Letter from S. M. Meek to Judge Jehu Amaziah Orr; March 14, 1871

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Letter from S. M. Meek to Judge Jehu Amaziah Orr; March 14, 1871

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People

Barry, Richard Bradshaw, L. F.Gewin, James Hill, Taylor Humphries, W. W.Matthews, Barry Meek, S. M. (Samuel Mills), 1835-1901 Moore, Unknown Orr, Jehu Amaziah White, Unknown Wilson, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Assassination Crime--Jail Escapes Crime--Murder Criminal Procedure--Arrest Criminal Procedure--Release

Organizations and Businesses

Jury

Occupations

Judges Lawyers Mayors Sheriffs

Places

Chickasaw County (Miss.)Columbus (Miss.)Okolona (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Criminal Status--Fugitives from justice

Vital Statistics

Death

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Columbus Miss 'March '14. 1871.

To,
Hon J. A. Orr,

Dear Sir,

At your request, I have the honor to make the following statement in relation to the assassination of Taylor Hill Esq, (a member of the Columbus Bar) at Okalona in the County of Chickasaw, on Sunday night last.

Mr Hill being a member of the Columbus Bar, a gentleman of unblemished private character, and integrity—his death under the circumstances, naturally aroused the deepest sympathies of this community—As soon as the information reached us, that, his murderers were at large, Capt' W. W. Humphries, Barry Matthews—Richard Barry ^L. F. Bradshaw^ & myself, members of the Columbus Bar—with a large number of the young men of this City repaired to Okalona—Upon reaching Okalona, we learned, that, James Gewin, one of the murders, had been released upon a Bond of $500. one of the "Accessories" (as he was termed

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by the Jury of Inquest, having gone upon his Bond.)—That just before our arrival he had made his escape—and the Sheriff was in pursuit of him.

Two others Moore & Wilson, who had, by the Jury of inquest, been charged as "accessories" to the murder—and who as we learned, had been placed in the custody of the Sheriff, were going at large, loaded down with weapons, with nothing to prevent their escape—

We at once, went before the Mayor, and insisted that, they should be placed under arrest, and it was ^with^ the greatest difficulty that we induced him to do so, and it is my deliberate opinion that had he not feared violence to the parties, from the outraged and determined citizens who surrounded him, that, they would have been permitted to remain at large. I understood the Mayors name to be White—He informed myself & others, that, he had been Sheriff of the County & knew the Law, and yet he manifested every disposition to

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afford men, who had committed one of the foulest and most atrocious murders, in the annals of the State, every opportunity of escape, when too, he had received the information that the chief offender, had already escaped.

I would state, and it affords me pleasure to do so, that, the good, substantial citizens of the place, denounced the crime, and expressed great astonishment at the course pursued by the Officers.

As to the details of the murder—it is not necessary to speak—but I will simply state, that, in my judgment, the facts show it to have been, one of the ^most^ deliberate & dastardly assassinations, which has ever occured in ^Mississippi^ ~~the state~~

I have the honor to be,
Very Truly,
Your friend,

S. M. Meek.

We have read the above statement made by Col. Meek and beleive it to be substantially correct.

Barry Matthews
Rich. H. Barry

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I was at Okolona on yesterday as stated by by Col Meek, and concur fully in the ~~state-ment~~ facts as represented by him. I will simply add that, the testimony will show that the four men charged en-tered the room in which young Hill was—blew out the lights and assasi-nated him. They committed the deed without the slightest provoca-tion, as Hill was trying to settle a difficulty in which he was not en-gaged. He was assasinated and m-urdered without excuse or palliation.

W. W Humphries;