Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-09-03
Negro Plot at Charleston.

Negro Plot at Charleston.
CONTINUED
THE COURT
Being thus organized, they proceed
ed to the trial Of ROLLA, tho slave of
Gov Bennett
Jacob Arson, Esq attending as Attor..
ney of his mastsr.
1t was proved that Rolla had confess
sed to two persons, both of whom were
examined by the Court, chat he belong
ed TO the conspiracy. and with one of
these witnesses, (his friend he used O.
very effort to induce him to join in the
insurrection, which Rolla stated was to
take place on the night of the 10th of
June. Finding that his friend (the wit
ness in question: would not join the as.
sociation, he urged him to go out of
town on Sunday night, lest some harm
should come to him. Rolla represented
himself as the commander ofthe force
which was to rendezvous In the vicini.
" of his masters mills, and explained
TO the witness fully the order ofattack
the division of the forces and said,
"that his troops in their way into town,
would fix his Old Back, (his master,)
and the Intendant." On being asked
whether il was intended to kill the wo-
men and children, he remarked when
we have done with the men we know
what to do with the women, On this
testi nony Rolla was found guilty, and
sentenced to be executed on the Cd of
Julys Batteau was next tried
1t wss proved that Batteau confessed
to two persons (both of whom were in
troducsd as witnesses) that he belonged
co the conspiracy. and made efforts to
induce them to join in the conspiracy,
by representing the extent of their pre-.
parations, and the probability of their
success He stated he was to head a
party near Canon's bridge, and that he
expected aid from the country. More
than one interview took place between
Batteau aud the witnesses on the sub.
iect. the last, on Sunday fixed for the
insurrection, on which he renewed his
solicitations that the witnesses should
Join him. Batteau was found guilty
and sentenced to be executed on the Cd
of July.
STEPHEN, belonging to Thomas r.
Smith. ESQ.
Was next brought before the Court.
but the testimony being deemed in.
sufficient, and indeed, the Court,
being satisfied Of his innocence. direct
ed his discharge.
PETER, the slave Of Mr. James Poyay,
was next tried.
1t was distinctly in proof, against Pc
ter, that he had made great efforts to in
Suce others to Join in the insurrectien
and the testimony represented him
quite in the character of chieftain or
leader. for which his boldness and sa-
sacity unauestionably qualified him.
He appea red. from the testimony, to
have employed uncommon pains to re-
move all the objections arising in the
minds of those whom he attempted to
enlist, as to the probability of the sue.
cess of the effort, And spoke with
great confidence Of the succors which
we're expected from St Domingo. 1t
was strongly to be inferred, from allthe
witnesses stated that the difficulty and
dangerous sally Of endeavoringto car.
ry the Main Guard House was to have
been condded to him, for he particular
" acquainted one Of the Witnesses with
shc combiaation of strata EN- and force
with which he proposed to accomplish
this object.
Peter was found guilty on this testi-
mony, and sentenced for execution on
the I'd of July.t
srne following note appears on the Journals
ofthe Court. on relation to the trial of Rolla
e Five witnesses were introduced and examin
ed in behalf of Solla, but SO far from iupeach
ingtle credibilitv of the witnesses against hin,
they rather supported IT,
fAteer che execution Of Peter, his golt,