The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-10

master - town, ! mentioned il 10 my mis-
tress and young master. On the arrival oil
my master, he examined me rs to what had
passed, and stated To him what have
mentioned to yourselves"
Or this witness being dismissed from the
presence of Council, the prisoner William
was examined. The node resofted to in
| his examination WIS - aiiord him no init
nation Of the subject ~ the Information
which had been lodged against hun, ~ il
was extremely desirable in the first place
| To have the testimony Of the other witness
| corroborated IL 10 time and place, that
| from the confessions of the prisoner him
self, IL might appear that he was at the fish
market at the period stated, and that a
singular flag, flying on board of schoon.
er, had formed the 4ubicct of his observa-
ton. After vast deal Of eqnivoeation he
| admitted all these facts but WHEN Tire rest
ofbis conyersaflouwas put home tn hiB, be
flaily denied II, but with 50 many obvious
Indications of guilt, that il was deemed TN
wise 10 discharge him. He Wa remanded
for the night, 10 the Guard House, IL having
been decided TO subject him 10 solitary
| confinement in the black hole Of the Work
House, here on the succeeding morning,
was 10 be conveyed.
Onthe morning ofthe 31st, be was again
examined by the attending Warden at the
Guard House, having during the night
made some disclosures to Capt. Doye) ON
winch occasion he admitted all the convcr-
atom which he had held at the iish-mar-
ket, with the witness before mentioned,
aud stated that he had received his infor-
nation from Mingo Harth, who vas in
possession of the mustcr-rOll OF the insur-
gents.
With the hope of still further disclosures,
William was conveyed 10 the Work House
aud placed IA solitary confinement. The
individuals AIlngo Earth and Peter Poyas)
against whom he gave information, as those
who had communicated 10 him the irtelli-
scnce Of the plot for raising an insurrection,
were forthwith taken up by the Wardrns
and their trunks examined. These fellows
behaved with so much composure and
GOODNESS, and trrated the charge, alleged
against them, with so much lcvlty, mo
writings being found in their chests, CON
tanning the smallest 'uspicion, excepting an
cnismatlcal letter, which was then too OBJ
scurc for explanation, aud to which suisse
quent events onIy afforded "A clue ] that the
Wardens, (Messrs. Wesner and Condy)
were completely deceived, and had these
men discharged One of these, Peter
Poyas proved afterwards, rs viii appear IN
the sequel, tn be one of the principal ring
lcaders IN The conspiracy, on whose couf-
age aud sagaclty great reliance was pla-
ced.
Council being still under the conviction
that William Paul wasin possession gilmore
information than he had thought proper 10
disclose, Committee was appointed To
examine him from time 10 time, with the
hope of obtaining further Intelligence. Al
though Peter aud Nmgo had been dischar-
ged, yet il was deemed advisable to have
them watched, and conseg ucntly spies were
employed of their own soour for this pur-
pose, in such a manner as to give advices
OF all their movements.
Things remained in this state for six or
seven days, until about the 9th of June,
when William, who had been week in
solitary confinement, and beginning To fear
that he would soon be- led forth to the
scaliold, for summary execution, in AN in
teryleW with Mr. Napier. lone of the com
mlttee appointed To examine HIM confess
ed that he had for some time known of the
plot, that il was very extensive, embracing
an indlscrlm'nate massacre of the whites,
and that the blacks were to be headed by
an individual, who carried about him a
charm which rendered him inyuaerahle.
lie stated that the period fixed for the RI
sing WAS on the second Sunday in June,
This information was without delay con
yeyed TO his eNceilency the governor, aud
council forthwith convened. Whatever
faith we might have hccn disposed to place
IN the unsupported and equivocal testimo-
ny oi William, 1t was not conceived To he
case in which our doubts should influence
our efforts for preparation and defence.
Measures were consequently promptly Ia
ken, to place the city guard in state of the
utmost efficiency. Sixteen hundred rounds
of ball cartridges were provided, and the
centines and patrols ordered on duty with
loaded arms. Such had been our fancrd
security, that the guard had previously
gone on duty without muskets, with shea
thed bayonets and budgeons.
Three or four days now elapsed, and
NOTWITHSTANDING all oar eHoflS, we could
obtain no continuation of the disclosures Of
William on the contrary, they seemed to
have sustained some invaiidation, from the
circumstance, of one of the individuals,
Ned Bennett) whom he named as per
son who had information in relation to the
insurrcctiou, coming voluntarily to the IN
tendant, and soliciting am examination, if
he was an object Of suspicion. In this
stage of the business, it was not deemed
advisable prematurely TO press these exam
nations, as il might have a tendency to ar
rest any further Developments.
On the night, however, of Friday, the
l4th, the information of William was am
ply confirmed, and details infinitely more
abundant and interesting afforded AT 8
O'Clock On this evening, the intcndant re-