The Springfield herald., 1913-03-07

pregnant enough to oc-
" cupy considerable por-
portion OF the news
papers. as they are in
all civilized communities. But we
must look back to a much earlier
period to find a chronicle OF an at
tempt to bring together in widely
extended conspiracy under a single
head all the forces OF evil which fes-
tered over $4,000 square miles OF
sparsely settled territory.
The field of this satanic campaign
extended from Cairo. ILL.,. to the Mis-
sissippi delta and cut the width OF
broad swath through half score OF
slave states. Wholesale and retail!
robbery. counterfeiting, land swln-
ding. negro stealing and selling, black
mailing. and even murder and assassi-
nation. all played their part in this
vast campaign of crime.
John Murrell. the apostle and lead
er of this Internal cult, the would-be
Napoleon Of chaos and crime in the
Mississippi valley. the organizer of
desperate clan Of some twelve hun
dred miscreants. taught his followers
that 1t was the safest way in most
cases to kill the victim. unless there
was some obvious reason to the con
trary.
Make an end of the fool" he
as wont to say; rip out his bowels
and heave him into the nearest swamp
or bayou: then the body won't rise
as testimony"
Ii III i,,t Ia q
ger of his cups, that he had slaughter
ed 40 men with his own hand. But
most of his crimes were committed
through agents.
But this diabolism was only the
fringe of his ambition. appalling as 1t
was. The goal Of his hopes was
great negro insurrection throughout
the south. which would sweep the
slave states like a devasting fame.
With this lust of rapine. giving 1t
: sharper edge. was yenomous jeal-
ousy and hatred of the rich which had
become like the mania OF rabid dog.
The time of the slave uprising he had
fixed for Christmas night. 1858
About 18 months before this ex-
pected climax. an interesting en-
counter occurred In the weeds OF Mad
ison county, West Tennessee. in what
was then known as the Choctaw pur
chase.
Virgil Stewart. a young Georgia n.
had come into small Inheritance
from his father a year before and had
then concluded to invest 1t in the
virgin lands OF that newly opened
tract He had made his entry. paid
the fee, and after keeping the store
of one Clanton. probate Judge, for
a while. had returned to Georgia to
complete the purchase and take resi-
dence.
Stewart was out riding one eve
ming in the early dusk when he over
took a striking figure mounted on
fine hunter. which he sat with the
ease of a finished horseman. He ac-
costed Stewart with wellbred ease
and the resonant voice of one accus-
toned to public speaking:
Good evening. sir hope that you
are enjoyin' your ride in the twilight
cleaning There is something de
lghtful at this hour In the woods. Ma
ture declares the glory OF God"-part-
ly shutting his eyes with an air Of
pensive enthusiasm-'but this meetin'
of day and dark among the tree-pillars
always makes me think OF a great
church made without hands"
Stewart stared at this salutation.
which he politely returned. and for
moment fancied the stranger an itin
Grant minister of the better class. But
he thought 1t odd that a gospeler
should ride a thoroughbred hunter
and carry heavy pistols in his hol-
sters. with knife in his belt and a
sawed-off shotgun on his pommel. Yet
almost all white man were wont to
ride armed then in that country and
there was nothing suspicious in the
fact except the pious twang OF the
overture.
The stranger caught Stewards look
and said suavely:
my host, who lives about ten miles
from hyar. is out OF venison. and so
! thought God would send me a chance
. for a buck don't believe In slayin'
the beasts of the field wantonly, but
they were created for the use of man.
we are taught in Holy Scripture. Do
you reside in this district. sir?"
PrODaDly snail, answered Stew
art. ''as | have recently bought land
here. and am on the outlook now for
some likely slaves. may have to
run down to New Orleans to get them,
though 1t is costly trip. for good
lot of them have disappeared from
here of late-run away or stolen
That's fine horse you're riding"
YES" said the other with a sinis-
ter twiIkling In his eye which Stew
arts keen observation noted. I'm a
good Judge of hoss. or of the sons
OF Ham whom God made for service.