The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-08-20
SWIFT PUNISHMENT OF CRIME
In MISSISSIPPI.
Three Murdorers Plead Guilty and
are Sentenced for Life.


Three Murdcrers Plead Guilty and
are Sentenced for Life.
On Wednesday, August I, Hon. Dab.
ney Marshall, Democratic nominee for
State Senator and member OF the
State Legislature, accompanied by II.
ii. Coleman, w. j. Voller and IL. II.
Fox, all prominent citizens OF Vicks-
burg, arrived in jackson and proceed
ed to search for II. L. Dinkins. "a gen
tleman highly connected in this State
and cousin of Bishop =. b. Galloway,
who, 1t was charged, had circulated
very sensational stories about Marshall.
AT Dinkin's boarding house it was
learned that he was in Brandon, q
small station fifteen miles east of Jack
son, Early Tuesday morning, Mar
snail and his companions hired livery
team and proceeded To Brandon where
they found Dinkins standing on the
| depot platform, waiting for train.
Marshall, without warning, opened
fire on Dinkins, and struggled en-
sued. When it was found that Mar
s iall was getting the worst of the en-.
counter, his friends went to his assis-
tence and sent n fusilade of shots at
D,nkins, who was unarmed. Dinkins
| tell dead, pierced by half Il dozen bull
Immediately surrendered to the sheriff
Circuit Court met at Brandon on
Monday, August -, and the grand
jury immediately proceeded to work
on the ease, and the next evening
brought II true bill against Marshall.
Coleman and Fox, and discharged Vol.
ler who it appeared had taken no part
IN the shooting, but was present mere
y us an attorney. The prisoners were
arraigned in the court next morning
and by agreement pleaded guilty OF
murder in the first degree and were
sentenced to life Imprisonment in the
State pcnitcntiary. The verdict is
regarded as triumph of law over vio-
lcnce, and is quick Justice, even for
Mississippi, there being an interval of
exactly one week between the shoot
ing and the sentence.
The jackson correspondent OF the
Atlanta Constitution says: The ped.
pie Of The capital of Mississippi, excer(
the immediate relatives Of the dsh
ceased, were startled by the a"theNs. =
announcement of the sudden judicial
conclusion Of the atrocious tragedy at
Brandon, on Friday last. These words
spread like wild fire throughout the
city: Marshall, Fox and Coleman
plead guilty and will be sentenced to a
life term in the pcnitentiary.'
1t is stated that the defense being
entirely without legal or moral grounds
on which to rest their case in the
courts, made the proposition to the
prosecution asking that the slayers OF
DinklnS be allowed to plead guilty of
murder aud accept life sentence.
While assured that the conviction and
execution OF the accused would neces-
sariIy follow Il fair trial, the State
mcrcifully agreed to allow the crimi-
nails to suffer life imprisonment. This
proposition was submitted 10 the
brother OF the deceased, who was pres
ent representing the family, and who
came to jackson last night in COMPANY
with Hon. Il. n. Miller, chief counsel
Tor the prosecution, to consult Bishop
Gal way, cousin of the deceased. The
Bishop, while assured of Il con nyictiOn
TO be followed by the death sentence,
advised acceptance. He s,atcd that if
he were dischargiug the solemn func-
tions of a juror, with II solemn oath to
decide the case according to the law
and the evidence, he would be com
petled TO vote for II death sentence.
AS man and citiXcn he could not
ask for tho life OF another, and cX-
pressed the hone that this punishment
Will subScrvc the great ends of Justice
and help to some higher appreciation
of human life in the State of Mississip-
pi.
The criticism of Hon. A. j. Nc
Laurln, chief counsel for the defense.
VINO is the Democratic nominee for
Governor, Is very fierce"
The prisoners were taken to jackson
at once. aud their march to the pcni-
tcntary is thus described:
The line of march to the pententi-
ary was led by the marshal, who having
lived in jackson few years ago knew
the way. Hundreds of people stood
close up to every corner and lined the
streets along which the procession
moved. The rear was brought up by
Il mob OF hundreds of men and bows,
white and black, all scuilling for the
vantage ground nearest the prisoners,
pushing and jostling each other in
their effort to get IL good look at the
prisoners. Old solid citizens, one
scvcnty.iive years OF age, were seen to
run block or two to catch up with or
head OF the procession, they might get
glimpse OF the distinguished ar
rivals.
Offensive cpithets, jibes and jeers
were heard on all sides, most OF them
being uttered for Marshall's express
benefit, but he walked rapidly on to
his destination, giving no intimation
tnat ne hcard them. BuggicS and
carriages joined in the wild rush for
the pcnitcntiary and by the time the
prisoners arrived there the streets
were crowded with wheeled vehicles,
as well as II Thousand more curious
people.
The crowd did not stop at the gates,
but rushed on with the prisoners up
the broad paved walks and into the
hall leading to the pOnderouS iron
doors which swung open at the APP
proach of the sergeant who motioned
Marshall, Coleman and Fox to enter.
The heavy bolts changed back in
place and the prisoners were hidden
from the world and the eyes of the
curious.
- =
Two pieces Of cannon which the
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