Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-11-29
From the New Orleans Delta.
Later nom Texas.

Inc steamship mexico, Capt. Lawless, arrived
this morning from Indianola via Galveston She
left the latter port on the 10th, TO which date we
have papers.
TERRIBLE ExcrrEMESr IN NAVARRO County,
In the Leon Pioneer, of the sth instant we had a
long and shocking account of the progress of the
excitement IN Navarro county, of which we have
already given some notice--that grew out Of the
supposed theft Of couple of mulatto boys, be-
longing to Col. Elliot of that county.
II appears, from statement of subsequent pro-
ceedings, in connexion with that affair, furnished
the Pioneer by Mr.. J. 7. Gresham and Dr. Carter,
Of Leon county, who had Just returned to Center
vile from COL Elliot's neighborhood, that the ex
element grew to such fearful height as to lead to
the secret execution and horrid mutilation of a
man named Wells, who had been implicated, by
the confession Of another person, of the name of
Morgan, as being party concerned In the theft Of
the two slaves As the statement of the crcum-
stances connected with thisrevong tragedy Is given
in about as plain and succnct form In the Pioneer,
as they could be well related, we copy In full or
nearly so, from that paper:
MORE OF THE EXCITEMENT IN NAVARRO COUNTY
1t seems that soon after the negroes were missing,
circumstances transpired which induced Elliot and
some of his neighbors to suspect two men who
were in his employ Of being concerned in the theft.
The circumstances that led to the suspicion seem
to have transpired through cook of Elliott's, the
mother OF the negro boy, who told that the boys
had been persuaded off by these men, with the
understanding that they were to be sold and re-
stolen for some two three times, and finally to
be carried to Mexico, where they should be free.
third party, who is now at large with the negroes
was to do the stealing and selling, and afterward
to return and divide the proceeds with the other
two. The plan to prevent detection was, to black
the negroes, they being very bright mulattoes
On the strength Of this, one Of the men in the
employ OF Elliott was arrested by posse of the
citizens, and was induced to make confession cor
roborating in every particular the facts just related
He stated further that he and the other man. Wells
had become uneasy about the matter, and had re-
solved to murder Col. Elliott. The plan was for
him to decoy Elliott into the bottom, where they
were getting timber, under the prctence Of show
ing them where the lines ran, for fear that they
would trespass on land that did not belong to him,
and that Wells was to shoot him from ambush
Elliott corroborates this statement and says he re-
fused to go on account of suspicion Of foul play,
knowing at the time that the men knew the lines
of his land better than he did
After getting this confession, search was imme-
dately made by various parties for Wells, but
without 1t is said, succeeding in arresting him. On
Friday, the 9th ultimo, his body was found in
Chamberss creek by some persons who were en-
gagged in building bridge, and We're attracted to
the spot by gang of buzzards When found he
was floating near the surface of the water, between
forked limb, which had, to all appearance, been
placed over him for the purpose of holding the
body to the bottom. Around his neck was the
print of rope. His abdomen had been ripped
open, and his bowels torn ont thus leaving little
doubt but he was hanged, afterward his body
thrown in the creek for concealment The body,
from appearances, had been in the creek but
short time, probably fourteen or twenty hours
The parties, or some of them, engaged in the
search for Wells are suspected of the murder, and
their lives are threatened. One or two of them
have gone to Corsicana and demanded trial, al
leging their innocence.
STILL LArER.-By the hand Of Dr. Carter we
have received copy Of the report of the coroners
jury that held the inquest on the 29th ult. over
the body of j. Fl. Wells, found in Chamberss
creek, as related in another place.
The jury say that the deceased "came to his
death on or before the 10th of this month (0cto-
ber) by violent hands, there being a mark around
his neck as though he had been hanged with cord
by the neck wound under the left arm evident
ly inflicted with knife-bruises on his arms as
though he had been tied--his abdomen split open
the whole length with knife, and his bowels
taken out with his liver heart, and lungs. His
pants were drawn up around his waist and button
ed. He was found afoat in Chambers's creek, but
had evidently been placed there under log, with
some limbs on him.
From the evidence detailed before the inquest,
and from other circumstances, the jury say that
the deceased came to his death by the act, pro-
curement and council of nine persons by the jury
named, and others unknown. Among the nine
persons accused of this foul deed are some of the
most respectable and prominent men in the county
Of Navarro; and as our informant stated that they
all stood their trial before an examining court and
were honorably acquitted we shall omit their Names
considering that If innocent it will hiring them in
justice, and if guilty, it will not forward the ends
ofjustice.
The barbarous and shocking mutilation described
in the report of the jury savors more of the fend
than of man, and unless upon proof the most clear
and convincing, we cannot believe that men Of the
high standing and honorable feeling that we know
some of the accused TO be, could have consented
to such fendish work, much less aided and allotted
it. We are, however, happy to state that no ex-
cess was committed but the law peaceably allowed
to take its way, and that no apprehensons Of vio-
lence are at present entertained.
Mr.. Carter informs us that Morgan was the prin-
cipa witness against the accused before the mags-
trate and that on being asked IL his confession inn
plicated himself and Wells In the abdicaton of Col
Eliotts negroes was true, he answered that il was
not but was made as an cxpedient TO save his life,
which ne supposed was In danger, he being sur
rounded by party Of men who placed rope
around his neck, and told him to say what he had
to say, as he had but FIVE minutes.
This transaction forcibly illustrates how one ex-
cess may lead TO another-the danger Of men
taking law and justice into their own hands. The
forced confession of Morgan, IL IL did not lead TO
the death and mutilaton Of Wells, at least opened
up the way for such suspicion. The law will in
nine hundred and nnety-nine cases out Of one
thousand, prove the safer and better resort.