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820.

A Devilish Plot.
We are no sensationalists, but we cannot shut our eyes to the alarming fact that the negroes mean mischief. On Saturday a negro of conservative principles, named Bernard Brooks, lodged complaint with Justice Bruce, a magistrate of Campbell, that Jacob Jones and Jacob Johnson, two negro Radicals, living in the county near McAllister's Shop, were preparing to kill him, and asked for a warrant for their arrest. The warrant was issued and placed in the hands of Constable George M. Bruce, and the accused were arrested and brought to the city, where they were partially examined before Justices D. P. Reese, James M. Langhorne, and George M. Bruce, which resulted in the prisoners being committed to jail for further hearing on Friday next.

Among the witnesses examined was Mrs. Dr. McAllister, who stated that negroes to the number of fifty or more had been holding frequent meetings on her husband's plantation, seven miles below the city on the Richmond road, and that she finally had her suspicions aroused to such a pitch that she determined to see what was going on. Friday night she went to the house where a meeting was being held, and upon nearing, found a dog tied, as she supposed, to give the alarm should any one approach. Returning to her own house, near by, she provided herself with bread to give the dog to keep him quiet, succeeded in her plan, and finally reached the cabin undiscovered. There she heard the negroes discussing the mode by which different white people in the neighborhood were to be killed, amongst whom was her husband, who was to be shot. Other whites were pronounced too mean to be granted so respectable a death, and a grape vine halter was decreed them. The negro mentioned above, Bernard Brooks, was included in the list of those who were to be killed, his offence being his conservatism, and short work was to be made of him with a grapevine. Further developments of the plans of these blood-thirsty villains were made, and the lady became completely satisfied from what she heard that they were preparing to carry them into speedy execution.

Among the negroes present on the occasion, Jacob Johnson and Jacob Jones were identified, and others also, warrants for whose arrest were issued, and will be at once executed. 

The negroes under arrest are the lowest and most ignorant of their class, and are just such creatures as can be relied on to do the murderous work, which the teachings of the white scoundrels in our midst have prepared them for, and are urging them to. These diabolical men, with white skins but black hearts, will yet be caught, and then for them—a grapevine and the nearest tree. — Lynchburg News, 11th.

[[note]] (1 Enclosures) [[note]]


THE REPUBLICAN
Saturday Morning, Nov'r 16.
LOCAL ITEMS.
–––
THE EXAMINATION OF JONES AND JOHNSON. — The negroes Jacob Jones and Jacob Johnson, who was apprehended last Saturday on the charge of making threats and conspiring with others to murder the family of Dr. McAllister and others, near McAllister's shop, in this county, were examined yesterday before Justices Bruce, Rees and J.M. Langhorne. While in jail, they gave the names of a large number of negroes who were present at the same meeting, and some twenty of these were arrested yesterday by Constables Bruce and Mays. The first witness for the Commonwealth was Mrs. McAllister, who testified as follows:—

I eavesdropped the cabin, in which the meeting was held, on Wednesday night, a week ago, I knew the voices of Jacob Jones and Johnson. there were a great many others in the house, whose voices I could not distinguish. They threatened to kill my husband, myself, and sister, and to swing to a limb Mr. Bernard C. Brooks, Walker Reynolds and Christopher Reynolds; they also said they would hang Charles Wheaton, a negro, with a grapevine, as he was no better than a white man.

Witness had been suspecting that the negroes were engaged in some plot, ever since last July. On the 14th of July, Jones stopped at her house and had a talk with her. He had just registered. He asked her what the white people would do after their lands were divided. Witness replied that she did not know they were to be divided, when Jones said they would be, as they had been bought by the labor of the blacks, who had a right to them.

The meetings had commenced about the 1st of July. There were crowds of negroes in Jones' house nearly every night. On Tuesday week, (the 5th inst.) a negro had died in Jones' house, and they kept his body out for two days and sat up over it. On the second night (Wednesday) it was very dark, and she thought she could eavesdrop them without danger. The cabin was about two hundred yards from her residence. She met three dogs, which she pacified with bread, and they did not disturb her. She came close to the cabin, and remained there perhaps an hour, and could overhear what was passing. Her husband was not at home—only her sister—about fifteen years old, and her mother-in-law, an old lady.— It was about ten o'clock, she thinks when she went back to her house. Did not think of the danger until it was past. 

Jones here asked witness was she sure she heard his voice?
Witness was sure that it was his voice.
The prisoner said he was in ben and asleep at the ttme, and did not get up until after midnight.

Johnson asked the same question:
Witness. "Yes! you were the man who was going to hang Wheaton with a grapevine."
Justice Bruce. "Why did they want to hang Wheaton?"
Witness. Because they said he would not vote the Radical ticket, and that he carried tales to the white people, and was no better than a white man.

[During the examination of Mrs. McAllister, the negroes gave expression to frequent exclamations of incredulity and surprise.]

Bernard Brooks, Christopher Reynolds, and Walker Reynolds (whites) were examined, but knew nothing of the conspiracy, except what they had heard through Mrs. McAllister.

Mrs. McAllister (recalled.) She did not tell her husband about the conspiracy when he came home; was afraid he would do something rash. She first sent word for Mr. Taylor, and told him about it so that the people might know 

Virginia to show that he was entitled to it. Failing in this, Mr. McAllister went after Lieut. Stevenson, of the Freedmen's Bureau, and prevailed upon him to come to the negro's rescue,— Stevenson came into court, and demanded the release of the accused on bail. It was finally determined to commit them, and leave the case open for further investigation this morning.

Sub. Dist, Va

Enclose herewith
Dispatch of
as to the truth

iver
Genl Vols
t Comr

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-30 12:03:46 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-30 16:14:39 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-30 19:21:47 The newspaper articles are laid atop a handwritten page - thbe visible parts have been transcribed, but maybe they should be deleted.