The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-01-11
For the Lancaster Ledger.
CUREToNs STORE, Jan. c


sons were appointed to patrol their resPec-
tive beats, and take up all such characters.
, Accordingly, on yesterday evening Mr.. II.
X. Massey found one Of these characters
lettering and dodging through his planta-
ton he Immediately called his negro boy
"Peter," and gave him his shot gun and told
the boy to march the fellow to head quar-
ters for trial, which he did in the regular
African style-making him take the road
before him. 1t was grand sight to see
"old Peter" gun in hand marching this de.
tcstable wretch TO trial. On their arrival
at head quarters meeting of the citizens
was forthwith convened to try the case.
The meeting was orennjzed by calling
! DIR. r. l.. Johnston to the Chair, and Il. X.
| Magiil to act as Secretary. DR.. Johnson
explained the object of the meeting with n
few pertinent remarks, in regard to North
ern spies and incendaries passing through
our country under the gnrb and pretext of
| Drummers, Pedlars, Book Agents, Di,chers,
&c, and secretly tampering with our slave 8
was nov time that such persons should be
dealt with according to their deserts.
! Mr. II. Il. Massey then stated that he
had found this man Nicholas Mayes, loiter-
/ ing on his premises, and having examined
him as TO his business there, believed him
fit subject for the Vigilance Committee
to deal with, as he could not give any good
account of himself, or reason why he was
there.
II. II. MaGrll then moved that n Commit
tee Of all prcsen; be appoin ted by the Chair
TO examine said Nicholas Mayes, and see
| if he had about aim any incendiary papers,
or If h e had had any abolition conversation
with either white or black ; and, also, to
| decide Lpon what punishment shall be in
ilictcd upon him, which was unanimously
agreed TO and was forthwith carried into
execution. Bn, no papers was found ei IN
er it, his carpet or about his person of any
kind. Mr.. Massey then proceeded to qncs
,ion him:
Where are YOU from ? he replied, Ger
many
where did You live previous to your
coming to South Carolina I!
u have lived at no place bat in North and
South Carolina, since leaving GERMANY
Where did YOU first land in the u. S ?
In Charleston.
What is your occupation ?
Dtching.'
Where have you ditched >
i have ditchcd at Thanev Taylor'., Sam'l
Dunhp, Alex. ColIey's, and others
DO YOU know anything Of John Brown,
or the liorper's Ferry affair ?
No. know nothing Of either
Have You eN pressed abolition senti.
ments! p
NO (But it WAS clear that he had done
SO from facts cIicred)
Did you not hire n negro boy Of Jno. J
Craig 10 steal horse for you AMI give hin,
Il dollar for that purpose
!, i did
Did YOU not give DR.. II. X Curcton'.
negro hoy liquor and make hira drunk /!
i did
'lIave you not been sleeping in negro
houses with negroes ?
i have done so at Alex. Coffey's, bu
talked very little with them
Did YOU not break open Mrs. Huey',
blacksmith shop and take out her tools p
i did
Are you an abolitionst !,
No"
Here the examination closed ard il wa,
moved by NJ. &. Heath, Esq. that in view
of all his admissions and conduct in III,
District, that the said Mayes should leave
:he bounds and jurisdiction Of this Com
mittee by IL o'clock to morrow and, also
To leave both the States of South unc
North Carolina in the space of five days, ant
if caught in said bounds OF this Committe
ut IL o'clock to morrow, TO receive SO lash
es on the bare back and n coat Of tar an,
feathers, which was unanimously agree,
to.
The sentence Of the Court was the
'eau "hu paper oIBueu ny nun To slbnli
his willingness to leave both States in tn
prescrihee time which he did and was ga
to get off at that, 1t was then ascertane
that he had no money and purse wa
maae up for him.
After the sentence hrd been passed APE
ter" was discharged. who deserves muc
credit for the faithful performance of dut,
in marching aboltio nists up for trial.
was then resolved that the proceedings Q
this meeting he pubIished in the Lancaste
Ledger.
The meeting then adjourned.
4. L. JOHNSTON, Ch'mn.
THos. X. MAGILL, Secy.
Jas. Miller, Il. !. Cureton, J. X. Caskey
J. VI. Mellow, s. X. Porter, b. J. Curetol
G. A. NJ Yarboro. Alex. McIlwain, II. 4
Massey, VI. G.. Heath. +. Steele, TIL
JObnston and T, r. MagiIl, Committee.
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