The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-07-05
HoRRID MURDERS BY NEGROES

The Matches Free Trader contains an
account of one Of the most horrible series
Of outrageous murders on record, commit
by two negroes named Joseph and E.
noci, owned by TWO men on Bayou dc
Glaizc. Enoch had however been sold TO
man near New Orleans.
One of The murde ers was ccught on the
5ih inst near Union Point, on the Mississ-
ippi, the other making his escape. though
not without having had several balls fired at
him. ard is supposed TO have been wound
I'D: though moi csugh', ii is 10 be hoped that
he will soon b. brought 10 pay the penal'y
of his airocio US crimes. 1t appears that
the negro boy Enoch after being sold, ran
| away from his new master, aud returned 10
I'ayou dc Glaze, and fell in with the boy
Joseph. whom he persuaded off with yell
low girl named Margaret, known 10 some
"a having bclorgcd to planter on the
w bayou-,hat afer persuadIng Jo'eph
and this girl of, they armed themselves and
comm, need the work of destruction and
death. They proceeded first TO the House
of Mr.. Noah Harrington, on Rel River,
nenr ,lc cutoff, whom they killed. carrying
off the daughter of Mr.. III. with them,
whom they kept in Tho woods some six
weeks. usirp her with unhea'd of cruelty,
rating vines together and whipping her
until from torture she was compelled 10
Yield 10 iheir hrilish purposes, and at other
times ;ieng h rup 10 Tee as mark TO
shoot at.
Theyihen killed another man whose name
is mol known. After committing this muir
der. on returning TO the place where Miss
II. was confined, Il ey remarked that they
had killed anotl er hog. Aher this they went
TO the House of Mr.. George Todd. not far
from Mr.. HIS, whom they also killed car.
rying off Mrs. Told with small child whom
they treated also in brutal manner, and
threatening TO kill both her and the child if
II should cry; and often when they were on
tic pc in Of killing them all the yellow girl
would throw herself on her knees and beg
their lives, snying that if they shot, their
bullets would nave TO pass through her bo.
dy. Mrs. Todd and Miss Harring both
state that / e yellow gil several tines saved
their lives.
The boy Joseph, Immediately afe- his
capture confessed that he killed both Mr..
Harrington and Mr.. Todd, and the other
person hut stated that he had been forced 10
do il by Enoch. who first enticed him to |
'un AVA. No white person is implicit.
ell.
Alter this confession it was deliberately |
resolved that the negro should be burned a
Iive.--The terrible scene is thus described |
by the Free Trader:
The body was taken and chained 10 a
tree Immcdiar y Oh the bank of the Miss.
s>iPpi. on what is called Union Point. Fag.
'o's were then collected and piled around
nm, 10 which he appeared quite Indifferent.
When the work was completed, he was ask.
ID what he had to say. He then warned
all 10 take example by him, and asked the |
prayers of all around him: he then called |
Tor drink of wafer, which was given to |
him; he drank ii and said Now sci fre,--l |
am ready 10 80 IN peace : The torches were /
lighted and placid in the pile, which soon
'gnited. lie watched unmoved the curling |
flame rs II grew. until it began 10 entw.ne |
itself around aud feed upon his BODY; then |
he set forth tlics of agony painful 10 the |
ear. hcgglng some one 10 blow his brains
out; at tn sa me Time surging with almost
strength. until the staple with |
which the chain was fastened to the tree |
dew Out, aud he caping from The burning |
iIle. AT that mpnent The report of |
several rifles was heard-the BODY Of the |
negro tell 4 corpse on the ground. He Was |
picked up by some two nr three, and again
thrown mo the fire and consumed--not a
vcs'Ige remaining 10 show that such being
ever existed.
The yellow girl was taken TO Marches in
The custody of Mr.. S Lyman, who will de-
aver her up to the proper authorities al Vi
Ialia La.
Mr.. Van Buren, still fingers in the west,