Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-28
Some lnG@mdiiarY Slaves.

! Having seen SO many instances Of the
! falsehood and depravity of Simon. you
! certainly do not believe one syllable OF
! the story he told Of being numerically
+! beaten, etc. On the contrary, I have re-
| ceived credible information that his Con-
! duct was so riotous that the overseeT was
compelled to interfere. though with great
| reluctance, and not until longer suffer
| ance Of Simons misconduct would have
| destroyed his authority over the others,
and all order Of business given place to
quarrelling fighting. and idleness. In the
last disturbance several of the negroes
went successfully to the overseer and IN
formed him that Simon was making a
terrible row in the yard. Fearing that he
would be obliged to whip him If ne went
to the scene of confusion. and fearing
that you and myself would be dlspieased
at 1t mo matter how just or necessary
the correction), he remained at his work.
At last Harriet went screaming to him
that Simon had nearly killed her nus
band. Randall He thought it at last
necessary to interfere, and followed liar
riett back He found Randafs heac Sc
yerely eur, al was told that after the
blow which deprived him of sense, Simon
threw him in the fire, and but Tor ms
being Immediately pulled out must nave
been burned to death.
Hite then ordered Simon to prepare 70
receive ion-ressted-armed MIN
self with his cooper.s axe, and retreated.
swearing death to whoever attempted 70
take him. The negro men were ordered to
follow; him and bring him back, deac OF
alive They pursued-were Kept at Day
by the axe-until they thought OF the en-
pedient of getting poles, and by threaten
ing to knock him down with them II ne
resisted, compelled him to surrender. -ae
was carried to the overseer, VINO gave
him in perfect, cool, good-humor, very
moderate whipping. after which Simon
acknowledged his misconduct. said he de-
served more was thankful that he was
so lenently dealt with-promtsed amend
nent-appe to be extremely sorry Tor
what had happened-was left at liberty
collected parcel Of water pais and tubs.
waich he broke up-deposited the pieces It
the gate as the most public place TO De
seen and noticed-and-took himself on:
This I believe to be true and correct
detail of the whole affair, and like all the
preceding, shows that he must have been
very hard run indeed for an excuse to go
off.
Nor. sir it is proper for me to say that
7 keen him no longer. If you do not ap-
prove the plan Of sending him to New
Orleans (Which would strike terror to all
our negroes, and be the very best example
that we could make TO deter tHeHl 1itui
exasperating us by their bad conduct-at
the same time it would give Simon the
opportunity Of being treated we'll If he
should hereafter reform-in consequence
of being so valuable mechanic). l shall
deposit him (when recovered in our JAIL
until an opportunity offers of selling MIN
as a corn1ield hand to some Georgia or
western Spectator in negroes and II sold
where his trade will be OF no use, must
be rigid and bad as a common laborer
forgot to mention in its right place
that Simon lurked about Suffolk and the
Canal until he. understood had left
Portsmouth, and the very day we came
out by Mathews road, he was going IN
by the Norfolk road.
He has since returned to this nelghbor-
hood. and has camps with other runaways
on both sides of the river, feastlng on
neighbors' cattle, sheep and hogs. a few
days ago they were routed from a camp
in Mrs Hunts reed swamp, and two
guns were level1ed al Simon, not thirty
steps off; one snapped the other tashed-
both the guns were aimed to kill. He,
however. made his escape, and his tracks
have been since discovered, so that he has
not left this neighborhood.
Your affectionate son.