The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-11-01
TO KILL AND BURN
EXPOSED.
Five Frecdmcn Arrested = They Ar
Taken from the Officer and
Disappear.


Abel FrantOm, a freedman employed
by DR.. ID. g. Brown, living IL miles
below Monroe, came to that gentleman,
ON Saturday last, and made a disclosure
to the effect that q conspiracy existed
among tho colorcd people of that
vicinity to burn tho dwellings, gins
and other houses of the white people
and to kill tho whites Unfortunately.
Abel was greatly agitated, as most
negroes are when under great mental
excitement, but told a straightforward
story Of what he said had transpired,
and his agitation rather confirmed
than discrcdited his disclosure. There
were, besides, suspicious circumstances
connected with the conduct OF the
negroes, for some days previous, which
had caused apprehensions of danger
among tho whites of tho neighborhood
and which tended to confirm Abel's
story. a.
OnS Saturday night a crowd of colorcd
men were seen in front of the AIarbury
OSdCo A1As SO9oo "OlAoCAs NAIs
Womack had been to Monroe and was
returning home. The negroes halted
him, saying, "Here is the place." A
conversation followed, but Mr.. Wom-
ack was permitted to ride on without
further molestation. The night follow
ing Sunday mighty the bridge at the
Garrett place, on the main road, was torn
up, for what reason no ono knew, but
the belief is general that the design
was to kill one or two of three or four OF
our leading citizens who were supposed
to be on the road that night on their
return homo from this place. There
must have been some such purpose in
! view, since the destruction of the
bridge could not of itself he regarded
oven as an act Of wantonness. The
bridge was of little real value, but was
at a point in the road where, without
the bridge, one in passing would have
to turn out into the woods.
Abel Frantom appeared before JUS
tice Anderson, of tho 2nd Ward, and
made an affidavit in which he swore-
"That there is an insurrcction con-
templated by the negroes of this ward
and the intention of which is to burn
the city Of Monroe in this parish and
State, and to kill the white citizens of
this ward and said city of Monroe, and
to burn property in the said ward and
city of Monroe. Deponent says his
life has been. Threatened in case he re-
fused to take part in said insurrection."
Justice Anderson, upon this af1ila-
Wit, issued warrants for the arrest of
Aaron Randall, Carrot Esau, Ike Ran
dali, VIM. McGown, Dan Madison,
John Wilson, Jordan Wilson and
Cook McGee; and tho warrants were
placed in tho hands Of Constable Hin
son for service. Mr.. Iinson arrested
all of the accused, except tho last
named three, who were not to be
found, and the prisoners were sent up
to have preliminary trial before
Judge Slack. Prominent citizens who
were present when the men were
brought in, tell us that three of the
men confessed that the conspiracy
charged, had been formed. Tho two
Randalls denied the charge, but their
explanations were not satisfactory,
| many of their answers being evasive
and not in accordance with known
facts.
| Constable lIinson, with II posse of
four gentlmen, left Logtown at half
past four o'clock in the afternoon, in
charge OF tho prisoners, for Monroe.
Thos. A. Garrett, Esq, Roland Fill
hoil, Pinckney Faust and j. Womack,
wcll-known citizens, were OF the posse.
About halfway between Monroe and
I.ogtown, the Constable and posse were
ordered to halt by number Of men,
who were ranged on foot on either
side of tho road, and who, one of the
posse says, appeared to spring up out of
the ground. 1t was dark and raining
Mt the time. The prisoners were de-
manded, and tho Constable and his
men were placed under guard. They
were not permitted to move, either up
the road or down it. Tho prisoners
were taken in charge by the way
L., <>F :.,t.