Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-03-07


Vi hare rorifel ,hs .ol ssiag Communication from
a tsuaa Il high standing ia the rsishhOrhOOd in
Viii the late sEe.'susat originated aud as he has
half yery opportunity O. arrive Al the facts in ease,
We Lays seen propy to give 'tem to hev,rld. Such
trA saeiiols as tioss Charged spon Drake, deserve
the tOndemnaiiVn 81 cry honsf, southern heart,
arag win elicit r'h,Fs ~ he 's'erst ssnsure and
Indignation i-ain a D classes
The friend II Col. Collier sil Re happy to know
that he andli. furily ts,s ESCAPED the diabOlical
plot, II Drals sheai hare auy sympathiIers, it be-
hoOyss every gyul and rae oi'lfn Ca aid in exposing
them. aud in riiiias Ihs community Of such dstur-
hers OF the public peace ani public safety The
Importance OF vigilance committees 10 look after the
taiatsd Oass, 'yIt, and ,leir 6rwau0n imPerOusly
demanded. Naks thgu " flo,r rsir kSad," aud let
the public kpob vhsH lh#y have to 'sar We have
heard but one szprtsslu lhe citizens Of Dallas
county, in reg,Ii 90 dis aaier md that is, that
the guilty pai,i,s should sursr coldgn punishment
for their crime II there De- any 30 lost to every
sense Of honor. law snl shl 20 induce an igno-
rant nesro to commit s.ah 1uiaiui,, 10 deserves to
suffer the fully J.,ui o.. 'hs aw, anI We trust that
they may be plD.sb5l,
YlF u. alas Herald,
Ma EpIIor have jas. perlsg a short sketch,
In your PAPER, concerning ihv pue. OF George d.
Drake Tor attempting TO enilee away nesro "ohiah'
now Owuel by Col. Il, ", Collier. Aud as was en-
gagged la the prosecution in behalf Oi the State, am
prevailed upon by the good people Of Collin to give
You detail OF the facts proNe IN the Court Of in-
qury, in connection with the circumstances OF the
case, 10 wit;
Col Golfers house was set on are, three times,
within the brief space Of one week
On the 23l Of Feb. the negro woman was arrested
upon mere suspicion aud lier being INTERCEPTED and
cross examined she confessed that she had set the
house on lire once aud that said Drake had fired II
twiee-that she had been influenced aud hired TO set
| IL ON fire by Drake.
The negroes states that said Drake gave her free
pass but that when she found she was suspiconed 81
hiring the house, she became alarmed, fearing that
she might be searched, and the pass found, where
upon she concluded burn it, which she did, IN the
stove, Aud, furthermore, he contracted TO convey
her TO q free State, in consideration for her burning
the house.
The negress states that said Drake, n companed by
u tall slim young man, who wore white hat, whose
name she did no, learn, visited her at late hour Mt
night for several nights in succession, previous to
the first re, to PERSUADE her TO burn the house and
instructed her that after she had accomplished this
design. she must TO his house under the covering
Of night aud that he would conceal her where neither
u
keep her Concealed Till he couli make his arrange
meats TO accompany her to n free State.
This startling confession having been made by the
negress the neighhors were called together at the
house Of Col. COicr,On the evening OF the 23d Of
Feb, to devise some plan to ascertain whether her
confession false or absolutely true Accordingly
| il was agreed upon tina, she should be fixed up,
with her bundle on her back, in runaway style, and
sent TO the house Of said Drakerepresenng herself
as having run away-to demand of Drake the free
pass and conceamen, in accordance with their pre-
| yious contract.
The negress was accordingly sent, Parson L. Witt
John jackson, Wi ian Sheppard and myself, were
selected TO guard her to brakes premises, and back
again, to prevent her running away, and to watch
| his manGuvrcs with her.
1t was about nine O'Clock at night when the negress
entered brakes house, wherein she remained about
two hours. When she went INTO the house, 1t was
brilliantly lighted up but, upon her entering, was
Immediately made dark by dropping all the curtains
except lne, and that window was already partially
obscured by the curtain.
Drake and his wife several times came out in the
porch, and looked around to see if there any
one about-engaged in u low conversaton-at one Of
which times Mrs Drake was heard to say to Drake,
- am afraid you can't get her away, without being
seen," to which Drake rep led, 'nerer mind will
attend to that there is no danger"
AT the time this conversation took place between
them, they were alone in the porch. These expires
sons coupled with the fact that he did, under the
covering of night secrete the negress. conclusive
proof that he designed stealinng her, and that his
wife is equally guilty. But, does he stop here? No.
Tn y returned into the house, and remaired there
short time, when he and of his came out and
took crcutous route through the yard, apparently
to discover if there any obtrulers in the way
Why all this watching and peepng about? Dishones-
ty prompted it. "a guilty conscience needs no ac-
cuser" He felt guilt in his conscience. lie knew
that he dishonesty engaged i'll trying to deprive
Col. Collier of his property.
Drake and his son finally returned to the house,
but remained there only short time when he (Drake)
re-appeared, accompanied by the negroes, whom he
conducted to the oats stable, where he, with his own
hands, removed sufficient quantity of straw to
make hling-p place for her, placed quilt therein,
and told her TO occupy it, which She did-he pull ing
the straw her and telling her to remain there
until he could have time to look around and make
further arrangements exhorting her to fear no dan
ger and assuring her that she would be perfectly safe
there
We then and there arrested the gentleman, while
he was in the very act of hiding Col. Golfers prop
erty, and Court of Inquiry was held by two Justices
of the Peace, to investigate his case, which bound
him to appear ut the next term Of the District
Court, in bond of $4,000,
young Mrs Drake introduced as witness in
behalf of the lefen iant who deposed that she heard
the negress ask for free pass, and that Drake gave
her supper, NC nc.
If the confession made by the negress, before she
went to Brakes house, had not been true would she
have dared to go there, engage in familiar conversa
ton, and ask for free pass? Public sentiment,
when placed in possession of the above facts. they
were deposel in Court, by the sworn witnesses, an
swers no! Every word spoken by Drake, and every
act performed by him on the night of the 23d of Feb.
tends to prove the truth of the negress confession
And yet Drake has few sympathizers and cO-opera-
tors in n:qnity, who are engages in riding about the
country saying that Drake may be innocent that
they think him an honest man, &c, SC. These pref
ty sayings put forth by brakes dear brother Abo-
litionsts to make public sentiment turn in his favor.
And owing to the wonderful efforts which now be-
ing made to obtain this end, have been induced
to place the facts before the public, that the people
may know the true state of things in this matter.
Your humble servant, j. S. RAY.