Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-08-08


arms and arrested Mr.. Moloney and Mr. Phillips.
Subsequently, however, they discharged these gentle
men the arms they removed to this city. When q
statement OF what had transpred laid before the
Committee, it was determined to re-arrest Mooney
and Phillips An act of piracy had been committed
"a sloop containing the arms of the State had been
overhauled-the arms were forcibly remoVed-and
the witnesses of these high handed proceedings
Messrs Mooney and Phillips. A serious act had
been performed and serious consequences ight en-
sue. Hence the necessity to obtain possession of the
persons of those who witnessed the proceedings.
This so far as we could learn, The cause of the
issuance of the orders for the arrest of Mooney and
Phillips OF course, in body in which secresy is so
strictly maintained ii is impossible to ascertain posi-
lively the cause OF any movement of the Committee
Under such circumstances recourse can only be had
to conjecture From the lights before us, we think
this conjecture may possibly be correct.
At the time the first attempt to arrest Mr.. Mooney
had been made, that gentleman at the rooms oil
Captain Ashe, of whose company of militia he is a
member, whittier he had proceeded TO report the sez
of the which had been entrusted to his
Below we give statement of what occurred in Cap
tain Ashes room:
THE ATTEMPTED ARRESTS.
Yesterday afternoon, about three O'Clock, party
of men, members of the Vigilance Committee, headed
by man named Hopkins, entered the room of Capt
Ashe, over the banking. rooms of Palmer, Cook & Co
They said they to arrest Mr.. Moloney by order
of the Vigilance Committee. Captain Ashe told them
they could not arrest any man in his room and or.
dered them out They retired, and Capt Ashe order
ed Mr.. Moloney and several gentlemen present
among whom were Judge Terry, Mr.. Bowie, Mr.
the Blues, on the corner of Dupont and Jackson
streets They obeyed the ORDER several of the PARTY
being armed with guns, and were followed by the
delegation Of the Vigilance Committee who had pre-
viouslY made the attempt to arrest Mr.. Moloney
and whose number had been increased by this time
~ A l.. rF5
had arrived at the corner Of the alley on Jackson
street, short distance above the Pennsylvania En-
CINE House, they were assaulted by the bold Vigi-
lance boys and attempt made to arrest Mr.. Mo-
loney. Judge Terry told them he was an officer of
the law and they had no right TO arrest any one save
by legal process. Hopkins told Justice Terry he
would arrest him if he interfered and al the same
moment seized the gun in the hands of the Judge and
attempted 10 take ii out of his possession struggle
ensued for the gun when Hopkins drew his pistol on
the Judge and attempted 10 shoot him, whereupon he
drew knife and cut Hopkins in the back of the neck
about four inches from the left All this time the
companions of Hopkins held drawn pistols on the
Judge, and were only deferred from shooting by the
determined attitude of Captain Ashe and his COM
panions During the scuf1e for the gun pistol was
discharged by member of the Vigilance Committee,
intended for Judge Terry, which came very near
striking officer Nugent, who was trying to separate
the parties. After Hopkins received the blow he
dropped his pistol and hurried down Jackson street to
the Pennsylvania Engine House, where several gen
tlemen were promptly in attendance and dressed his
wound, He bled very profusely, but we understand
his wound is not of serious nature.
FROM AN EYE-WITNESS.l
Editor of the Herald The following is the true account
of what happened yesterday afternoon Some to
the Navy Agents office to arrest Mr. Mooney who is pri
vae in Captain Ashes Company and who had been ordered
by General Howard to go to Benica State service. Mo-
Oney had come to the Captains office report
ing the duty he had been detained for when armed
to seize him Then Captain Ashe ordered Mooney to the
Armory-having elected the Vigilance from his room
He then ordered Hamilton, Bowie Mr. Rowe, Judge Terry
Lieut. McNabb and Mr. Doland 60 also to this Armory
On the way the party attacked by armed mob
Capt Ashe seized violently and Judge Terry seized
by about twenty with pistols pointed his head and
one man first snapped his pistol at Judge Terry and then
fired at him-a before he drew his knife. The ne
stabbed held him by the throat they would have
killed him. Nothing but his courage saved his life.