Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-17
PARKERSON'S REASONS
Pof Lsidins As hob n The Parish
Prison Hassae7e.
He Didn't Pixs a ehot, but the Men
Who Followed obsysd Imp!icisly.

He Didn't Ftzs a ehot, but the Men
Who Followed obsysd Implicitly.
Nkw YosK, March ia New Orleans
special {, the Tribune gives an interesting
interview with William S. Pafkerson, the
lesder Of the Regulators last Saturday. He
10 8 lawyer, "a years old, and very popular.
In 1888 he led the yeasg men Who over
threw the riug OF Democracy which cea-
troiled the city. He holds no public Office,
having declined the -st.orneyship. He
eaid:
81 WAS away Frii&y sud came back to
the offiee after the verdict sequi.,ing the
Itsli4ns When I gos there found a
lsrge number of eitizsns awaiting me,
some of them old enough 20 be my grand.
father. They were talking shout the cut
rsgeols verdict and told me they had come
to ask me 70 take some measures to ri2h.
it. After Is minutes conversation we ad-
journed TO meet sgain that evening. In the
evening We met in the rooms of a young
man whose name do not care to mention.
There were about $50 Of US and amoug
them were men who were here this morn-
ing. We stood up and were packed in like
tardines. They made me chairman.
There was more talking aboa. the verdict
and wss again appealed 20. None OF us
drank anything and there were no refresh
meDts in the room.
1--WE all sizned call published in the
next mornings papers asking the citizens
TO assemble at 10 Saturday morning at the
Clay statle, saying we would be prepared
to carry out their instructions"
Meaning you would be ready to slsy
tie prisoners"
ef the public pulse. Saturday came t,
my office a. 45 and 9 As started for the
rendezvous at our friends room. Four
or tve of Us went from there to the statue,
where we found 8 muttering mob of many
thousands. l made 8 little speech, telling
them we had duty to perform; tine most
terrible duty had ever undertaken; the
law had Discarried aud we we're prepared
to do whatever they desired. They shouted,
Come on"
"Whst did you understand from that2"
THAT we were to 60 TO the prison"
ibid any body say so in 90 many words?"
"Oh, it was known well enough. Alta
meeting Friday night they tried to get me
to the prison bat refused to do nytliug
at night. From the .taiue We started for
prison, leading the crowd following US.
We hsd to walk about a mile AID as we
walked along the people came from the
side of the streets and fell into the process
SIGN. Women were crying add men cheer
ing. 1t wss the most terrible thing / ever
saw--so quiet determination Of the crowd.
There was no disorder. We stopped on
the way at cur friends rooms where we
found the guns awaiting us. | had my
own gun there. About 100 Winche sters
and shotguns l thiak were given out. /
never carry revolver but ihas morning I
put one in my pocket. took y Winehes-
ter besides. AT this moment I am uu-
armed"
"At the prison gate Lem Davis, l think
that is his name, came TO the door, and !
asked him fo. the keys to let us in. He
said he could not give them. said that if
he did not we would break iuto The prison.
He still refused. Then l ordered the
crowd to make ready to break and sent for,
some gun powder and sent detschnent
to break in at the door. We got some
wood and used it to ba.tsr the main door.
That resisted, but the side door was forced.
Then | went around to tha side door and
placed three mer on guard, one legal
officer Of this municipality, telling them
whom to allow to enter and asking the
crowd to be orderly. The guards had
Winehesters.
"The cro~d was composed of lawyers,
doctors, bankers and prominent citizens
generally. Ii was the most obedient crowd
= oh Il t.,,r lipikt
Just as II WAS militIry commander. II
there was any ri # raft it wss s,l on the out
side When we got in at first we could
not fiad the prisoners. I cav only six of
them shot The ether five were in another
psrt Of the building, lorg wsy off, The
inieniion had been not 10 shoot any. but
wh@n the men were inside, sbsut so Of
them, they got very furious. and after the
fret taste of blood i. vas impossible to keep
tdeu back. The prisoners did not make
any noise or eeem uneasy, except Foliiz
He fought Ike Wild cat and had TO be
handcuffed with handouts we found in
prison before we could take him out .o
bang tim."
''It you didn't mean TO shoot. Why did
you take guns?"
"B.csuse we didn't know what resistance
we might encounter from the officers in
eharsa-from any body. We meat to get
iato the prison ard wcu'd have torn i. down
If necessary"
"Did you kill nybsdy wi,h yous own
handsf''
mo. dida't fire a Shot At meetirg
the night before said that Mauango aad
another should be spIred, the two declared
innocent by Judge Baker, in vhose iateg-
tity we had perfect confidence. said I
would defend those men with my o1n life if
necessary, and they were net harmed"
"Didn't il strike you IS not courageous
TO shoot lot OF unsrmed men in a hoe?"
well" sail the young lawyer quietly,
there is no doubt about The coursge Of
sny many man in our party. OF course i.
i. is not a courageous thing to attack men
nos armed, but ne looked upon these men
as so msny rsptiles.'
''DJ you regret what you have 5one?'
mot bit, exceptthat the oecessi,y arose
ard the duty Was forced upon me. There
is no ms1 Who is more loyal and abiding
American citizen than I. I am proud Of
my cit tizsnsbip and will do everything to
uphold it. teach my children to DO III.
same"
Haven't you met ore violation Of law
With ano,hei?
No, this was great emergency, greater
than ever happened in New YORK, Cincin-
natl or Chicago. I didn't act through
sentimental er personal interest for Hen
messy. knew him veil. ard asked Mayer
Shakespeare to appoint him. He was a
fiue man ard an efflcisn: officer, We felt
when he was killed DO telling .bich Of US
would 60 rext. While the Msfa conflned
itself to killing its own members we did
not resort 70 violence. Henns ssy's killing
struck st every root Of American institu-
';ons. Intimidation Of Msfis and the cor
rup,ion OF our iaries var to be net only
with strong nisasuses."