Legal Document from Edward Gilliam to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 10, 1875

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Legal Document from Edward Gilliam to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 10, 1875

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Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Gilliam, Edward L.Haffa, Squire Robinson, Peyton Stevens, Dawes

Events

Crime Crime--Affray Crime--Arson Crime--Intent to Kill Crime--Lynching Crime--Murder Crime--Shooting Crime--Threat Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Arrest Mass racial violence

Organizations

Political Parties Political Parties--Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )Schools Schools--Mississippi

Businesses

Railroads and Railroad Companies Railroads and Railroad Companies--Vicksburg and Meridian Railroad

Occupations

Education Professionals Judges Judges. Justices of the Peace Mayors Teachers

Places

Bodies of Water--Mississippi. Big Black River Illinois--Cook County. Chicago Mississippi--Hinds County. Bolton Mississippi--Hinds County. Clinton Mississippi--Hinds County. Edwards Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Hinds County. Raymond Mississippi--Hinds County. Utica Mississippi--Noxubee County. Aubrey Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg

Social Identifiers

African Americans Refugees

Vital Statistics

Death

Page 1

[note] 9/11/75 [/note]

[seal]
CHICAGO.

Edward Gilliam (Colored)

Being duly sworn, upon Oath says: That he resides at Edwards Miss, in Hinds County. That he is a school teacher. That he was at Clinton on Saturday 4th Sept, does not know what was the cause of the fighting at that place. Left Clinton & proceeded to Edwards via Boltons was not molested on the road. Arrived at Edwards between 10 & 11 Oclock Saturday night, found pickets stationed at regular intervals around the town—that about 12 O. C. 50 men arrived at Edwards from Vicksburg via V & M. R. R. who picketed the town and traversed the various roads leading into it but I do not know that they killed any one

The men from Vicksburg left Edwards sunday morning between 9 & 10 Oclock. The colored people of Edwards left their homes and fled to the woods for safety. Does not know of any one who resided in Edwards being killed because the majority of them secreted themselfes in the woods—

Sunday evening I heard that the colored people were going to fire the town of Edwards. Procured a rifle—a spencer repeater went to town—met the mayor—offered my services to aid in defending said town, and remained on guard until Monday morning at 9 Oclock the passenger train on the V & M road arrived at Edwards partly loaded with men from Vicksburg, armed, who had been to Clinton and who made sundry threats and entreated several of the most

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prominent citizens of Edwards and vicinity to allow them to stop at Edwards and go to work killing niggers—This of course struck the colored people with Terror—

Monday night about 100 or 150 men came from Warren Co. Crossed big Black at Coker's ferry less than three miles from Edwar^ds^ where they camped. Reports were circulated that they in conjunction with these citizens soldiers of Aubrary Utica & Raymond intended to kill all the leading Republicans outside of Edwards and in Edward also and every d—d Carpetbagger they could find

The whites were guarding the streets of Edwards armed and were reported as having arms in his possession—a Detachment was ready to proceed and arrest them from him with or without his life. Squire Haffa, Dawes Stevens & sons were killed outside of Edwards about 8 miles more or less. The whites around were taversing the country in the vicinity of Edwards shooting & hunting the colored people Did not think my life was safe at Edwards. Left that place and proceeded to Jackson and would not feel safe to go back to Edwards to pursue my usual avocation without the protection of the U. S. Government.

Edward L. Gilliam

Sworn to and subscribed before me at Jackson Hinds County Co Miss this 11th day of sept. A. D. 1875

Peyton Robinson
A Justice of the Peace in & for Hinds Co.