The Ouachita Telegraph - Soldiers Phelps and Rury Acquitted of J. Stuart Grayson Murder Date: Mar. 2004 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph September 25, 1869 Page 3, Column 2 ACQUITTED OF MURDER — Two soldiers, Phelps and Rury, belonging to the 4th U.S. Cavalry, were tried the past week on the charge of having murdered J. Stuart Grayson, opposite this place, on the 22d of last March. The jury, composed of three whites and nine blacks, found the accused not guilty, for want of sufficient evidence on the part of the State to convict. The men were discharged and are now at liberty, legally innocent but generally believed to be morally guilty. It is said by the jailor that they confessed their guilt to one of their fellow prisoners, but boasted there was no evidence to convict them. We can hardly believe, however, that this statement is correct. There was no feeling manifested upon the trial, there being very few spectators at any one time. The accused were defended by Messrs. Richardson & Jemison. # # #