quarters
last Friday night.
81 am well known here In Chicago, hav.
~ been q member Of the Young Mems
Republican club In 1884 and member Of
tho First Ward Republican club.
TnE uE NAILED.
In reply 10 the foregoing, the Humboldt
Messenger says cditorially
The long story OF the outrage Of ]. ].
Mcdonnell In another column every per.
SON In and around Humboldt knows 20 be
malicious lie from beginning 10 end
II Il an insultto the people OF the whole
south. Mcdonnell has always been
treated as a rnlloman, and not person
in town overhaul word Of trouble with
him about politics or anything else. Last
Friday woman who gave her name ~
H. Moilcr arrived In town. She asked a
number Of pen,ons II Mcdonnell had rep.
resented himscli rs being n single man
and led them ca form the Impression that
lac had deserted her. lie appeared 10 be-
afraid oi her, and would not 20 20 his
clearinghouse. They wcrc seen together
10y several persons. On Friday night after
the circus lac went 10 Mr.. Spacy's board
ing.housc and s., into one Of the boardcr'.
beds, acting strangely. lie left town on
Saturday morning The young men who's,
names havo been used by this scoundrel