Commonwealth of Kentucky vs. Henry Slaughter, et. al, John A. McClung's Trial Notes, September 1848

Petition in behalf of Harry Slaughter &c.—

[endorsement by Owsley] I am induced from the general good character of Henry Slaughter and other mitigating circumstances to think that he ought not to be executed under the circumstances and he is therefore

Pardoned

Wm Owsley

The evidence in the case of the Commonwealth of Ky against seven slaves Henry Slaughter property of Richard Pindell Shadrach property of [left blank] Jack the property of Cassius M. Clay Jasper the property of [left blank] Bill the property of [left blank] Anderson the property of [left blank] Presly Coleman the property of [left blank]

Washington the property of Stark Taylor examined on the part of the Commonwealth states he be[lieves] there was about 35 or 40 negroes in company, they met Mrs Breckenridges with Doyle or Smith He did not know how many were to go, only of six besides himself, five of Mrs. B’s & one of Mr. H. Taylor’s named Jim. Doyle told Wilson a negro of Mrs. Breckenridge’s to take the boys & go to the vessel fork of the road and soon after he got there Doyle came & gave him a shot gun some of the others had started down the road. Doyle told me to carry the gun I did not see any pistols walked all night on Saturday night. Doyle formed us in file two and two. I was in the rear. Doyle was mounted a sorrel horse & galloped up & down from one end to the other & forbid our talking, we walked all night Saturday night and stopped in a cornfield which we entered from a woods pasture from a gate at the Road side we did not see Doyle or Smith until near 3 or 4 o’clock, when he came he told us to pull corn & eat it. Called me a poor fellow he then went away & staid untill near dark when one of the boys came down & told us to start when I got to the road several had gone ahead Doyle told us if we met a white man to tie him to a tree & make all the negroes go along, we walked untill day-light & crossed Licking some of the boys swimming across for the boat. We travelled through the woods all day untill, noon generally in a trot or run and several gave out. Where we laid down we heard some one say here they are when we ran all trying to keep up with Doyle who ran with great ease & agility, we then laid down near sunset after taking several ? to avoid pursuit and laid untill some one below us saying here they are let us surround them Doyle said let us go down there & some started that way I stood still & heard Doyle say fire, at which I heard a loud report drowning almost to voice of Doyle & following almost with it. I shot my gun off after the rest but did not shoot at any one merely at Random to seize & [illegible] the report. the whites man & where I went down Doyle was upon a horse, which Shadrach had by the bridle & Henry pulled him off & told him he “should not leave them after he had got them in he must say.”

Doyle then wanted to shoot the horse but Slaughter prevented it told him it had done no harm, Doyle then ordered us into line & we ran about a mile & a half to the road in an opposite direction from the firing which we followed untill dark when we heard some one pursuing & we left the road and turned into the woods a few steps. I think all the boys but four were in the first fight. Doyle told, them to fire, Slaughter Shadrach and (Bill Griffin) and Jack marched in front, Slaughter was nearly give out with sore feet & had lagged behind frequently on Monday he & shadrach was called matchhorses & so was Jack & Bill from that reason [illegible] to each other when the whites approached us in the second fight I was nearest them in the Bushes but they passed me & went up the road when I saw one man I thought before on a stump he called for us to surrender Doyle then [portion of page missing] fire and several fired & one man fell & his horse ran off up [the] hill to the other horses. I recollect Slaughter & Hovry? were in the front Rank after the battle Doyle was missing and we then went into the road I took the lead along a road that I did not know all wished then to return home. we travelled some half an hour & laid down after which we became scattered some going ahead & others squatting around in the bushes. I was completely lost & saw the boys were no more untill we were caught. I gave myself up & was exhausted from hunger & fatigue. I did not fire in the second battle the white man give me the gun to carry. I saw him the first tome some four weeks before we ran away on Sunday at Mr [illegible] fence when he asked me to show him the way to the neighbouring house we went down the road until we met a man when he asked me to show him a secret place as he had some communications to make & I told him of a sink hole that was a secret place. We then left the road  & he locked his arm in mine & said he was just from Canada where he wished me to go and held out many fair promises to tempt me, said the land was just as good, that I would be free & could get any office I wished and be as much respected as my master was here. I replied I had a wife but he said I could do better than a black wife. I made several objections but he had an answer ready for all said he had carried off many a negro and intended to free “old Kentucky” as the other free states said that was what he came here fore we saw saw some negroes passing & ic called them he pitted them said they were treated like brutes and told us to meet him at Mrs Breckenridges a few nights after I met him with several negroes he gave us whiskey & again

Wash cross examined by Jno A Mc Clung

We walked all night on Saturday night & stopped in a corn field Doyle told me I was to ride in a covered wagon on Sunday morning & cross at Maysville when asked by Slaughter about his bargain with him on Sunday said if he did not hush he would kill him said they were not the most complete negroes h ever had anything to do with & he had dealt with a great many, that they seemed as they would as soon betray a white man as not, that two had bet[rayed] his friends one belonging to Payne in Fayetteville & one to Hughes [illegible] he had watched to kill them & would pay any body that would do so and that he would kill any man that attempted to leave the crowd. He Wash did not know all the negroes that started & only recollect Jack Bill Griffin Slaughter & Shadrack. I wished to leave peaceably did not wish nor expect a fight had no desire for a hostile meetings, did not anticipate expect or wish any thing like a combination or collusion & wished to escape in a private secret & peaceable manner I had no intention to incite an insurrection did not wish to harm a living soul, And was only allured by the insidious promises and advantages held out in the prospective by the white man. I doubted them at the time but was persuaded by other negroes. I was to ? To horses a yoke of oxen plough hal? Provisions for a year &c but I still suspected him after we started & I saw so many in company but was afraid to return as he might kill me. When we heard the men on Monday at noon we ran without seeing them. I would not fight as I was always a coward and afraid of men with guns I would not fight. In the first fight I was scared and think all the negroes were I shot only to increase the report & do not recollect which was I fired the whites ran one way & we the other a little faster than they. Id o not recollect whether Jack & Bill Griffin were in the second fight. Why Doyle wanted to shoot the horse I cannot tell Slaughter pulled him off & swore he should stay with them after bringing them in the difficulty

Edmond belonging to Mr. Wilmot

Lives in Lexington. Left there in company with Mr. Frazer’s boy found a good many at Russells Cave, Some had started & the rest left as soon as he got there traveled all night & stopped Sunday morning in a corn field. When he recognized Harry Slaughter, Shadrick, Jack Presly & William- saw shadrick & slaughter had pistols & saw several knives, talked but little during the day all time slept mostly during the day. Doyle came in about 3 o’clock & ordered [page missing] to keep still. I traveled in the middle & cannot say who was [in] front, we traveled through the woods Sunday night and crossed Licking at daylight Harry gave out on Monday & we sent back for him. Doyle said he would kill any that deserted, he gave me a knife & told me to stick it in anyone who attempted to take me, those with pistols were in front & the rear & those with knives in the middle. We all marched in ranks Doyle went along & told the negroes what to do with their arms. When we came to Licking we crossed altogether in a boat or skiff Doyle ferrying it, after crossing the river & running several miles we laid down in the bushes untill near noon when some one coming along ? Noon untill nearly night & laid down after lying a short time some one cried here we started to run but Doyle said let us go down I stopped & heard firing several guns were shot. When the whites ran. I went down & saw the horse Doyle mounted & they pulled him off & Slaughter took the bridle off. we ran untill some one said they are coming when I ran in the Bushes and got lost from the rest heard firing after I left them & wandered in the woods next day gave myself up. Doyle asked me on Monday who let me in & I told him he then asked for my money said I must give it to him gave him $18 and he said I had to pay him $110 altogether that I could soon make it in Canada at $15 & 20 per month

Cross Examined Isaac Russell a negro persuade me to leave home. I do not know where he is now & why he is not here I was in the first fight but not in the second fight & left between the two & heard firing I do not recollect of seeing any man in particular in the first fight. we were all scared & inclined to run

I wished to escape as easially [sic] as possible and did not wish to fight nor did I intend to do so. Russell came & told me he was going away & I never could meet so fair an opportunity. Doyle told me he must have my money on Monday the first time he talked with me as they all had to be searched at Ripley, said I would have plenty soon as all I made would be mine. Some negroes talked on Sunday of leaving & Doyle said he would blow the first one down who deserted. Doyle had a saddle bags full of pistols on Sunday & distributed them to the boys said they would need them to kill the wolves & [illegible] in Canada & on the road, he gave one to mrs Breckenridge’s b[oy] that was broken. After the fight I caught Doyles horse by the bridle because I did not wish him to leave I could not get to Ohio without him. I saw Bill Griffin had broken down & looked like a corpse on Monday in the day & cannot say he was in the first fight. I do not remember about Jack. I know he went to Mexico & staid through the campaign, do not know he was at Buena Vista. I saw Shadrac & Presly Coleman at the first fight.

Joseph Duncan for the prosecution

Was in Claysville on Monday morning and went in the woods to trail the negroes followed the trail some time & discovered them in the bushes. Some called out to surround them. We ran up the hill & the negroes fired. About ten steps from us first some two or three shots then I fired a pistol back & the balance fired about 20 or 30 guns in all. One ball glanced my hat & I thought cut a hole in it, but when I found it it was completely cut to pieces by the negroes I suppose my horse threw me. I recovered my horse & met the horse of another one who was throw without saddle or bridle. there was none of us armed but me. only seven or eight, it was about sundown I could not distinguish the negroes I heard no order to fire it commenced as soon almost as we approached. I suppose they numbered thirty or forty

Faulkner.  I was [with] Duncan we trailed & overtook the negroes called on them to surrender. I saw them kneeling in the bushes & they fired as they rose. We ran after a few shots as we were unarmed. I met Fowler some distance off and a party had gone but a short distance [illegible] between with another company heard firing ran up seen Fowler wounded being carried out, but he told them not to mind him rush in & take them & would attempt to get on [hi]s horse to ride in himself but was too weak they then [r]eturned home with Fowler.

[W]ilmot of Lexington introduced)

Was present when Fowler was shot & there was some 50 or 75 shots. Some ten or fifteen whites. Cannot tell how long the firing continued but it seemed like a continued blaze around him for 15 or 20 feet the word was given several times to fire and charge & distinctly it was after dark some half an hour when found the negroes

Mr. Roberts Was in company with Fowler & went as a guide for Mr Wilmot. Saw the negroes & they fired very often & hallooed Charge! Charge!; was within 8 or 10 feet of them and they made a furious attack even into the road. A very weak voice like a scared negro ordered a charge at first then it became several, then the word Charge came from a single voice still weak then to Charge became general &they did Charge. Supposed was 50 or 60 negroes

[illegible] was in the fight but did not shoot does not know whether Doyle shot him or not, Negroes fought well & fired often

Bradford assisted in capturing Shadrac & Slaughter, saw them some distance before they came up & when they did so ordered them o stop & they did so & some others came up Shadric asked leave to fire his pistol & did so. Slaughter asked leave to fire his & it snapped twice he then threw it away & also his knife this is the only resistance they offered but said had there been only six white men unarmed they would not have been taken there was some 20 of the whites. Slaughter was [illegible]

Mr Brown was with Roberts &als in second fight with Mr Roberts. Came ups with the negroes dismounted entered the bushes and the firing commenced immediately. Could not see anything to distinguish it. heard a noise & the cry Charge & firing a good deal of firing some 40. The negroes came out into the road after we had mounted. I supposed there were 20 or 30 negroes the no of whites being small we retreated directly. the negroes made a good deal of noise Bill Griffin says he was at the first fight but made no resistance as he had no arms. Thinks Jack is the sa[me] boy he saw Cassius Clay have in Mexico

Doc?a Mitchell caught four at his sons h[ouse] knows one of the boys here. as he told him is Presley, he had a pistol when taken & told the others to recollect the watchword was “Victory or Death” Did not see Presly fight

Josephus Mitchell

Assisted in arresting four boys, Presley is one of them they came to my house while I was absent & inquired the way to Ripley. I was sent for asked them if they were armed & prepared to give them something to eat. My father & two other men came in & we attacked them Presley Coleman drew his pistol & the cap snapped in an attempt to fire Mr Gratz’s boy fired his pistol & it struck me. Presley said they must fight now or all was gone. They had six pistols & we found powder & balls on their person.

T. Lillor I was 150 yards off at teh second fight & heard some 30 or 40 shots. Had a conversation with Jack Clay & he said he fired & ran I wen too Lexington after Jack & did so because he was a leader

Dr Hedges said the ball entered in teh back between the third ribs, and [illegible] fair for a bad wound but Fowler is out of danger

For Defence

Mr Dye. I arrested Jasper & Bill Griffin gave themselves up and had a knife bout offered no resistance wished to go home

Mr. French. Jack Clay came to my house about 12 o’clock at night & I admitted him. I put him upstairs and he made no resistance & the next day I took him to Lexington behaved quietly & wanted to go home

Moreland

Knows Slaughter well and regards him as an temperate obedient & moral servant He waited on the shop where I worked. Knew Griffin as a servant at the [illegible] house stood well. Knows Shadrack as a good servant a kind [page missing] overseer Mr Caselman—Knows Slaughter as a became acquainted with him in 43 & 44, he maintained a good character honest, discreet, & moral always polite good negro, became fond of him on that account. And he has borne a good character ever since as for as I know

Graves. Knows harry Slaughter ever since he was a boy always honest & of an excellent disposition never knew my father to whip him. He was a Hatter and Harry was often sent out trading hats &c he always made good returns & we regarded him as more trusty than any other boy. He was sold to Mr Pindell, some time since knows Griffin &Shadrac & knows nothing unfavourable to either. Knows Jasper by reputation & he is a good boy all the boys were well treated. Harry is a boy of good sense.

Pindle. Known Harry for three years owned him & sold him because he had to go north. I had ever confidence in his word honesty & conduct generally. He was always humble & treated me with politeness. He belongs to R. Pindle who is now in Missouri He has been the general superintendent of all the household having the keys of the silver plate & ware. Knows Griffin & he stands well

Chism Knows Shadrack Slaughter & Griffin Griffin has a good character always obedient & polite to whites I own him & have always treated him Kindly he is generally hired out. Shadrac has a good character in Lexington Jack was with Mr Clay in Mexico & had the reputation of a good boy while there

Finley. Knows Presly Belongs to my uncle near Lexington Bears a good character & his master was mutch [sic] attached to him his general reputation was good

(Bradford recalled Harry said he was not treated by Doyle as was agreed between them. he had [illegible] when he left Lexington & that he was decoyed off. [H]e was unable to keep up about the time of ht first attack

Jno Hanson assisted in arresting Shadrach & Harry when the hail was given I wen tup and ordered Harry to surrender he gave me up his arms fired his pistol & gave it up.

Mr. Mc Dowell was present when Shadract & Harry Slaughter was taken & they offered no resistance

Owens. Knows Shadrack, Harry, Anderson, & Bill has known Harry for 6 or 8 years, had worked under my eye at times He is a good natured &n honest boy & had had many opportunities to do wrong if he chose to do so.

We believe the above report contains substantially a full report of all the material facts given in evidence on the above trial

Sept 2nd 1848

J.A.M Clung

Jno Doniphan