The Troubles Near Hollow Square.--Negroes on a Rampage.

Title

Source Type

Newspaper

Author

N/A

Publisher

Alabama Beacon

Publication Place

Greensboro, Alabama

Publication Date

August 26, 1871

Transcript

"On Saturday night a few negroes in the Hollow Square neighborhood were holding a prayer meeting on some one of the plantations, and whilst the meeting was going on, some unknown party or parties, fired a pistol into the congregation, shooting one through the leg. The negro shot is represented as being a good man, and bearing a very good character.

On the following night, a large number negroes assembled, armed and equipped, and marched on Mr. John Monette's house. Two young gentlemen, who were spending the night with Mr. Monette, preparatory to a deer hunt on the following morning, were at the well in the yard, bathing,-- Mr. M. having retired, --and before they discovered the negroes, were fired on by them. They at once retired to the house to secure their guns and to protect themselves against the infuriated demons. Whilst the negroes continued firing into Mr.M's house, which, we are informed, is riddled. Only one shot was fired from the house -and that one fired into the air to frighten them off: It had the desired effect, for they ran in all directions.

As the negroes made the assault on the house, the inmates, be they who they may, would have been justified under the circumstances, to have shot down every one of them.

On Monday morning one negro was found, some fifteen or twenty from the house, shot dead,-- and it is very evident that he was killed by his own party. He was found lying on his face, his head towards the house, with a double-barrel shotgun still in his hands, his finger on the trigger and the gun cocked, --the other barrel having been discharged. On examination it was found that he was shot from the rear, --the contents of both barrels of a shot gun, wadding and all, having been discharged in the back of his head.

Notary Public Sawyer, of that Beat, summoned a jury of inquest, who rendered a verdict in accordance with the above facts.

On monday evening Mr. H.C Childress, the Sheriff of the county, was advised of the difficulty, who, with a small possee of men, proceeded to the scene of the troubles. He reports, in substance, the above facts.

Now we are ready to admit that the shooting into the body of negroes assembled for conducting relgious (!) worship, was a gross outrage, --but we hardly believe a white man guilty of such an offence, would be found in Hale county. We are entirely satistied also, that the negroes had the right to believe that Mr. Monette was the guilty party, and for firing into his house, all that can be identified, should be arrested and tried, and the most severe penalty of the law meted out to them.

Threats have been made by some negroes in that neigborhood, which we hope, for their good, they will not attempt to carry out.
For if they make another attempt like that of Sunday night, they will be the sufferers. "

Sources for

AMP065-18710820