The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-09-16
q sTIlc 8 Dead j Driyer.,
A Curious case of Ciroumstantial Evi-
laa .A a dence, 81 at,a Z. n

i
twhen Witnesses are of the most reliable
| character, and ever SO sincere in, their de-
I positions, that there is due. at all times, and
in all Iiplaces. the utmost GOODNESS, and the
strongest appliance of dispassionate inquiry
and judgment, on the part Of the judges and
ljpries, in order that the apparently blood
stained or atrocious murderer or felon may
be judged, and receive sentence, for crime
committed.. And hence, too, the gallows
has become in the eyes of Christians and en-
llishtened people the frightful specific of a
most barbarous age. es&a ela'EF'e
] was stopping at Bowling Green, Va,
some years ago, and after supper got into
coryersation with an old gentle man who was
Flown there from Tennessee, attending Court
4 He had moved to Tennessee iromnea Bowl
Ys6g Green, many years before, but was sup
lpGnaed to attend court there, as witness
In will lcase. He was a very rloquaeious
man, and related many amusing and deeply
interesting stories. One made noteo Of at
the time. 1t was a case Of thrilling inter-
1 est, founded on the uncertainty and, danger
Of relying on circumstantial evidence, when
the life or liberty Of prisoner was at stake.
A planter on the southern border OF Tennes-
see, had driver" to oversee his planta-
ton, &C., and it so fell out that the planter
became the rival of the "driver" in the af-
fections Of q merchants daughter in neigh
boring villsge. This, of course, did not
strengthen the ties Of business and friendship
between the planter and overseer. The over
seer was young and good-looking, but then
| his rival was man of education, had been
abroad and was---rich! These facts
made the planter very powerful rival to
the "driyer," who was severe discipline
rian, performed his duties to the entire satis-
faction Of his employer, andw feared and
hated by many Of the negroes. 1t was not
long before tke planter and his oyerseer. fell
out, and the latter left, swearing a bitter feud
against the planter. The duties Of oversee
ing the plantation now devolved on one Of
the slaves, q bright, active, and also pow
erful negro, whom the former overseer was
alwaysat outs" with, and consequently the
\ negro was frequently the recipient OF much
4 rough treatment from the hands of the over,
\ seer, whom we will call Hayward. The me-
4 gro, although having been boin in the plan.
4 tefs family, or on the plantation Of his faith
I er, being field hand, and the young planter
j never having been at home much, between
the owner and the slave little or no special
y recognition or regard to intimacy seemed tc
! exist. Hayward took charge Of a neighbor-
, ling plantation, and not long after leaving
tD'Costa's the planter, they met at a vendue
te rencontre took place between them, In
(which D'Costa would have lost his life but
plfor the Intervention Of some Of the bystand'
i.lers. Hayward belonged to n once wealthy
and distinguished family in South Carolina
but the family was broken up and dispersed
and young Hayward, not having been edu
cated--as most young southerners are--for I
, profession, and disposed to be independent
and useful, took charge of DCosta's planta
/, ton Hayward was a thorough going, bold
resolute young man, rather fond of his glass
s and disposed, 10 be "ugly" at times, bu
i stood fair as man of honor and integrity.
Some few weeks after the fracas at the
> yendue, Hayward was passing along ont
evening, before sunset, before DCostai
plantation, on road on which Black vii
. and four others of DCosias negroes wert
:, at work. AS Hayward passed, his horseI
= foot got tangled with some brush and stuff
(; thrown into quagmire, in the way, and he
: ordered Will, who was close by, to clear 1t
I. but the negro made no effort 10 do SO, whicl
! SO enmged Hayward, that he rode right int
J the group of negroes, and begun cutting anC
: slas6ing with his heavy whip. He then KEEP
on his way, swearing to the negroes tha
I that was the way he intended serving hi
d master one of these days"
! Will and the hands returned to their quar-
!. ters, after finishing their work, and one o
I the negroes could not resist the temptation
!, TO go to the masters house, and relate wha
: had transpired on the road. D'Costa wa
e enrageG, sent for Will, and interrogated hin
:, in regard to the matter, and Will, doggedl
e reiterated what had chanced, The plante
was furious, and strobe up and down tn
h room in great excitement. Stopping befor
i his large secretary, in which he kept his pa
" pers, small arms, &C., he drew forth draw
= er, and took from it an old fashioned bu
'e heavy Spanish pistol. Carefully loading il
"a he called Will TO the secretary. 'ftt
Ie "Let me show you how you can load thl
et pistol, and prime it, if it should be necesss
X ry for YOU to do So"
( '"Yes, massa," says Will, his eyes fairl
n cleaning at the deadly weapon which b
y now perfectly cool and collected master wa
: loading
/ ! Hayward went up the road about q
- y hour or two before sunset, did he 2"
:" "Yes, massa," answered the slave.
n. "He's probably gone to ----, and wi
- - be along here tomorrow; will be avn
~ from home for few days, but if that villa
a. ever threatens you or any Of my people, p
y. " that pistols as close to his head as you CT
y get il, Will, and pull the trigger, DO y
hearT
- "Yes, massa," replied the slave.
W. After giving Will some directions I
70 carrying on matters during his absence, al
= how TO carry the pistol and ammunition
~ escape observation, the slave withdrew, wi
7 a fierce gleam Of savage deviltry danci
e,s in his eyes and spreading over his taw
: face. ,...r, 4. Ia. \.
= Late in the evening. the planter called
;tb his horse, and thrnsting a brace Of hea
;,h duelling pistols anda knife beneath bis CO.
~ placing his saddle bags upon his, saddle,
.n mounted and rode of. n 2 's.s''ff 7
,Mar M Nextdays great excitement prevailed
y The neighborhood Of ---T, The daugh
lof the merchant was missing, and also III
ward, the overseer Of heighboring plan
oil tion Gossip said atonce that an elol
to ment bad taken place-7Hayward had CARR
j. OF Miss -1-, - ~ and D'Costa was defeatt
4, 4 Inadayortwo, some busy body went out
~ D,Costa's place, TO apprizs him o.; the sstl
lu' Of anairs--but 10! D'Costa himself was d
on est t.inbenttls. Hayward had disappeared
insrI tha vai.,.,, &C tha icn !, IN a n, ,,ra of Az