Choctaw-Mobile County AlArchives News.....A Horrible Plot - Conspiracy to Kill  August 23, 1883
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Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com January 2, 2007, 11:41 am

The Huntsville Weekly Democrat August 23, 1883
A Horrible Plot.
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Discovery of a Conspiracy Among the Negroes of Choctaw County, Ala.
To Murder All the Whites – One of the Ringleaders Hanged
  MOBILE, August 21.—In Choctaw county, Ala., on the 15th instant, a bundle of 
papers, disclosing a well-organized plot among the negroes to kill the entire 
white population of that county, was found near one of their rendezvous by two 
gentlemen, who laid the matter before the Solicitor.  On the 16th-instant, a 
quiet meeting of citizens of Mount Sterling and Butler was called at Butler to 
consider the best mode of suppressing the intended outbreak and massacre.
  After discussion, it was agreed that the following ringleaders, Jack Turner, 
F. D. Barney, Jesse Wilson, Peter Hill, Willis Lyman, Aaron Scott and Range 
West, to whom had been assigned the duties of leading the respective squads to 
Butler, Mt. Sterling, DeSoto, and other places, and killing all whites at teach 
place, should be arrested and lodged in jail.  Their arrest was effected on the 
7th instant without disturbance or bloodshed.  The same day a mass meeting of 
citizens of all classes was called for Saturday to decide the fate of the 
prisoners.
  The plot has been in existence since 1878.  The conspirators now number 400.  
They have powder, shot and guns, and think themselves sufficiently strong to 
accomplish their fiendish design.  Sunday night, the 17th of September, had 
been appointed as the date for its consummation.  The papers further allowed 
that this day was selected, because, then, the white people would be at a camp 
meeting, unarmed, and could offer no resistance.
  The meeting called for Saturday brought together about 700 men, among whom 
were about 150 negroes, who, after hearing the reports read, by an almost 
unanimous vote decided that Jack Turner was a turbulent and dangerous 
character, a regular firebrand in the community, and the public demanded his 
immediate death.  He was accordingly hanged about 1:15 0’clock the same 
afternoon, in the presence of the assembled multitude.  The crowd then 
dispersed, and all signs of disturbances ceased.  Everything was quiet Saturday 
night.  The other prisoners are still in jail to await further development.  

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