In the 1870's the State Legislature was a "stacked deck". Copiah's county seat Hazelhurst was under a Federal District Commander. The term GTT applied to my family at the time, meaning "Gone To Texas", when land was confiscated under heavy taxes, owners were arrested under false charges and only released when they signed over title. One of my kin was given a rusty pistol, a mule and told to head to Texas if he wanted to live. I still have kin in Texas to this day.

There was a certain Confederate Veteran's organization that took matters in their own hands. That same Federal Commander was shot dead on the Hazelhurst Court House steps in 1873 or '74. Supposedly 10 men drew lots, none knowing who drew what, knowing only the deed was carried out.