The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1854-12-09

In the Leon Pioneer, OF the sth inst, We
have n long and shocking account of tho
progress Of the excitement in Navarro coun.
ty--of which we have already given some
noiice--th grew gu, Of the supposed theft
of couple OF mula,to boys, belonging to
Col Elliot Of that county.
happears, from statement OF subsequen:
proceedings. in connection with that affair,
furnished the Pioneer by Mr.. j. r. Gresham
and Dr. Carter, Of Leon county, who had
lust returned to Centrcville from Col. Ellis
OTIS neighborhood, that the excitement grew
to such fearful heigh, as to lead to the
secret execution and horrid mutation Of a
man named Wells, who had been implicated
by the confession OF another person. of tho
name Of Morgan, ms being party cons
cerned in the theft Of the two slaves. As
the statement, Of the circumstances con.
aected with the revolving tragedy, is given
in abou, rs plain and succinct a form, in
the Pioneer. ~ they could well be related
we copy in full, or nearly so. from that pa
per
cit seems that soon after the negroes
were missing, circumstances TRANSFERRED
which induced Ello. aud some Of his neigh
bors to suspicion two men who were IN ms
employ, of being concerned in the theft.
The circnms,anccSihs, led to the suspicion
of these men seems TO have TRANSFERRED th-o
a cook Of Elliot's, the mother OF the negro
boy. who told that the boys had been per-
suaded off by these men, with the under
standing tina, they were 10 be sold and re
stolen Tor some two or three times, and
finally TO be carried to Mexico. where they
should be free third party. who is now
a, large with the negroes, II seems WAS to
do the cunning and selling, and afterwards
to return and divide proceeds with the 9th
er two. The plan 20 proven, detection WAS,
to black the negroes, they being very bright
mula,toes
"On the strength Of this. one Of the men
in the employ Of Elliot WAS arrested by
posse of the citizens, and WAS induced to
make n confession, corroborating IN every
particular the facts Jus, related. lie stated
further, that h. aud the other man, Wells,
had become uneasy sbou, the matter, and
had resolved 70 murder Col. Elliot The
plan was for him to decoy Elliot into the
bottom, where they were getting TIMBER
under the pretence OF showing them where
the line ran. for fear that they would tres
mas, on land that did not beloag to him,
and that Wells WAS TO shoot him from AIN
bush. Elliot couoborstes this statement.
and SAYS he refused to go on account OF
e.-pieion Of foul play, owing ~ the ''"'e
thai the men knew tie lines OF his land
better than he did.
After getting this confession. search
WAS Immediately made by various partes
for " ella, bu, without. it is said, succeeding
in arrcs,ine him. On Friday. the 9th uit.,
bis body WAS found in Chambers creek,
by some persons who were engaged IN
building n bridge, and who were hunting
oxen n, the time, and were attracted to the
spot by a gang OF buzlards. When 'on"''
he was floating near the surface OF me wa
ter, between IL forked limb, which had, TO
all appearance been placed over him Tor
the purpose Of holding the body to the bot
tom, Around hi. neck was the print OF n
rome. HIS abdomen had been ripped open,
and his bowels torn out thus leaving little
doubt tina, he was hanged, afterwards bis
body thrown in the creek FOR conceslfnen'.
The body, from appearances, had been III
the creek but short time, pfobaSl, Tour
te~u or fifteen hours.
1.-THE parties, or some OF them, engaged
in The search for Wells, are su.piciened OF
the murder. and their lives are threatened.
One or two of them have gone to Corslcsns
and demanded trial, alleging their lnno'
cence.
"When our informant left, the greatest
excitement prevailed. and IT WAS feared that
bloodshed would ensue.
The Pioneer contains sill later news
from Navarro county. which is AS follows
BY the hand Of Dr.. Carter we have
received n copy of the report oi the 'oro
ner. Jury, tina, held inquest on the 2oth
nit. over the body OF J. II. Wells, found
in Chambers creek, As reis'ed IN another
place.
The Jury ssy, tbs, the deceased came
In hi. death on OF about the lo,h Of this
month. iOc,ober) BY violent hands. there
being mark around his neck, " though
he had been hanged with cord by the
neck-wound under his lief, arm, evidently
inflicted with knife bruises on his arms,
a, ,houch he had been iied--the privstes
en-, entirely od--bis abdomen split open
the whole length with knife. and his bow
eli. tnkes out, together with HIS Ever, heart
and lungs Ills pants were drawn up
around his wais, aud bu,toned. lie WAS
found afiost IN Chambers creek, but had
evidently been placed there under loe'
with some limbs on him.
prom the evidence detailed before the
inaaest. and from their circumstances, The
iury say that the deceased came to his death
BY the act. procurement aud counsel oil
nine persons By the jury named, and others
unknown. Among thu nine persons ac'
cused OF this foul deed. are some OF the
mos, respectable and proU1nGns men IN The
county OF Navarro, AZ informant
stated, that they all s,od trial before
AN examining court, and were honorAb'y
,cauit,ed; we shall omit their names, Goa
.idsrny tina, il innocent, il will he dong
them inlustiee, and il guilty !, will not Tor
ward the ends OF justice.
"The bsrbsrous and shocking mutils'
ton described In the report OF the jury.
s.yors more Of the fsnd than oil man, ANA
uules. upon proof the most clear and con
yiorjpe. we cannot believe that men Of the