Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-12-20
Special Gable Telegram to the Herald.

Special Gable Telegram to the Herald.
Law Ia Madison County
The Negro Murderer Of the Pepys Family
at Alton Hanged by Mob-An Exciting
Contest for the Possession of the Negro.
ST.. LOUIS, Dec. IA, 1967.-The negro
Marshall, already reported arrested for par
ticipation in the horrible double murder
near Alton, has confessed the crime, but
charged that the fatal blow was struck by
his accomplish, who is yet at large. Their
object was plumber, and they killed the
German, Pepys, because he threatened to
defeat their plans.
On the return of the constable to Venice,
the nearest town, yesterday, the populace
tried to seize Marshall to hang him. They
lassoed him and tried to draw him to a tree.
His own and the constable's exertion pre-
vented success. By dint of threats and
hard pushing the constable managed to
reach the side of the trembling wretch,
whom he pushed mp stairs to the hall over
Robinson's store, threatening any one who
attempted to follow him with instant death.
Having locked himself and the negro in he
sent for Squire Robinson, who addressed
the angry crowd, pointing ont to them the
enormity of the otfense were they to wrest
the victim from the hands Of law apd sac
vengeance. This had the effect to quiet
the clamors Of the crowd tor while.
About six O'Clock the mob gathered
again and demanded the prisoner Con-
stable Byrne refused to deliver HIM. They
then assaulted the door. Byrna warned
them that if they did lot desist he would
fire upon them. They paid no attention
to his warning and he fired one shot
through the door which caused them to
suspend operations. From the groans that
followed this shot he IS satisfied that 1t
took effect upon some one OF the mob. 4
silence Of about ten minutes followed, bro
ken only by the whisperings Of the mob
outside, and the attack Oh the door was
again resumed and alter Mr.. Byrne had
emptied five Of the barrels of his pistol
through the door it was bursted in, he was
knocked down and nampled upon, the
negro was taken out by the mob, fastened
to the rear end Of the wagon, taken from
the town to q convenient spot and hanged.
Arrest OF {, Leader Er. the Recent Alabama
Negro T&oubIos.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Dec. l6.-Ihe Adj
Vertiser has reliable adyices of the arrest of
George Shorter, negro, Of this city, who
was one of the principal leaders OF the
black insurrectlOnary movement III Bullock
county. Shorter claims TO nave come from
Illinois or some northwestern State, and
says he was commissioned by the Radicals
there to organize q government III the
South. He was informed upon by the
blacks. and arrested by a party OF blacks
and whites. When arrested, the farm ne
groes wanted to hang hlm, but the whites
saved him ana lodged him III the county
Jail.
The negroes are now very indignant
against him. 4 letter from him to the ne
grOes whom he had chosen as officers
Of his government shows the character Of
the organization for insurrection. Other
letters OF his now in possession of the au.
thor s will show a Radical plot to incite
tn negroes of the South to instruction
against the whites. sShorter's published
letter says:
drop you a few lnee about that great man,
Jerry. Call all the men together and take Jerry
and that money from him, and if lie DONE give it
up, kill him. Don't let him get away from You.
/ send these men down to Perote, Bullock county.
Ala, to hunt for him. Ee has some amount of
money about him, and has been going about tell
ing lies about me unbeknoWing to me. Also, he
had full lie wrote against me, and want jeff
to come down to Pine Level with George and
bring your guns, ell all the men to go and take
him aud kill him.
GEORGE SHORTER,
Captain Bruce, agent of the ErGeimGn's
Bureau at Greensboro, recently took the
keys and liberated a number of prisoners
placed there by the proper civil authorities.
His conduct is severely condemned