Year: 1879

THE JUSTIFICATIO

 There has been a good deal pub lished about the recent troubles in Washington County, which had their origin in the killing of one Jno. Reed i, and there has been desperate effort in some quarters to manufacture po- litical capital out of it against the Democrats of Washington County, because, forsooth, Reed happen ed to be a republican-just as though a republican desperate should be exempt from the consequences of un- lawful conduct and resistance to the civil authorities, simply because he was republican.

 From the last issue of the Fayette- vile Democrat we see that the good people of Washington have been fully exonorated; and we take pleasure in reproducing the comments of that pa per, as follows:

 On Wednesday evening last the grand jury reported to kis honor, Judge Berry, that it had failed to find a bill against Deputy Sheriff Sorrel, charged with the killing of John Reed, some six or eight weeks since. Several days were consumed Tn the investigation of this case, the grand jury making an impartial, thorough and complete examination of all the facts connected with the unfortunate affair, from which that body, sworn to mete out justice to all patIes, regardless of "wealth standing or positlon," as charged by our able and impartial Judge, justl- fled the killing of Reed. To those who witnessed Reeds actions for several hours before his death, and knowing many facts connected with the matter, the decision of the grand jury was nothing more than was ex- pected. Notwithstanding the fact that the coroner's jury was compos- ed of five Republicans out of the twelve, an effort was made to create the impression that the killing of Reed was foul affair, and that the jurors had perjured themselves in rendering verdict ofjustlfiable kill ing. The testimony in the case showed conclusively that Reed was unlawfully engaged in the attempt to release prisoner from the custo dy of officers, and assaultihg an off cer in his effort to do so. The known determined and desperate character of Reed left the officer and his posse no other alternative but to act and act promptly, and Reed, through his own reckless and daredevil conrse met hls death. The party or parties who did the killing regretted the necessity for such action, but at the same time felt fully justified, and earnestly de- sired a fair and impartial investlga- tion by the grand jury, and now that body, composed of seven Dem ocrats, five Republicans, three Green packers and one Idependent, render verdict of justifiable killing.

 On account of Reeds notoriety as a desperado, and the threats and warliKe demonstrations of his friends since the killing, the matter has been extensively published through out the United States, and our little city and country acquired consider able notoriety. An account of the killing and our threatened troubles were published in the Globe Demo. crat and other stalwart Republican papers North, yet it was reserved for the Ft. Smith New Era to misrepre. sent the facts in the case and en- deayor to torture the affair into a Southern outrage" But be it sad to their credit, the respectable and law-abiding Republicans here would not countenance such an unjust and unwarranted effort; and the decision of two juries, composed of our best citizens, with nearly an equal num- Der of Republicans with Democrats that the killing was justifiable, gives the lie to the charge that Reed was killed because he was Republican, and that the killing was "nothing short of murder" It now remains to be seen whether the relatives and friends of Reed will submit to the legal settlement of this case, or will attempt to carry out their reported threats-in case the grand jnry fail ed to find bill against any one to take the matter into their own hands and punish (by death we suppose) those connected with the killing. For their own good and for the sake of peace and quiet, we hope their better judgment will prevail, and they will bow in submission to the verdict of the juries of their country, and let the law be respected. We trust this matter will now rest from further agitation, and that the peace and good order of our country will IL. sl