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Ripley, July 26th 1848
To his Excellency Neil S. Brown
Dearsir,
Your favor of 17th Inst. in regard to the recent outrages committed in this County is received. I send herewith a certified Copy of the Coroners Inquest
I am unable to give a more [minute?] description of the offenders than heretofore furnished. The difficulty - originated with regard to a tract of land. Both the. Bell and Bivens had threatened to drive Johnson & Jones from off a tract of land and to carry out their object collected the other offenders and armed themselves & [coming?] over to Johnsons & fired into his barn _ I am informed It is supposed that Whites gun did the murder- White-McGinnis- Patterson - Norman Bell & (?) fired into the barn at once - There are two men mentioned in my former statement viz; John Knight and _Hedges who it is believed was not engaged in the outrage WilliamBivens and __ Allen were the individuals mistaken fo rthe others in consequence of their being disguised and of the excitement necessarily consequent as the occasion
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Allen is about 20 years old about five feet 11 inches dark hair dark eyes - spare made-
All the offender are known & their names to a number of individuals in Lauderdale Count- & on the opposite ban of the Mis. River_
There will be little difficulty - in recognizing them provided a sufficient inducement - were offered to get those who know them to engage in apprehending them. I am told these are most of them if not all running at large in Mississippi County ArkansasPublication made in the Memphis Appeal would most likely meet the eye of those in their vicinity
I see that the Jury spelt White's name Eulick this I since learn conveys the sound of what he is called.
Respectfully Isaac M. Steele
