Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-01-23

the head Of my. faxorits servant. Sambo, one Of
the best hostlers in State Of Georgia. .Is ~.
! Yt..ges-es .s~a g.. Yours. atf-ctionately.
~ From the Albany Ceoorxi, Patio, IN ina,
Terrible 2Retribufion--1t1Ob Lats-IIiaL con.
domination and Execution Of Stephen r. Yoes-
mans. .E'f2 '-i-7-.''1.t- 30 ~ = = -
During the last Indian war in Florida. an
extensive band of pirates formed srcFeyoY.
ganlzation for the purpose Of rob bling and plum
dering the people OF that part ofahe Country.
! They committed crimes which were charged
upon the lndians, and tended much 10 prolonv
and embiiter the bloody strife. Since the war
they have made themselves the scourge and
terror ofthe northern part of Florida and .soms
of the southern counties OF Georgia, by negro
stealing, rohbing, and other crimes!
A large number ofcitlzens residing near the
line of Georgia and Florida, met in November
last, and organized an association for the pur-
pose of detecting and Furnishing these men.
Having ascertained that Stephen p. Yoermans
was one of the principal members of this ri.
ratical gang, they offered reward of $500.
through the columns OF the Floridian Of the
2Oih Of November, for his apprehension and
delivery TO the Sheriff Of Jefferson county, Fla,
On Sunday night, the 9th uI.., Yeorrnans
was arrested few miles below this place, OBJ
tanned a release under writ of Habeaa Cor.
Pus, was re-arreated. and finally delivered up
on Thursday last, 10 she association Of citi.
zens who offered the reward in November last.
The scene which followed, we give from
the mouth Of an eyewitness. The citizens
composing the association, to the number Of
about one hundred and seventy-ive, organized
at the line of Georgia and Florida, on Thurs
morning at l0o'clock. A committee uf,wslvs
men, representing jury were appointed and
sworn to try Yoermans for the offences with
which he was charged. Witnesse. were
sworn, and his own confessions taken, all
which went to prove that he had been enoa-
ged for several years, past, with number Of
others who he named, in stealing negroes, both
slaves and free, and selling them in other
States, and committing other de probation. no.
on property. The trial lasted Unit neatly nirh,.
The evidence having closed, the commit,se
representing jury returned verdict Of gull
ty. This was on the Georgia side Of the limo
betwt en- the two States. The Sheriff of G ads.
den~co., Fla, was present on the Florida side
Of the line during the early part Of the day,
but left before the trial closed. A motion was
now put to deliver the prisoner into the hands
of the consulted authorities of Florida. This
was decided in the negative by an almost
unanimous vote. A vote was then taken az 10
what punishment should be inflicted. This
was decided to be Death by a vot- Of abont
SIX to one, and the time of execution fixed al u
O'Clock on the following day. The ASSEM-
blage now crossed the line into Florida, where
the presiding officer Pronouncedihe solemn SEN
tence ofdeath. Yoermans fell, when he heard
the sentence, as though he had been shot. bnt
soon recovered, and asked the presiding officer
to pray for him. He called upon a preacher
of'he Gospel, three or four Of whom were pres.
emf participating in the proceedings, 10 pray
for the prisoner, and strange to say every man
present knels on the ground and Joined in
most solemn and impressive prayer 10 God,
that He would grant the wreiched criminal
that mercy which they themselves were ir, tho
act Of refusing bin. .,........ ...
guard of twenty-five armed men were
placed in charge Of the prisoner, and the a.
semblage then dispersed to meet again on the
following day and enact the last scene of this
sad tragedy. Our informant left on Friday
morning, and meta large number of persons
who were going to witness. the execution.
which undoubtedly took place according 30 the
sentence. A~sf --e'~ @r~" . = sass- ~ =
Thus we have given apiains statement of
facts which it is painful to record. -
However guilty Yoermans may have been.
or however worthy Of death. the deliber.
ate refusal to, give him a trial in the regular.
- UciUBS UHpdIItdf IuQV0
and jury Of his couatry' when1the laws were
capable Of reaching and punt his crimes,
was fearful stab at The eahsiitniien and laws
Of the country, which ase ihe only sure guar.
anty Of social orderand individual security.
Justice of the Peace participated in the tri-
al and condemnation. Had he forgotten his
oath TO suppoftths constitution. and to faith
fully administer the laws! Had the preacfI-
ers forgotten that they were the professed min.
listers Of Peace1 Did those persons no oc-
cnpy high places in society, reflect tina, the
principle to which they were then giving the
sanction of their acts, would. if carried out,
unsettIe the very Foundation Of society and
subject themselves AZ aheg held dear o.
sacred. to, ,hsseaprici win OF an excited
Let evAy goc9l cilhenaeernslaber tina. il
such laws less vioIekl ) 40 be Aserated in
our country, the blood bought freedom.cf our
fathers, the protection of our Constitution and
laws. and the sacred rights of individual lib.
erty add property are all mockefy. Z , = 3
We have just learned that Yoermans was
hung at the time appointed. He confessed,
under the GalIows, that be was boths MUIR
idsrer AMI d Robbei.f''Z-