Description: The Choctaw Insurrection: Facts vs. Assertions

Date: September 13 1882

Newspaper published in: Huntsville, AL

Source: Microfilm at Huntsville Library

The Choctaw Insurrection
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Facts vs. Assertions
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Choctaw Courier.
A big effort is being made by Republicans all over the district to make political capital out of the hanging of Jack Turner; but it won't do. People at a distance can say what they please with impunity. They can charge us with timidity, cruelty, imprudence or anything they choose. The facts, however, will give the lie to all their utterances.
We are not only willing to undergo an investigation, but demand one in order to be properly understood by the world.
We do not ask to be believed on bare assertion, because we intend to prove the existence of the conspiracy beyond per-adventure. Everything corroborates the statement made by the papers so providently found, and the next term of our Circuit Court will convince the most prejudiced that, we not only acted prudence but with extreme moderation.
Since the hanging, numbers of negroes not mentioned in the papers have left the county. Others are hiding out around their homes and can not be interviewed by white men. What does this mean? "The guilty fleeth when no man pursueth." The papers themselves are as distinctively and unmistakably negro as the kinky head and black skin, and no one having the slightest knowledge of negro character would doubt, after reading the papers that they were conceived and executed by the brain of a negro. There are other circumstances connected with the general plan, such as the finding of powder, etc., in possession of negroes, which makes the papers credible beyond a doubt. These facts, for prudential motives, are withheld until court.
We expected to be maligned, and would have been disappointed had it been otherwise, but we would say to such papers as the Mobile Gazette and Columbus Index that they should not indulge in vilification when the opportunity to resent is not given. Let them come to Choctaw, investigate the facts and see not only what proof we have, but how coolly and deliberately we acted, and then say what they have said about our conduct and we can assure them they will find a boot on the outside of a foot that they will adjust itself very quickly to some part of their person.
Conscious of right we fear neither lies, slanders, misconceptions nor courts. We acted in good faith, with calmness and deliberation, and can set ourselves right before the forum of the world. What are the facts? The papers were found Tuesday morning and they disclosed a hellish plot, which it was our duty to frustrate with the slightest possible injury to the plotters and their victims. Wednesday a meeting was called, writs of arrest for the ring leaders were issued and executed on Thursday morning. Saturday a mass meeting was held, the papers were read to the people, and by a vote of about 998 to 2 Jack Turner was pronounced guilty and worthy of death. He was accordingly hung. ON Monday last the other conspirators were taken before the County Court for trial, and demanded a jury trial, which was of course granted. Their bonds wee fixed at $1,000 each and should they live to be tried the verdict of the jury will as certainly condemn them as the crowed did Jack Turner. The evidence is too strong to admit of any other result.
As to the charge of excitement and fear, methinks it falls to the ground as meaningless slander when the cool and quiet manner in which the plot was suppressed if taken into consideration. To avoid all hasty or inconsiderated action, the bar rooms were closed and except about tow hours Thursday afternoon, no whiskey was sold in Butler until after the hanging. Does this look like a frightened or excited action? No people could behaved better, and no people ever showed more magnanimity under excessive aggravation than the people of Choctaw county throughout this entire trouble. In our next issue we will show where the real responsibility for the contemplated massacre rests.