The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-01


Mayor and his officers have been endeayoring to
secure number OF negroes supposed TO be con-
eerned IN deep scheme to compel Mr.. William
(raelor to dispense with the services Of bis over
seer, Mr.. Benjamin Mann. who, from some un.
known cause has become very obnoxious to many
Of thewooly heads under his charge. Yesterday
morning four slaves Jordan, the properly Of Mira.
Rebecca Bailey. Henry Howard slave to S. Bailey,
and Alexander and William, in the service Of Lacy
s. Carter, were put upon their examination.
charged with attempting to burn Mr.. William
Graenors factory, or with endeavoring to, compel
the discharge of Benjamin Mann, his oyerseer.
On the 10th of January, Mr., Graenor went to the
factory in the morning and at the back door dscov
cred bottle containing liquid, with sulphur in it,
He endeavored to find out how it came there, but
no one could tell him. On the Wednesday morn.
ing following he received letter ad vising him to
discharge Mann, TO prevent the burning of his fac
tory-statiDg that If James Thomas had not em
p'oyed Mann's brother his factory would not have
been burned Mr. Graenor showed this letter to a
number OF tobacconists atfhe warehouse and then
Immediately resolved, that come what might, he
would retain Mr.. Mann Id his service as long he
proved himself faithful to his trust On going to
the factory Mr. Graenor showed the letter TO Mr.
Mann, and the two at once determined TO keep
watch over the premises. A few nights after this
while on the look out Mann discovered two men
passing into the alley leading TO the rear of the
factory and hailed them,s when both ran Oft On
the night of the 18th OF January just as Mr.. Mann
turned the corner of Goth and Cary streets, his
way to the factory. he saw some one run from near
the front door, and when getting there dlscoy cred
that bottle Of liquid had been thrown through a
vacuum inthe traiisome over the door into the Of
fice, and that there were quantity ofpartially
burned shavings at the door in the street. if they
were fired to be thrown in on the fluid, Just as he
came up. The following Monday, an Old negro
fellow named Henry, owned by Mr.. s. Bailey, call
ed az Mr.. Graenors residence on Broad street, and
left an anonymous letter for Mrs Gfaenor urging
her to induce the discharge of Mann. 10 save the
factory from destruction This letter lead to the
arrest of Henry. who said he received 1t from vii
liam, In the service Of Lacy & Carter, and TO the
arrest of William who declared that white man.
entirely unknownto him. employed him to deliver
lit to Mrs. Graenor-which Of coarfe, u false.
/ Learning that Alexander, in the employ OF
Messrs Lacy & Carter, was q pensman, ne wss IA
ken into custody, and on searching bisr PEN
ponding with the letters were found in his posses
sion. Among his memoranda were discovered one
or t,xs forged passes, for slaves" gg ftsaa =
| Jordan, another OF the prisoners, il a sort OF
preacher and exhorter, and no doubt y the leader
in this scheme of villainy az. at one time he ear
fled the store house keys Of Mr. Graenors factory
which were taken from him and put into Mr..
| sMann's hands. TO get a change ct overseers and
possesson OF the keys is his great object and it ts
not at all improbable that he the instga1er OF this
lischeine He was made witness oi and stated
Ithst since Christmas he had heard talk of burning
the factory and getting rid of Mann He heard Joe
| Banks say be would get rid of Ben ManB--ffat he
should not stay in the factory. Heard Jim haw-
kins say Ben had tried to get him to take letter 10
Mrs Graenor, but he refused Toe belongs a 70
i Mr. VIM Riddick met Joe Banks Ia the street
| about the lst of January, when Joe remarked:'i -
understand old master has hired me again -. Mr..
r. replied, .Yes he has Joe then said, 'finere
Learning from Mr. r. that Mr. Graenor did not want
him II Ia did NOT wish TO hive with him, Joe said