The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-05-14

"Never heard Of him." I replied brisk
ly; shut why is a Yankee remarkabley:'
eyer don't quite ketch on" answered
Sheriff Jack. ssThet Yankee thar has
killed six niggers."
ibid he blow them up with dynamite?:"
/ asked laughing, for I did not believe
the tale.
The sheriff looked at me with a frown.
"Mebbe yer calls SIGH as that er jokin'
matter he said.
/ FASTENED to assure him that he was
mistaken, and begged him to tell me all
about it.
"Yer see" said he, ssthis young Teller
Ransom has killed six niggers that we
know of, and how many more the Lord
only knows"
HAS he been tried?"
ssTried fur whut?s inquired the sheriff.
"For murder
"No, and amt ergwine ter be-"
"Has he been arrested?'
ARRESTED fur whuta'
do you mean to tell me-" I said, 'sthat
the authorities have made no effort to
bring him to ~justice?'
.sThet's a BRAN new way Of putting it,"
replied Sheriff Jack; .'but thet's about
the size of it."
/ was silent a full minute. Then !
spoke up.
ibid Ransom Kill those men because
they attacked him, or in a fight, or how?'
"He jest hunted 'em down ono by one
an killed 'em.'
ssM,. Tack ., + axo1,;paa1 ET o,nro%r n-
derstand such a state of affairs. Why
don't you arrest the man?'
The sheriff's eyes grew misty, and he
wiped away something like a tear.
"Cunnle,p he whispered, hoarsely, sid
resign fust. Besides, / have no call ter
act. The grand jury has found no in
dictment. Thar's no warrant out. /
never saw Ransom fire a shot. We Jest
know in reason tibet he done the job, but
thet's all. We amt got no pint blank
evidence. an we don't want none"
s'It will hurt the county"
Mot by a darn sight. It will help it"
Then Sheriff Jack told me all about the
sad business.
Robert Ransom had come to Buckshot
county with his young wife from the
north, and had made his home on a
plantation.
The Ransoms in a quiet way made it
understood from the first that they were
going to carry out their own peculiar
ideas. They hired a large number of ne
groes and treated them just as they would
have treated so many whites. They paid
them good wages monthly in cash, loaned
them money, worked them eight hours a
day and gave them frequent holidays.
The young couple were SO pleasant and
attractive, so honest in their views and
SO full of good feliowshiptha their neigh
bors were very friendly with them. Oc-
~casionally the older citizens warned them
that they We're making a mistake, and
that their negroes would give them trou-
BILE.
But the Ransoms laughed at all this.
They said that kindness was bound to
win, and they believed that putting the
negroes on a footing with the whites
would stimulate them to do better work
and make them more faithful.
1t was suggested n day to Ransom
that it was a risk to leave his wife alone
on the plantation when he went to town.
The young man laughed the idea to
scorn.
my policy makes us safe" he said.
'My negroes are bound to rue by the ties
Of gratitude and friendship. They would
die in our defense"
One day in the summer Ransom had
togo to town ON business. Just before
he started his wife, q pretty, fragile little
thing, put her arm around his neck, and
begged him to return early.
"Bless my life. I believe you are afraid"
said Ransom.
.Ifeel nervous answered his wife. 81
don't know what Is the matter with me,
but ! AM strangely depressed. All the
house servants are going off to camp
meeting and / shall be alone. Now, try
to get home before dark, please"
Ransom promised, and kissed her, and
then handed her a small pistol.
.If anybody bothers you point that at
them" he said, jestingly.
II will do more" she answered; "if !
am in danger of the worst / will tur it
against myself"
Her husband kissed her again, told her
that she was a little fool, and rode off to
town.
1t was Saturday, and a busy day. In
spite of his best efforts Ransom found
that he was late in getting home.
At last the planter was on the road, and
he flew at the top Of his speed.
Nine o'clock-ten caught him before he
reached the plantation.
Before taking his horse tethe stable he