The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-10-14
Plot for the Mnrder of Whites in
Louisiana.

Plot for the Murder Of Whites in
Louisiana.
A negro named George Washington,
who signed himself with his mark,
having made an affidavit, and forwarded
II to the New Orleans Times, to the effect
that comp"rv ofarmed white men had
Violently interfered WIZ and arrested
several members of negro "Baptist
society" in Black Bayou, near on.~
port, a correspondent of the Times, Mr.
John Penman, writes to the editor, ex-
planning the truth Of the matter as fol-
lows:
Now, Mr.. Editor, having been invited
by Lieutenant Allanson of the United
States army, commandaut of the post
at Jefferson, Texas, to assist him pro.
fessionally in getting ont the testimony
against the negroes, said In the afhdaVlt
to have been seized, l am prepared to
state the facts as they were deposed to
before the Lieutenant. The testimony
contradicts the above affidavit in many
important particulars. 1t is not true
that the men referred to were arrested
(seized) at meeting Of the Baptist
Society, or at any other religious meet
ing: or that upwards of one hundred
men from Texas made the arres' 3; OIL
that a white man named Armstrong
was arrested on the occasion referred to-
So much for the reliability of the atli-
davit of George Washington. Now for
the facts as detailed by the witnesses
under oath solemnly administered by
Lieut.. Allanson. And let it he remem-
bered that the examination was con-
ductod according to the slrictest rules
of evidence. Nothing hearsay was ad-
mitted. No witness was allowed to
state any facts not within his personal
knowledge. The witnesses were ne
groes, but they were competent, and no
Guestion as to their credibility was
raised by the accused. 1t seems that
some time in the month of August last
some gentlemen from the Black Bayou
neighborhood came to Lieut.. Allanson's
headouarters and informed him that
they had every reason to believe that
an organization was being completed
among the blacks, the object of which
was the indiscriminate murder of the
whites in the country. And not wish
ing to resort to any violent measures, il
that could be avoided, they came to
seek protection of the United States.
The Lieutenant informed them that he
could spare no troops to send to their
relief, but authorized them to at once
arrest all the ringleaders and bring them
to his headquarters. Where upOh, at
the tine and place indicated in George
Washington's affidavit, a dozen men
were arrested alta club meetiUg-eight
negoes some ofwhoss names recognized
among those mentioned in Georges affi.
davit. The parties arrested were i'm.
mediately brought to Lieutenant Allan.
sons headquarters for examination
Some six or eight witnesses were exam.
ined on the occasion, which took place
two or three days after the arrests were
made. 1t appeared from the testimony
of the witnesses that this "club meet.
ing" was military organization; that
David Reed was Secretary of the club
and did all their writing and correspon'
ding; that Sam Lawson was the com.
manding officer; that at each meeting
sentinels were posted, so as to make il
impossible for any one to approach the
meeting without crossing their beats
that if any white man attempted to ap.
proach the meeting, the sentinels were
instructed to halt him thrice, and if be
did not stop, to shoot him down; tha,
David Reed received fifty cents from
each member Of the club at each meet.
ing for acting secretary and drilling the
men in military tactics; that the fnal
object of the club was to get possession
of all the property in the country by
slaying and numbering the whites, big
and little, male and female; that the
members of the club were instructed BY
said Reed and other speakers from