Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-09-09

fiom rae .sashvilis Republican. !


lie communication in this days paper from III,
attorney General, explains the circumstances con.
herted with the death OF ,he negro slave OF Cen
efa jackson, alluded TO in Col. Erw;ns last com.
tnuhicatiop IN the Banner and Wig. II place
stne depravity OF Erwin and the Friendship OF Mr.
ttuht tor ten jackson, in neu light; both oil
winch WIZ doubtless be justly appreciated.
/ FRANKLrN, Tenn. August 9th, 1928
! uentIcnen have Just received a note OF
yesterday, from member OF the Nashville Com.
inii'ee. requesting me, as the Attorney urosecut.
ing IN behalf oil the state OF Tennessee TO furnish
through your paper, to- the public, u statement OF
'he circumstances attending the dealt, of Gilbert,
slave, lately the property of Cen Andrew Jack
son. In compliance with that call. will now make
known TO the public every incident accompany -
| tached.
! Upon the Goth dav of August. IN the wear ot
our Lord iS2f, Maj. WIN. II. lewis Informed nue..
That during the preceding day, Gilbert, slave a,
zen. Jacksons had been killed by his ,lvorseer.
and that the Genera! had written to The Coroner OF
the county and had requested him to hold an in
quest over tiilbcrts body; & that il was The wish
Eoi the General that should a,lend the examina
Ton; lac also Informed that the Coroner and Tho
,I'iry were then on their way 70 the HERMITAGE /.
Told h!in that would attend ard started there ,s
soon as could with convenience; b,lt before /
preached there, the Jury had acted upon l, ma;tcr
and had pronounced that Gilbert lad been
Killed by Ira Walton, his Ovetsreas in his ne
cessary seit-deience, aad that iG.Eon had been
released from custody. The iUfS ahd witic ,ses
had not dispersed whenT arri,,- i,,,d sour Fr l,
ompany in the presence OF alb iil,.,t- CORRECTLY NJ
ue object o! my visit, proceeded 10 relate TO me
me evidence given 10 them hpo; tha, ocr,si,r
ne witnesses were men o; unqups. ioua5le truth
ana me iury was composed OF several gentlemen
OF hberai education, and MI OF thcI;l were ,ncn
ioi good sense and of great respeciabihtv The
Testimony detailed TO me, under The circuni z;a.ces
Just mentioned, was in substance, The same with
mat contained in the aflilaYt OF Ira Walton The
l,ls.l.
is as follows
" L. Ira Walton, state, that upon the 2stl Jaw
oi August, 1927, whilst living with Cen An,rqw
Jackson IN the capacity oi Overseer I was un,,cr
the necessity OF killing Gilbert, slave, the pro-
perry OF Gen. jackson. The circumstances at.
'ehd'hT the affair are as fullows:-t:ilhslt was
very strong, stout man. possessed OF most violent
ana ungovernabie temper and disposition 4ri,h ma
my other faults. He frequently runaway and sr,v
cd out until he would he apprellcndcd aud trough,
nome On all previous occasions Gen Jackson
had forgiven him for these ofen.:es without chas
useinent, upon his promises of better behaviour
which, so lar IRON reforming him. had mnle him
inucf worse and more difficult 10 be controlled 4
.tl"t me lst OF June, 1927 he AZ in runway
Spon the eth oil August, of that wear he was
brought home as believe, by a Mr. McCuilouqI
siec, late IN the evening. Tha; NIGHT Cen Itck
son called to see Gilbert, who again peton.d The
'ie"era ior forgiveness, TO Which the General re-
Piied, That he lad deceived him so often ia. t,r
promises that lie could not trt,st 10 his promises
any longer, left him. Thatni the Gen named
TO me, that ne had told Gilbert that he should be
"hipped buturon reflection, lac ihcn believed he
would not have him whipped & said mus, tax.
linn 10 Nashville in the morning fled * he ,,a.,l,
his Character, and sci! him for whatever he ,yoiA
COMMAND NJ auction gave itas my Opinion. that
ms would not DO, tor several OF i!is negroes hal
been injured by indulgence and that if so,rc ~
a'nries were not made could no, control them
that Gilbert was the most insolcnt slave Le o,vncs
ana therefore the most htsuLiec. for punishment
The General then remarked that was correct
ana 'oiu me 10 take him away tiGIn the House next
morning and whip him moderately with small rods
Early next morning started with Gilhert, tied
Tor distant field, where the slaves were mt ,yor
anu where intended chastsing him inodcratejy
according TO The directions OF Gen Jackson In
going to this field it necessary for me To use
through body OF woodland. There was with INV,
sell and Gilbert small boy about ten wears old
shortly alter we entered tie woOds directed tho
hoy TO climb hcrn5een sapiing, near the small
path we travelled, and break me few switches.
which he accordingly did. At this ,irnc whilst thc
boy was breaking the switches Gilbert. who e..
waiting before me, came 10 an abrupt crook i'm tL
road around the end of log-hc passed around I
followed at the distance OF about four or five wards
oehihu; when DC. had passed The eud of the Ior lie
came facing me upon the opposite side having dis
engaged one OF his arms from the rome bofI, nj
which had been tied bat loosely before him arouDd
| the wrists, without being confined To- his boiy--
he made suddedspring, seized me by the breast
! ln
log-as was rising ne picked np chunk nj wood
and struck across the head which filled
/ me TO the groundhe then jun,pod on me, and "a
! ! have before stated, lie was very stout boavv
inan,and being but small and r,ot vcrv sfron. a..
proved an oveFmaich for me. C5ibcr havina fun
purchase with both hands fhel, c,t,,,rst,ced hot
| ING and choking me most VIOLENTLY and would /
have no doubt, killed me had I no, drawn r,,,
| dirk and Stabbed him. Ansr maxine, several
tirusts with my dagger il wa. knocked tion my
hand from eight to twelve inches beyond tho r.. i.h
o! either oil us-csch aCh 70 retit-I called
me hoy VINO accompanied US 20 pick u u- Gil
bert was extending his arfn to grdsp IT, the. Inv
however succeeded Gilbert tiier, cor.rp,c,..i liz
! hoy TO hand 10 10 hin lcina r.tt.h ,v.,,i
Ell, ana suffering by bis violence. ordered Tho bo,
10 plunge The dirk into him the boy stabbed li,
IN 'he ieshy part OF his thigh, then ordered hi!
W s'ap nun III 'e sidc--as The boy ad anrrd Gil
peri Threw out one Of his fcrt aairi,f h,. The so,,
! NY the violence OF the b!1y, was thrown or 10
considerable distance and feji--1iijert tiott e,r
ne would Kill the boy ii be did not kcspoH Gilbert
1 was now laying with his hole weight -.fo.. nv
breast; extended one Of my arms rner ht. raii,.
or around iis body ~ ordered the boz, 20 place d..
handle of the dirk in NY hanl-he dtI sol tter
| gave Gilbert stab in the hollow OF tic hack
winch caused hlm 10 change his position iv pl,c-
Ing one knee Oh each side ct nav waist Oi,s,, Lc
again seized me by iiic thtolt with one htnI srt
"lhtb other "Nd"atUrcd 90 take the dae-t.,, from
me Nade several rueis 70 stab hia i'm tir irlI.
nat hndiDg tbe dirk brut nearly douI'c Throw, r.
~ lar from POS lille and made a,,ofi,or fl,
70 rise, but found had rot sn..i~iput .itrnotb.
, men drew up 10y feet Tor Go" n,iruosc of li.Ltoo
inin from me he c0ughi nc by tItr surics & IN.
up with my feet 10 his hands tlropyifc q "a ,g,,,,r
; OF my body on my ncct. cudcuyorin,. to G,1
. nc backward. Whilst in this situation Jr..,
I from my pocket small knife snd Iva p,,,cfr..
fHsrtion ettficatr5 enc Of 10Y ftct fol, MI l,ol
ne Then let 20 the Other aui tell avain ,.lfI, rhe