Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-05-08
From The american ReUiew
Jack Long,
OR LYNCH-LAw AND REVENGE.
TCoNTINUED.

CON1iNuED.
From this time poor Jack was IN hot
water. Shortly after horse was stolen
from rich aud powerful Planter in The
neighborhood of the Town. The animal
was fine one, and the Planter was great.
ly enraged at the loss; for he was one Of
those who paid "black mail" TO the Reg
ulators for protection from all such annoy.
ances, immunity from depred atlons not
only by themselves, but from any
other quarter. He now called upon them
to hunt down the thief. as they were
bound under contract 10 do, and return the
horse. Hincb collected his band with
grea, parade, and proc eeded 10 follow the
trail, which was readily discoverable rear
the planters house. Late in the evening
he returned, and announced, that after
tracing it with great difficulty through
many devious winnings, evidently in,en-
ded TO puzzle pursuit, he had at last been
led directly to the near vicinity of Jack
Longs hut. This created much surprise,
for no one had suspected Jack of bad hab-
It's. But Hinch aud his Williams bruited
far and wide all the circumstances lend
ing to crimnale him. After making these
things as notorious as possible, attracting
as great degree OF public curiosity as he
could to the farther investigation. which
he proiessed to be carrying on for the
purpose of fixing the hunters guilt beyond
doubt, the horse was Unexpectedly found
tied with larat, 10 tree in a dense bot
tom near Jacks. This seemed to settle
the question of his crimlnallty, and there
was general outcry raised around him
on all sides. For though the majority oil
those most clamorous against him were
horse thieves themselves, yet, according
TO the doctrine Of "honor among thieves,
there could be no greater or more unpar-
donable enormlty committed than TO steal
among themselves. Ale must be warn
ed 10 quit the country" was in the mouth
Of every body, and he vas warned. Jack
with great simplicity gave them 10 under
stand that he was not ready TO go--that
when he was he should 60 at his leisure
but that ii HIS convenience and theirs
did not happen to agree, they might make
the most of il. THIS left no alternative
but force and as no individual felt dis.
posed TO take the personal responsibility
sing looking a body, Hnch, eager as he
was, did not feel that the circumstances
were quite strong enough yet, to justify
the extremes he intended pushing his ven-
geance to. Things were not quite ripe,
and Jack with all the hurrah and excite
menl about him, kept even on his way,
conquerlug and to conquer among the
hairy tribes, for some few weeks longer
Singular instances of the most vile and
wanton spite now began to occur in vari.
Gus parts Of the region around. AT quick
intervals. valuable horses and mules were
found shot dead close to the dwellings Of
the Planters, as il seemed without the
slightest provocaion for such unheard Of
cruelty, but merely in base revenge for
some foncied injury. The rumor soon
got out that all these animals might be
observed to belong to those persons who
had made themselves most active in de.
nouncing Jack Long. Then was noticed
the curious fac. that all Of them we're shot
through The eye. This was at once asso,
ciated with the remark of Jack, and bis
odd feat in firing through bullet hole, al
the shooting match. This seemed to des.
gnate him certainly as the guilty man ;
and as animal after animal continued 10
fall, every one of them slain in the
same way, perfect blaze of Indignation
burst on, on all sides. The whole coun-
try was reused, and the excitement be-
came universal and intense. In the estl-
nation OF every body, hanging, drawing
and quariering, burning, iyncbing, and
anything was TOO good for such monster.
A l this was most industriously formented
by Hinch and his myrmidons, until things
had reach the proper crisis. Then coun
ty meeting was got up, at which one Of