Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-09-04

THE LATE MURDER IN GILMER.
CHENILLE, Gilmer Co., Va, June 81, 1858.

CHENILLE, Gilmer Co., Va, June 81, 1858.
MIR. EDITOR The murder that was committed
in our county during your short but welcome visit
to this place you are aware of and probably know
the circumstances,
By your request l have written to inform you
that on Monday, the 9TH of June, the prisoner was
taken before George E.. Ball, a Justice Of the
Peace, and the following gentlemen were sworn as
witnesses for the Commonwealth Samuel Cleve-
land, William Cleveland, Isaac Garrett, Il. S.
Saunders, VIM. Cottrell and ]. p. Keister.
Mr.. Saunders was first examined, and testified
that he was the brother of the deceased's wife; that
he had been working with Mr.. johnson, the deceas-
cd, aud the negro nearly AL day, setting out tobac'
90 plants, &C.. that about one and a half hours
before shutdown he left them and did not see eth
or Of them any more until dusk, at which time
Mrs. johnson went to the door and called her
husband the negro answered and she remarked
that it was not Mr.. J.'s voice but the negroes
whereupon he was called to the house and inquir-
of where his master was ? he replied that he was
in the tobacco. house Ia house which stood but a
short distance from the dwelling), they immediate
1y took a lantern and went in search of him not
finding him in the tobacco-house they, proceeded
TO the place wnere he had been working, and there
found his body, but n few PAGES from where he
had been murdered buried about four inches under
ground. After removing a small portion of the
dirt, his arm and shoulder were discovered, and
the wife of the deceased began to scream in the
most pitiful manner. They returned to the house
wher re they left the negro, and found that he had
absconded. From thence they proceed ed TO Mr.
Sottrells, an adjoining n~eighbor, and related the
circumstances. After a short time, the male por
ton of the surrounding neighbors we're summoned
in, and, the night being a rainy and very disagree
able one, they concluded to remove the dead body
of Mr.. j. to the dwelling house.
The testimony of the other witnesses only wen
to c0rroborate that Of the former, not being famil
-.-.t -. IL l. II. IL
coyery of the body. After the examination Of
Mr.. S., the magistrate inquired Of the prisoner at
the bar if he, had anything to ask the witness, and
when, with an idiotic look, he said he didn't know
the justice very properly appointed counsel, for
his defence, and suggested to Mr.. Lively, TIE
counsel, that he had better remove the prisoner to
some private place, and proceed to hold a consult.
alton with him-which suggestion was agreed to
and the sheriff, prisoner and his counsel retired to q
private room, and after n lapse of twenty or thirty
minutes, returned to the courtroom,
Mr.. Lively recalled Mr.. Saunders to the witness
stand and Inquired of him if any threat had been
Made by Mr.. Johnson during the day to take the
life of tho negro. Answer No. lie then inquir,
ed if the deceased was in the habit Of using bar
bar0us and inhuman treatment towards the negro
Answer No. II the deceased had whip
ped him on that day and with what. Answer
Yes had struck him on the back several times with
q root or two. Was she slaves back in the con
dition now that it was when the deceased purchas
ed him? Did not know. Had he ever seen the
deceased burn the slave at any time with an iron
square If SO how many times? Answer New
er. Had he any reason to believe that the slave
thought his master was going TO take his life that
night? Answer: No. Was the negro of a good
or evil disposition? Answer: Very mean an sloth-
full. Mr.. J. p. Keister was next examined, and af
ter u brief statement Of what had occurred at the
Inquest, spoke as follows The night came on, and
myself and several other were sitting up with the
corpse some two or three women lay in the ad.
joining room. About 10 o'clock a noise was made
at the outer door of the room where the women
were, and an attempt to open it but a table which
sat about 4 inches off prevented, and the person
ran off We Immediately ran with a light, but dis.
covered nothing. About half an hour afterwards.
VIC went'to tho tobaceo,house with lights, and there
found the prisoner lying lowe as if asleep and
we Immediately entered and secured him. After
he was in custody. | placed a rope around his neck
and asked him what lie killed his master for
Ills answer was, | done it accidently; with that /
commenced drawing him up with n rope, until fin.
ally. ne said he done il Intentionally, that the dey,
Ill got before him.
Mr.. Lively here interpased; and asked Mr.. X. if
the negro had not been fortunate enough to strike
on a subject that c0TrespOnded with his views.
would he have e0ntiaued his torturei Answer; |
ciioked him till 1 thought he told the truth. Mr..
X. next remarked that. while going from the to-
bacco house to the dwelling, he asked the negro
where he had run to after he killed his master p
9he negro replied on the ridge. pointing ia a south.
ern direction. CoUhlopt! ! took him side Of the
head and told him not to tell as.p lie. | next asked
him where he went, and he said Of the run;cOrhiopH
took him again. | asked him again and he said
ia the tobacco house. Cophtopt! | took him
again on the side Of the head, and told him not to
tell me a lie again. He at last said under an oak
tree 10 the wheat field, close by the house. ]