The true Democrat., 1857-02-03

lost a pony off boat and was looking for my pony, l asked about Mr. Hicks, made out that was well acquainted with him, and told the peo- pie of Ozark that was going to farm it with Mr. Hicks, who lived in in what Is called McLane's bottom. fulfilled my word, l was employed by Hicks but it was not my intention to remain with him; l stayed about nineteen days, an then hired myself to Spear Ellsworth. Dur ing my stay in that neighborhood, became acquainted with all the negroes in tLe settle ment and persuaded them to leave their mas ters-wrote many of them passes, and gave some of free papers, the form of which l got rom Tree man by the name of Abraham, and he got them from traveller who was trading III horses, and OF his way to Texas. One night during the time the Masons held theirm meeting l took three negro men, one wom..n and the horses, and left went to Ozark, but thought 1t not safe to remain there; went to Fort Smith --told them they were my fathers negroes. but 1 was detected by them knowing one of Spear Titswolths negroes by the name of Abraham, son of the free man I spoke of told them my father bought the negroes but was not be- heved. l eudeavored to make my escape, but was overtaken and carried back to McIane's bottom-had my trial, was removed to Ozark lei. Hicks amt Ellsworth prosecuted me; dur Ing lne tune was in jail to await my trial, man oy the name of Converse Crooks, was put Tn Tor committing rape. He and broke iail ana made our escape, crossed the river: I was without money or clothes, except the suit es caped in Crooks said he knew where some neo pie lived, and he would get us something to eat and he went and told them he had rive bail and was still iii jail-l was hid ont, he brou yht me something to eat. 1 went to Crooks fath- CT with him. and told Crooks my father was rich and was sorry 1 had done as had. told him would be back in about month and bring him some money; told him wanted to borrow horse from his father and he must tell his father that he knew my parents, and they were rich, which he did told old man Crooks wanted to borrow his horse, and would bring him back and give him ten dollars for his trouble. l got the horse but went to Little Rock and sold the horse for eighty dollars and took trip back to Madson--intondng to see Miss Beatty but she was married.
 then shipped on the steamer Madison Belle: the mate and fell out we had a fight, in the affray shot Wm. Powell, but did not kill him The captain landed me at Warsaw; 1 was not taken up, as l only acted in sef-denfence. left there and went down to Madison to seek my revenge on Lewis Noble who was the mate that abused me- but could not get to his house on account, of his dogs; set fire to a house close by him, belonging to Easiest Lot, think ing by that means to burn Noble's also; then left and went to New Orleans There I was employed by MT. flighten in his ware house. at thirty dollars per month. and all the shatter- ed corn was to be mine. stayed with him six months; l was honest with him. I then hired to Mr. Beard upon the same terms, he caught me cutting corn sacks and discharged me, after was with him two months. 1 left him and went down to the shipping, and hired myself as pilot on the schooner Mary Aohbrook; 1 was no plot, but knowing the direction and un- derstanding the compass. l landed her at Mo- bile. The captain and l fell out about my pav hit him with rock, 1 arrested, put in the caaboose; there l was taken sick and dis missed--l Was there about one week afterwards. Lired to man by the name of Jinks to go to Laudlble Springs, Miss, to act as hostler for him, stayed with him two months--he did not pay me; left and waited my chance, took one of his horses out of the stable, left and turned the horse loose before got to Brandon. From Brandon went to Jackson, there hired myself to a man of color to help him haul wood, by the name of John Nortou--told him knew an easier way to make money than that, aud If he would do what I wanted him to do l would tell him, he told me he would. He stole horses and 1 sold them for him, and we divided the money. At first he did not act fair with me, he gave me little or nothing for my trouble, told him 1 intended to quit it as he did not do right; he said he would do right with me fterwards-whch he did
 While l was at John Norton's, there was an aged man ot color come up to us one day, had asked John who he was, he told me 1t was old Nose; when he stopped I said Nose how do you do, he said how do you know me; told him had heard of him, told him thought he did not look well, he said he felt baei--had the rheumatism and breast complaint. I told him l would cure him; he said if would he would give mo one hundred dollars; asked him where he lived, he said he lived only a short distance-that ohn knew where he lved and he would come with me. 1 told him I would come and see him soon; 1 went to see him, gave him ome drops for the cough, and some elmwater. left him and went back in few days, asked him how he was he told me he thought he was better, told him as he was mending and would get we'll, would like to have some money, and needed it very much he gave me the hundred dollars then saw his money, and was determinedto have it all, and told him if he got worse to send for me. then went and prepared d dose fer him, con- pounded of India physic and strichnine; he
 
 few hours after taking it. I got his money which amouted to two hundred dollars. and then left for Vicksburg Iremaned there some two months. hired two colored men beonginq to Mss Hays, put up shop on Washington street; the negroes and myself stole horses and l sold them-teiIing them as soon as I got money enough would buy them and set them iraa. They s.c!e |. T:cie, 1 went to Grand Gulf to sell it, was detected and arrested i,l Vicksburg; was in jail six months, got clear by good management and good counsel my name Tn Vicksburg was Wn. Wood told my counsel after got out, that I was a step son oi Greenwood Lahour; 1t took all the money had to pay my counsel, 1 asked my lawyer, MT. Sone, to loan me thirty dollars and would give him one hundred on my return from home. He loaned me the money l pre- tended that 1 was going to my step fathers but went up Yazoo river as far as Yazoo City On my way there got to gambling lost all my money but few dollars, then went and bought some liquor and got the man drunk; asked him how much money he won frnm me he said not much, 1 told him he won one hun. dred dollars from me, we made bet on it and went on the stern of the boat to count it-I snatched the money and pushed him overheard and he met watery grave.
 l went from Yazoo back to Vcksburg, and from there to Rock Island on the Mississippi river; there l borded three months. The boys used to go out in the woods to hunt with me l become very intimate with boy by the name of Martin Barber, and persuaded him to go with me-telling him he might one day be a man of som notoriety among the Indians; he said he would go. He complained of the treat. ment he received at home from his father and mother, aud oldest brother. I asked him if he could get us any money; he said his father had some. and told him to get it--he stole three hundred dollars from his father, and we took passage for Gaena. From there we went to Chicago, from there we wentto Cincinnati, Ohio Barber was taken sick, put him in the hospital and wentto Indianapolis, and boarded at James Beaty's, the girls brother 1 was engaged to be married to. Barber got well and was with me; 1 told Beatty he was my half. brother. was tbaro opa waak borro .o,,o ..a.z--