Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-01-12

q
told the rich merchant his whole story
and spoke with warmth of the generosity
of his Southern berefactor, before he ask
ed for assistance in raising the two hun
dred dollars that he was still 10 debt on
the money loaned to purchase his free dom.
Now mark this honorable merchants re-
ply. "Why man, don't you know that
you ere now on free soil, an1 needn't pay
cent Of the money. You are free-you
are as free as /, both from your masters
administrators aud your creditor. Pay no
more-you were Ounce for paying the
seven hundred dollars" "But," replied
the Negro, "he loaned me the money TO
buy myself or would not have been
here to assert my freedom. still owe
him two hundred dollars" "Tut, man
nonsense--you owe him nothing. You
couldn't be his debtor in matter Of hui
man flesh But" replied the Negro,
cy0u mistake the case. He was not my
master-he was my only friend, and lent
me the money to keep me from going
further South; and permitted me, on my
own honor. to remove into free State,
with view of my earning sufficient TO
repay the debt He holds the bill of sale
for me, aud l want to get it by paying him
the balance. Would you have me break
my honor''' "That's enough-thats en-
ough," said the honorable and philan-
thropic rich merchant, "a slave trafficer-
lent you the money-took bill OF sale
and now he wants his price. Don't pay
him cent. would Mt bur:hen my con-
science with such heinous sin as giving
a cent for any such purpose for all the
world. Aid thee in the accused traffic,
by indireciion, heb No-no-no--this
dealer must be taught lesson. Go to
your home, and leave him to his remedy.
r he comes after yoa, he will find US
quick enough on his track, and then he
shall di>gorge the seven hundred dollars
which you have already paid him." The
Negro burst into tears, and left the count
ing house Of the merchant, deplorlng that
sort of morality which could advise him
10 rob his benefactor under SO specious a
plea. Which were the noDler Of the two,
the poor Negro, or the rich merchant
How perverted must all human emotions
have become, and how contorted the
mind, which could counsel such conduct.
This is but one Of the many cases that we
now have before us. May God speedily
purge the world Of this pernicious Adolf
ton philanthropy.
Israel Wooding, Almeron Sanford and
wife, Abigail Stables, Thankful S. Hersey,
the widow Wakeman, (the prophecies
Samuel Sly, and colored man named Jo-
sIah Jackson, aave all been arrested and
lodged in Jail at New Haven for the MUIR
der OF Justus Matthews. Jackson confess
es that they were all present on Sunday
night in Rhoda Wakeman's house. Rho
da SAYS she was murdered by her husband
80 years ago, and has since been to heav-
en-, and seen the Savior. and all the proph-
cts. apostles and martyrs; thence she was
sent back on a mission to the earth. She
was the prophecies to the deluded crew
who gathered around her. The old crea-
ture has had fifteen children. Elder Sly
is her bro Their; he is so years old. and the
following is his confession. What awful
wickedness and superstition !
ale says that his sister, Mrs. Wakeman
was so distressed with the bad spirit or
power in Matthews, that he thought
something must be done to remove 1t, and
he consulted with Jackson in regard to
using a stick Of hazlewood on Matthews,
to see what effect 1t would have upon
him. He had procured stick of that
wood few days previous, in anticipation
that it might be necessary 10 use it for the
purpose-as he thought the bark Of hazel,
IN connection with alder, concocted to-
gether into tea, was powerful to remove
entertainments This stick, which was
about an inch in diameter, and two and
a half fee, in lenlh, he had placed in
drawer in the cellar, and when he spoke
to Jackson about using it, j. inquired
where he kept it. Sly informed him,
and went and brought it into the lower
rear room where Jackson and the woman
Hersey we're and they knew when he
went into Matthew's room with it.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Sanford went up
stairs. preparatory to taking Matthews
away, Sly went into the front room to
Matthews and after locking the doors,
struck the deceased, who was sitting in a
chair blinded, over the RICH, temple, with
such force as to bring him 10 the floor, and
then struck him several times with the
club He then took his pocket knife, and
commenced cutting Matthew's throat.-
Mathews groaued, but did not utter
word after the first blow. Sly also took
table fork, with which and knife, he mu-
tlated tie body. He says he did not de-
sign to use any other weapon than tine
bludgeon, but after he had given the blows
was urged on by some influence TO use the
knife and fork.
After the murder, he remained locked
in che room half hour, when he came
out into Miss Hersey's room, where she
was. with the bloody stick and light i'll
his hand. His hands and shirt sleeves
were bloody. and she procured bas in Of
water to wash himself and they CONVEX
sed about secreting the stick, and he then
placed it down cellar. His shirt sleeves
were then torn off, and the bloody pieces
burned in Miss Hersey's stove-she beirg
present. He afterwards took the club
used and'cut it into three pieces and threw
them into the privy vault, where he also
put the knife. He took up some of the
blood from the floor and carried it away.
He then went up stairs, where the gather
ing was, and engaged IN prayer! This
is the substance OF his statement, he time
and again ayerring that he alone was con-