The morning news., 1894-11-23
Highest
Awards at
Worlds Fair.

lilt MEXICAN war ana ever since tnAJ
time he has worn the regulation uniform
in which he assisted in the bombardment
OF Vera Cruz. He says he has worn the
artillery uniform nearly all his life and
would not feel right in any other kind of
clothing. He was born i'm 1872 and is
therefore, 81 years old, but he does not
appear 10 be over 5J He is as fun of
life and as jovial as a boy and loves to
recount the adventures Of his boyhood
He followed Gen Taylor across the Rio
Grande to Salullo, and from there he
was transferred to the command of Cen
Scott and assisted in the bombardment
and capture of Vera Cruz. He says that
he has worn the uniform his whole Life
long and hopes to die with it on.
The second day of the trial of the six CON
spirators and lfu-klux of the mountains Of
Murray and Gilmer counties in the United
states court at Atlanta, brought forth
some sensational testimony. Two wit
nesses testified for the government One
of them was James Powell, who lives d
mile and a quarter from the home of the
Thurman family, who, it is alleged, were
whipped on the 9Th of last February by the
defendants on trial-Alec McKinnish Neal
Gentry. Lee Grice, Mink Moore and John
Bradley. The other witness was Mrs
James Powell, wife of the witness mem
toned. James Powell testified that while
at the little postofiee of Round Top, near
Ellijay, he overheard a conversation be
tween Mink Moore, Lee Grice and others
of the conspirators. What did they saw"
asked Assistant District Attorney Tinney
Bucker. "One of them said" responded
the witnesses, that there had been re
porting in that neighbOrhood and that it
was the Thurmans. They said that they
were going to ravish one of the daughters
Florida Thurman, and give the others, old
man Thurman and Vada Thurman, his
daughter, HE'LL The witness also testi-
fed that they saw him at the postoffice.
and suspeCting him of reporting stills of
which he declared his innocence, drew
their knives and threatened him bodily
harm. Mrs Powell testified to an ugly set
of facts. She said that body Of men dis
gutSed like those who visited the house of
the Thuriuans, broke the door Of her house
down and asked her where her husband
James Powell, was. He was away spend
ing the night with his brother. Louis Pow
ell. They cursed her, struck her few vio-
lent blows with a strop and warned her
against either ever reporting a stin or df-
vulging the visit. She recognized them as
the same crowd who the government has
proved visited the Thurmans
Atlanta Journal; A letter was received
at the Fulton county Jail Wednesday,
addressed to Willie Myers, recently con-
victed of the murder of Forrest Crowley
which may be turned to the ADVANTAGE or
disadvantage of the unfortunate prisoner
The letter was in plain, white envelope
addressed to Willie Myers, Fulton county
jail, Atlanta, Ga. The postmark was
Athens, Ga The letter, which was written
on white paper, was received by Jailers
Mardis and Bradley and opened by them
according to law. Myers is not allowed to
receive any mail which has not been on
ened by the jailers. The letter was as fol-
lows: Athens, Ga, Nov. II, 1894 Dear
Myers-Far Gods sake don't give under.
l viii spring the trigger at the last mo-
ment, but In time. Trust me, old boy and
cheer up. Yours truly, Brown Allen 8"
Very few persons knew of the receipt of
the letter, and there was "A decided diff
ference of opinion among those VINO did
know of 1T. Some thought that Brown
Allen, feeling sympathy for Myers had
written the letter to cheer the young fell
/ lows spirits. These same people say that
1 Brown Allen is the fellow who committed
/ the murder in Athens, which some thought
/ that Myers was connected with. Others
/ think differently. When Myers friends
| heard of the letter they We're indignant.
/ One of them was seen by a reporter and
/ sand THE sending of that letter to
| Myers is an outrage. 1t was done by
! some of the poor boys enemies for the
/ purpose Of injuring him. Its purpose is
! self-evident, Some person, who must be
a bitter enemy of Myers and who wishes
! to pursue him even to'the grave wrote
! this letter 1t is a. cunningly devised
/ scheme to injure him with the public II
/ was sent from Athens for the purpose OF
/ connecting him with the murder which
was committed in that city some time
/ ago"