, 1865-12-12

ion TO corToboratlre proof of these facts We
hare now the Immediate occasion Of the riot.
II appears that Mr.. II. N. Anderson, who,
Nc the present Immigration Agent in the Isl.
md Of Jannica, has been engaged in import
ing coolies into the island, hnd bongM up |
some kind Of title to IN abandoned estate
known Us the Middleton Plantation, which
nclcded the negro settlement of Stony Gut.
A large number Of negroes have tor many
years been in quiet and pcaceable possession /
ton, under the impression that their title |
was the best that eonld be given
for the property. Their lifelong lnbors
were invested in these homes. To be de-
prived Of them under any circumstances, In
The povctty-stticken condition of the Island |
would be severe, but to have them taken from
them under some pretended or unexplained
title, nnd sec them handed over to coolie
importer, who though not personally respon-
sible for the laws passed by the colonial legis.
lature, wonld necessarily be held Infamous by
tho whole black and very many Of the white
population of the Island, md to sec them
filled up with coolies imported expressly TO
reduce the price Of wages In country where
wages were already 60 low, and taxes so high,
that the people were On the verge Of naked
ness erd 1nmlne-all this WAS exasperating In
the last degree
II WAS known that Anderson, the claimant
Of the Middleton plantation would bring on
test case In order to decide the question
Of title between himself and the Stony Gut
settlers, on November 7th, before the parish
court held by the local magistrate OF custos,
Baron Won ketelhodt- OF course the negro
settlers to The number Of about one hundred
md ff,y, were present In court to witness the
result Of The trespass case, which though
brought only against one Lewis Dick, involv-
cd the homes and property Of them all The
Judges annoyed By the noise, md perhaps by
the presence, OF SO large number Of negroes
IN the court room, ordered the arrest Of one
oftheir number, Geohegsn. He left the court
room and was followed by the police and cap
tured, but Immediately rescued By the crowd,
who handled the police rather roughly. On
Monday, the 9th, the trespass case came on
and was decided in fayot. Of Anderson against
the negro. Paul Boyle, the colored Baptist
Preacher, whose parishoners they sill were,
then stepped forward and directed the color
ed man to appeal, which he did, giving
security. Upon the appeal being taken
the court issued warrants tor the arrest Of
Boyle and twenty-sevcn others for particl-
pating In the riot or rescue Of Saturday. The
officers who attempted to execute the war
rcnts at Stony Gut were resisted, but were
informed that the parties wou1d appear in
court On Wednesday, the day on which the
warrants were rctuInable- Thercupon the
court sent 10 Kingston for more troops,
which tailed TO arrive till the day after tho
riot.
Meanwhile on Wednesday the Stony Gut
settlers, in crowd or mob stated ut about
1--WE hundred, appeared 1t about o'clock p.
m. at the Court House. The last Legislature
had passed m net allowing punishment with
the lash for petty Offences" such as larceny
md trespesE, which the negroes BY their
poverty were specially tempted 10 commit
The act was Of course designed for the negroes,
as the heavier crimes Of forgery, burglary,
etc., usually committed by whites, were not
made punishable corposeally. The question
with the negroes was whether tweuty-seren
OF their number should be publicly whipped
by Court which had just deprived them OF
their houses, to ha1d them over to coo1ie
importer. What plan Of action they had re-
solved upon prior to appearing before the
Court House Is not yet known. It may hare
been 10 pay the fine II f1ne were leried, ur
10 annca,. or 10 rescuc If the lash were in
tended. Whatever II was thew Ind as vet
committed mn violence when The Baron Won.
kcte]hodt. stricken apparently with fear. or
dered them not 10 enter the Court House
square. Ills order was clearly illegal. Thew
had as muen right in the Court House yard as
the Boron, but for entering the inclosure the
Baron ordered them to be fred upon. Many Of
them being killed aud wounded the remainder
opened shower Of stones and missiles upon
the troops and drove them into the Court
House. Some OF them broke into the Police
Station and took out the arms, prior TO which
It is not clear that they had any. There the
fight. fairly began, and, In the course .of two
hours, It ended In the death Of fourteen of the
Baron's party, and the wounding Of most Of
the remainder. The rioters then dispersed,
and no further violence was committed.
Never YVES there a palmer case Of mn unpre-
meditated riot, an outbreak of passion natur-
nj. and, under the circumstances, inevitable
e,,,, =, q ,1oc1- o,s Tho ,rb,1. e+orr. ~ /,
cent c,n,1,tcd Ipsnrrcc+fnn ;s nonif.s,,r n
ao,,,,aratc1,o ~ m eva va,re-at;on t,c rc,r1,
~ 1,arn -o1,n
Vat i, & 1or .bcsa ac,s f,- which =, .hor.
eon5 ,,n,o1,c,s ,mon1 white mcn w,1, rea;15,r
. ,1o nc anJ ,rb,c, thonoh nnt toohnj
cs1,r ~ fnstii,cd ,rere s,rong1T nroToscd h.
cono.n1 and 1oca1 onnress;on n,d ;r,,r,,cc
,,4s