The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-24
THE BRUNSWICK DEsPERADOEs,
LEWIS AND meGIFFTE.
BIOGRAPHY OF A RADICAL TR1cKsTEB
HIS CRIME AND his CAPTURE.

| We chronicled briefly yesterday the arri
val, under escort, In this city of CDR" W
W. Lewis and Thomas McGifln, who were
recently arrested In North Carolina OF
the charge of having murdered Constable
DrUmmond, of Brunswick county, one
year ago to-day-.the eve of Christmas 1869
This crime, however, Is not the only one In
which these men have been implicated, and
the history of the career Of "Dr." Lewis.
put on record, may serve O good purpose
In showing the character of the men who
have had the negroes of the rural districts
under their control since their enfranehise-
ment. II ,.%gf
It Is believed that Lewis and McGiffin
are half-brothers, and that their real name
/ Is McLeWis. They came of Irish stock,
and are probably natives of North Caro-
lima. For convenience, we shall give them
| In this narrative the names by which they
are now known. Lewis was a Confederate
soldier early in the war, aud being taken
with smallpox, was sent to hospital set
apart Tor smallpox patients. When con-
valescent, he was detailed for duty as assist
ant steward, in which capacity be gained the
smattering knowledge of drugs and medi.
! cine which led him, after the war, to affix
NJ. D. to his name.
Two or three years ago he made his ap-
pearance In Brunswick county, and intro
duced himself as physician from the
North. At first he mixed with the whites,
and prated much of Federal oppression
and of the rights of which the southern
people were deprived. He soon drop
ped this style of talk, however, and
then fraternzing with the negroes,
he presently bloomed out into very
Night Blooming Cereus of Radicalism.
The first suspicion of his bad charac-
ter was caused by the coincidence that the
gentleman with whom he boarded lost
large quantity of bacon, and near about
the same time Lewis shipped a similar
quantity. Snubbed by the whites, he threw
himself into politics with great feryor,
soon distinguishing himself by leading the
negroes into all kinds of deviltry. He
gathered them together in leagues, and in
stituted midnight meetings and Sunday pa
rades, institutions which soon became nom
ular. At one of these gatherings he made
most incendiary speech, in the course of
which he told the negroes that if they were
interfered with in any way by the whites,
they ought to shoot them down and
burn their houses. This advice was
too quickly followed, for only
night or two after the speech was de-
| hFCico, " bcSlO, uuflUS DeGN ulSC0aTS6Q,
hung about the house of his late EMPLOYER,
and, watching his opportunity, began the
work OF blood. The wife of the gentle
man, passing window with babe in her
arms, was shot, and instantly killed. It is
not material to this biography, but the
negro who was suspected of firing the fatal
shot was arrested and placed in Jail, but
eXplated the crime otherwise than on the
galloWs. lie was mysteriously shot while
a prisoner.
Offences such as we have alluded to could
not pass unnoticed by the good people of
Brunswick. Lewis was indicted and tried
| for melting the negroes to riotous demon.
strations, and being convicted, was sent to
| the penitenSiary. But this was In the days
ofthe Governorship of Wells, and Lewis was
Radical. He was promptly pardoned land
returning to Brunswick, resumed the prac-
tice of his profession.
We next hear of Lewis in connection
with the Lett shooting affray, which created
some talk in the newspapers ut the time.
Mr.. Lett was an intelligent and highly
respected old citizen of Brunswick county.
He committed the objectionable sin Of dis
charging negro woman. She got out q
warrant for his arrest, and Lewis had him.
self appointed constable pro tenn. to execute
the writ. He went to Let's house with q
posse composed of young man named
Parrish and some negroes. He met Lett at
the gate and handed him the warrant. The
old gentleman could not read, and remark
ing that he would 60 and get his spectacles,
went toward the house. He had gone but
a few steps when Lewis cried: "He is try
ing to- get awayW and forthwith raised his
gun and shot twice. Lett then ran into the
house, and getting hold of his gun, tried to
fire upon his assailant, but the cap
snapped. He dropped this gun, and
passing the window to get another,
was shot at by young Parrish with
buckshot, seven or eight Of which took
effect in his arm and trunk. He then ran
out into the yard and hid behind C. cotton
house, gun in hand. Lewis followed, cry
ing, (Which way is he gone ! Pll have
him vet" Parrish pointed towards the
cotton-houSe, and as Lewis went in that
direction Lett stepped from his hiding
place and fired at him. Lewis received
several shots in the fleshy part of his body,
and the rest lodged in the butt of the
musket in his hand. He fell fainting, and
was taken from the field by Parrish ana
the negroes. ... ...
The wounded man soon recovered, and
was heard of next threatening to kill
man in his own house. The person threat
ened obtained q peace warrant, which was
placed in the hands of Constable Drum
mond for execution. The latter, anticl-
pating resistance, went to make the arrest
backed by small posse comitatus, and
waited on the roadside at spot which he
knew Lewis must pass. Lewis and McGlf-
fin came along together. They were order
ed to halt, and Lewis was told of the pur-
pose of the constable. He first drew back,
and ordered the posse not to come near him,
but, having retreated little, he consented
to q parley, and asked one Of the party to
come forward. Drummond advanced, and
the fellow then refused to listen. McGiffin
cried, "Kill the ID scoundrel." Lew
is fired, and Drummond either fell dead, or
lived only few minutes thereafter. The
two desperadoes thenetied, and have since
been fugitives from justice. Lewiss
premises were searched, and the officers
found there large quantity of pork and
proved him also hog and cattle thief. y.
Rewards having been offered by the Gov
ernor for the recovery Of the murderers,
they were at last arrested in North Caro-
lima. Lewis, when arrested, was quietly
teaching school in Horny county. McGltfln
was rowing around in Columbus county
with young Parrish. he was not taken
easily. It.was necessary to use force, and
in the struggle he received load OF buck
shot, which did not hurt him much, butt Lore
the breast of his coat to tatters. The three
prisoners were placed in WhitesVille Jail,
where they were found by Detective Knox,
and broug ght thence to Richmond. This
experienced and reliable officer was accom-
panied South by DR.. Powell, Of Brunswick:
who rendered him valuable assistance, and
fully identified the parties arrested as those
who had figured so disgracefniLy IN that
county. Tt was reported that McGithn Is
charged with the preparation ofa murder
in Wilson county, N. c., since the Drum
nond affair." s.. ..-.------.-~..