Year: 1868

To the Editors of the Union and American:


That justice may be done a much
abused people, it is proper that full and
impartial statements of the hanging of
Rolla Dotson, at Winchester, should be
given to the public.


The deceased was as perfect speci-
men of desperate and outlaw as per-
haps could be fou nd in any community
in Tennessee. He was raised on Point
Rock, in jackson county, Ala, and from
early youth evip ced desperation and
recklessness of disposition which clearly
foreshadowed the life which he led.
Before the war he had taken the lives of
three or four men without sufficient
provocation, and some in cold blood He
joined the Confederate army-deserted
and Joined the Federal army-then
deserted or left it, and united with
band Of marauders, who plundered at
will the inoffensive citizens on both sides,
and since the war closed has been en-
gagged mainly in ro obing and stealing
ndiscriminately-li ing with two women
in the same room, one lawful wife-in
fact, has been from time to tirne guilty of
nearly all the crime known to the deca-
logue. He killed in cold blood one or
more men since the war closed. Some
two years since he moved to Bedford
county, and was at the time of his death
under indictments in that county for va
rious offenses. de was talten from the
Jail of that county and on Sunday, 18th
November, placed in the Jail of Franklin
county, for trial before the Circu it Court,
then in session, upon three indi ctments
for murder. Application was made for
| a change of venue, which was denied
and the court was preparing to try him
when, on Wednesday night, Dece. amber 2,
between eleven and twelve O'clock, some
| fifteen armed men in masks, went TO the
Jail in Winchester and forci bly, took him
thence and hanged him on the limb of a
shade tree in the courthouse yard I'm
known to the citizens of the town sind in
few minutes after he was taken from
the jail-the deed was dome and the
armed men gone. From inf Ormstion de-
rived from a direct source, and after a
careful and strict search into. the circu m
stances, it is safe to say that not single
man living in or near Win chsster and
most probably not man residing in
that county had any thing to do with the
transaction; but it is rend cred almost
certain that the deed was do ne by those
to whom Dotson had rende red himself
most obnoxious, and anon z whom he
had been raised. The three men for the
| killing of whom he was indicted in Fra nk-
lin county, were, or had been shortly
before, with perhaps 81 ogle exc,,p'
ton, residents of the Point Rock couA-
try, although the killing had been
done in franklin county. The people Of
Franklin county are as quiet, peaceful
and high-toned community as live in
Tennessee or anywhere else. They
show as much respect and regard for the
law, and, Notwithstanding this is true,
they are represented by the political


mendieants of the day as being lawless,


unruly population-a base slsnder upon
q good people. They regret the occur
renee just detailed as much as any peo-
pie can, and it was done without their


knowledge or appreciation, and to this


conclusion arrived the judicial officers,


Circuit Judge, Attorney General and


Coroner, all forced by the facts and cir
cumstances surrounding the case, after


a full and careful Investigation.