Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-18
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF CHISHOLM MuRDERERs

One of the most revolting crimes in the United States during the past century was the murder of the Cnis- holm family at De kalb, Miss, on April 29. 1877. It was the outcome of the peculiar sort of politics Of that period in Mississippi, and was trag- edy of feud that had existed for a number of years
 On Thursday evening, April 26, John W Gully, 8 priminent citizen ot Kemper county. was assassinated by an unknown party. Evidence was that the deed was done by Benjamin Rush. a white man, who had been instigated to it by Judge w. w. Chis- holm and several others. Chisholm and his son, John were arrested, and Mrs. Chisholm and" her daughter CoTnelia insisted upon sharing their confinement
 On the Sunday following a mob at tackled the jail and Chisholm was wounded and his sen and daughter killed. Miss Chisholm in defend ing her father shot and killed pr. wounded young Gully. whose father had been killed. Those whom the mob aaccused of being implicated with Chis- holm in the murder of Gully were taken from the jail and hanged.
 On the first day of the trial Mrs, VI related how Rosser had shot her son John, and how another son. Clay, had carried the dead boy down the jail stairs, and how Cornelias who had thrown her arms about her father to protect him, had been shot by Gully. Gully also later fired the fatal shot which killed the father.
 Cornelia was carried home fatally wounded, while Judge Chisholm was assisted home by his wife and young son. Cornelia fingered until May Is, when she died from the effects of her wounds.
 Among the witnesses were pr. Chamberlain, who had attended Cor nelia. He testified that she died from the effects of her wounds; that one o1 the bones of her leg was injured, and two of the bones of her arm were broken by buckshot, and that she was wounded in the face by some blunt instrument, and that no treatment could have saved her life.
 The State made an effort to estab- and others to kill Chisholm, GilmeI and Rosenbauna, and that in carrying it into effect they killed Cornelia and other parties. On this point the State gained no strength.
 Among the declarations after the killing of Chisholm going to show 9 conspiracy was one of the defend, ant that, We have done what wC came to do.' and that, "if there is any hanging to be done. here is my neck. 1 The defence closed its case at 5: 3( p. m. on Sept. 10. and at 10 o'clock or ] the following morning the testimony wss closed. Dist.Atty. Ford, in sum. 1 ming up. attempted to show con, 1 spiracy on the part of Henry J. Gully 1 the defendant, and others to nurdel I Judge Chisholm, and that in carryins ! their design into effect Cornelia Chis l holm was killed. The strongest ap. 1 peal for the prisoner was made b, l Col. $. M. Meek of Columbus, Miss
 known as the Eagle orator of AIissis l sippi."
 The case was continued until th morning of Sept. 12 when at 10. 8 o'clock Judge Morris closed his charg
 to the jury. The F men at once re tired and were only out about half al hour when they returned a verdict 0 I not guilty. and the political feud whicI had deprived a wife of husband an,
 a mother of two children was at al end. At the time of the trial Mrs
 Chisholm resided in Washington am
 she was accompanied to Mississipr by Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, an in timate friend, who remained with he during the trying ordeal.