Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-10

they had killed Co grove. The motion was made
and voted upon at this particular meeting IN
April. 1t was not unanimous but was carried
Frank Hill, Jack Parker, Benz. Jones. A. Mon
roe and Jefferson Perry were all present. Henry
Groom, Daniel Davis, Jesse q. Kennedy, Ash
Devane, Jack Harper. Bright Harper. aaml
Perry. James Perry, VIM Hines, James Hines,
Jool Hines. Hedding Hines and others were also
present. Jesse u. Kennedy was the sonth Com
mander, and was the highest officer present-
Ash Devane proposed the motion and called upon
the South Commander to put it to the house.
do not know whether it was put at this
meeting Tor not, By Jesse q. Kennedy but 1t
was, Afterwards. Another meeting was hold
| at the same place The meetings wore held week
lY. All the members came armed. The meetings
generally were held in the day time. At this next
meeting the same thing was up. The killing OF
Colgrove was the important question before the
house at all meetings which l attended. 1t was
also proposed to kill Wilkie, Mowers, Shepard and
| others. Mowers was to BIO killed because he was
| o detective. The motion was put and carried
The Hill boys were present ct this meeting. The
meetings were generally held on Saturday. Frank
Hill, Egbert Hill Everett Hill, Jefferson Perry
and Benz. Jones, were present at this last meet
ing. The commanders present were Jesse Ken
needy, Asho Devane, an Jack Harper The in
structiOns OF the commanders were that We were
to got in the way Of the Sheriff, in any men,
bors Of the organization should come to tlial for
! an alleged offence. and acquit him, no matter
| what tho testimony was, and to 60 to the assist
ance OF a comrade giving signal of distress at
| the risk OF our lives. Wo were to hang around
tho courts to get on the jnry-that ia what meant
get on tho jury to acquit any CO the organization
without regard to the iur0 re- oath, or how much
we committed perjury. We we're compelled IN.
der oath to go to the rolief OF conirade giving
signal OF distress. What mean by being in dis
| tresd Was when any member was in Jail or was on
trial This was the general understanding. /
have been called upon by lawyer belonging to
the organization to got on the jury for his benefit
That lawyer is on triai-Mr. MnnrOe-
He expected mo to acquit prisoners with.
out regard to my oath. Devane and times
were imI risOnod in LenOir county Jail. They
were imprisoned for stealing Ii mule. 1t was
| stated i'll meeting that We wore to go to the
| lief of u cOmrade in dtstress-boing on trial or
imprisoned constituting distress. Each member
took solemn oath to go to tho relief OF a com
| rade in distress. The general understanding in
these cases were that we wore to get on tho lury
or break open the Jail, resisting every officer
who opposed us. Devene and Hines were i'm
prisoned on the night Of tho first of May. They
| were released on the morning OF the third. The
persons who released them were all members of
tho organiZatlOn-they wero Frank Hill Everett
Hill, Egbert Hill J. L. Parker, Benz. Jones Red
ding Hines. VIM. Hines, Jack Harper. Bright
| Harper, Henry Groom, Daniel Davis, Samuel
Perry. James Perry, Joseph Parrot. George ".
TillOu and others Mr.. Monroe and Mr.. Je1tor-
son Ferry We're not present the Otll9r prisoners
wore. The party were armed, and released the
prisoners. They broke the locks. The prisoners
IN jail We're armed~thoy ha't three reyoivers.--
Dov&ne had two and Hines had one. do not
k0Ow where they got them, The release occur
red on Sunday night or Monday morning, about
ers asseplbIed about mile and g quarter from
kinston, at MIR. Prank Hills house, about nine
O'Clock at night We Went then to the grave
yard in klnstoD. We Tero armed with pistols
and dodblo~ barrciied shot gums. Ihan VIC wolo
org tnizod and Captain reotod-Bright Harper
was chosen. l and JOscph Parrot were sent To
hlnston to find out where the tools for breaking
open the jail were-.lLey We're to have been LETT
do / nm t"rstand. at Munloos office. We
went there. hut did not find any toolr The
Captain directed u7 Ia go to Mr. Mnnro"'e
office Neither tools nor Munroe WeIo there
We t,led to tint HIM or Nh. BartIeson on the
streets or any others who VIC supposed sympA,
thlzcd IN til" undertaking. We did not lad Mum
roe or tools, but some one tire found tools
farrott and mysolt then Went to the jail to if
any one was around 1t. About one hundred and
nifty yal rs from 1t we heard blows on tho door,
and rushed mp and took our places with the
guard, which was posted around tho Oonrt
House square AMI the Jail, lnln,e .iiately after
our arllya! the door Was forced, the prisoners
were released, We shook hands all AROUND. gave
three cheers. and started for the NOuee river
bridge. We released no one but Hines and De
vano w" separated at MIR. Presaons corree.-
tlVo OF Ia went back. They wero James Hiner.
d1crgo ~. IlIiOu, Ash Dovano and Joseph Par
loti and another whom do not rCGulcrt. We
wont to MIR TurnaEc'a tor horses and procured
thom thoro a proposition WAS made TO tind
and Kill Mowers at tho jail at a meeting previous
to the release. bnt it was opposed. On Saturday
night, prevl0u' to the release Of the prlsonern
some of tho Itrty assembled ut MIR. MOnrue's
Office. Those present wore George TillOu,' JOS
Parrott. Bright Harper, A. Nunroe and Samuel
A. Bartesnn. Measures Were adopted for the
release of Hines and Devane on Saturday night.
We were to notify members of the org anzation
to appear ami aid in tho release of the prisoners,
IN case they were not allowed to give bah. ThOae
assembled at the Office We're armed, and arms
were in tho office when they arrived. MIR. Mum
roe sald No Was mounting guard to protect the
prisoners in Jail, and it tho prisoners were not
released the Iext day he would help to do it on
the next night, as he had photographed To Gov.
Holden and hoped some satisfactory arrangement
would be made.
The examination of Tillou here con-
clnded. The counsel for the defence did
not cross-examine him.
Jos. T. Parrott and Lassiter, two other
parties who had turned States evidence
were also examined, giving abont the same
testimony as Tillou. The latter gave the
following testimony regarding the signs
given him on being initiated as member |
of the organization
When joined Was given the following sgas |
When 1 met man and desired to know whether |
he was member placed my right hand Oh! my |
breast fine was member he made the same |
sign Ii WAS in distress / was to join my hands
over, andin rear OF my head. The grip was to |
bend the fnrennger and shake hands. letting the
lorehhg"r he IN the palm of the person whose
hand wan h-k6n. la these ways q u ember could
ma Ike himself known to another.
Ii al officer ave me order to kill man |
olt compelled tn do sO-even IT my own father
Or brother. This appeared to be the common
sentiment among the members. do not recol-
ect that any punishment in Case of disobedience
spoken of but believed that it told the score is
II the organization l would be killed. I believe
hat L Will be killed by some one when go home,
do not believe that any of the prisoners would
Kill me. nor do | know who will but believe that
Ome ono will kill me-
The Judge then ordered tho examina-
ion to he closed for the day, to be re-
umed the next morning ut ten O'Clock.
Jefferson Perry was admitted to bail, to
appear next morning, in the sum of Sc, 900,
lis sureties were Messrs John G. Wooten
nd T. j. Kennedy, of Lenoir.
Mr.. A. Monroe was also bailed for his
appearance next morning. The sum of =,
10000 was required. Messrs. J. c.. l.
Nooten, I. J. Kennedy and James P. Bry-
n, all of Lenoir, became his sureties
The remaining prisoners were remanded.
The Robson OUT1Aws.-The Deputy
sheriff of this county, Mr.. F. @. Burnett, t
las furnished us with the following descrip- 1
8 L Oh Ie