The Osceola times., 1875-07-31

"'N''N wv I'NioOS NhlNH NV oNpio
from all parts Of the Union and
brought there to be divided or sold,
Knowing this fact, Mr.. Hancock
commenced o make inquiries as to
whether any slliils or dug outs were
missing. He soon learned that the
negroes, Of whom he was in search,
had bought an old dng-out from
James Ayres, who lived near the
landing, and had started down the
river only few hours in advance
of him. Procuring sklft, and the
assistance of Mr. Fonviile, Mr.. Han
cock started down the riverln pur
suit. Arriving at the head of Island
No. 40, they saw dug.out dragged
up in cotton-patch, and started to
land to SEQ to whom it belonged.
AS they approached the shore, they
saw the negroes Of whom they were
in search, talking to Il lot OF hands.
The fugitives immediately made off,
without waiting TO be hailed, but
were pursued, and, after being shot
at, Randolph surrendered. Phil
lips was caught shortly atterward.
Mr.. Hancock did not read his writ
to his prisoners Immediately, but,
having his suspicious of foul play
IN the case OF Williams still ia his
mind, he told them that they were
arrested for numbering him. Both
Of the captivcs strenuously denied
that they had KILLED him, bu, were
evidently much frightened at the
charge. The writ was then read,
and the pursuing party with their
prisoners Immediately started for
home, and arrived at the mill Dick
onson's) late that night. A magis-
trato was aroused as soon as possi-
BILE, and preparations made for a
preliminary examination. Late as
the hour was, a number of neigh
bors were present when Squire Me-.
Coliough opened his Court, and the
prisoners wero arralgned on the
charge Of robbery. One Of the ac-
cused, Phillips, before the proceed.
ings commenced, called to the mag.
istrate and asked to be allowed to
speak to him in private. Audience
was granted, and Phillips told the
magistrate that Frank Williams was
dead, and that ho and Randolph
knew where his body was hid. lie
would not confess that he had any
hand in the killing, but merely said
that Williams was dead. When the
magistrate communicated this IN
telhgencc to the citizens present,
Randolph spoke up and said that
it was no use to try to conceal the
matter any further, and that he
would make n clean confession, il
allowed to do so. OF course he
was Immediately encouraged TO tell
all he knew, and he proceeded to
make tho following terrible rev
elation
Some weeks ago" he sald "ho
and four others, two OF whom were
white men and two negroes, had
formed themselves into an organ.
ized band Cor clique, as he express
cd lO for the purpose of murder and
robbery. One of the white men
Robert Burton by name, the sam.
who was sleeping in the house that
was robbed few nights before, wa:
the organizer and was elected chief
The other members were Cy Phil
lips and Jesse Carter, aud a white
man (whosc name we suppress, q.
he is not yet arrested). They swort
mutual icalty, and their plans were
to rob and murder (whcre murder
was necessary to the success o
their plans), every man in the coun
try who had over ten dollars. Thil
sum was the minimum which they
were to go tor. The first man they
doomed was Mr.. Hancock, and h,
was to have been slain on last Sun
day morning, but the deed was pre-
vented by u singular circumstance
The conspirators all had guns, bu
there was but one pislol between
them, and this shot cartridges of al
odd size. On Sunday morning