THE COURT,

Being thus organized, they proceeded to the trial of ROLLA, the slave of Governor Bennett:—

Jacob Axson, Esq. attending as Attorney of his master.

It was proved, that Rolla had confessed to two persons, both of whom were examined by the Court, that he belonged to the conspiracy, and with one of these witnesses (his friend) he used every effort to induce him to join in the insurrection, which Rolla stated was to take place on the night of the 16th of June.—Finding that this friend (the witness in question) would not join the association, he urged him to go out of town on Sunday night, lest some harm should come to him. Rolla represented himself as the commander of the Force which was to rendezvous in the vicinity of his master’s mills, and explained to the witness fully the order of attack; the division of the forces; and said, “that his troops, in their way into town, would fix his Old Buck (his master) and the Intendant.” On being asked whether it was intended to kill the women and children, he remarked when we have done with the men we know what to do with the women.—On this testimony Rolla was found guilty, and sentenced to be executed on the 2d of July.[[6]]

BATTEAU was next tried—

It was proved that Batteau confessed to two persons (both of whom were introduced as witnesses) that he belonged to the conspiracy, and made efforts to induce them to join in the rising, by representing the extent of their preparations, and the probability of their success. He stated he was to head a party near Canon’s bridge, and that he expected aid from the country.—More than one interview took place between Batteau and the witnesses on the subject; the last, on the Sunday fixed for the insurrection, on which he renewed his solicitations that the witnesses should join him.—Batteau was found guilty, and sentenced to be executed on the 2d of July.

STEPHEN, belonging to Thos. R. Smith, Esq.

Was next brought before the Court, but the testimony being deemed insufficient, and indeed, the Court being satisfied of his innocence, directed his discharge.

PETER, the slave of Mr. James Poyas, was next tried.

It was distinctly in proof, against Peter, that he had made great efforts to induce others to join in the insurrection; and the testimony represented him quite in the character of a chieftain or leader, for which his boldness and sagacity unquestionably qualified him.—He appeared, from the testimony, to have employed uncommon pains to remove all the objections arising in the minds of those whom he attempted to enlist, as to the probability of the success of the effort. And spoke with great confidence of the succors which were expected from San Domingo. It was strongly to be inferred, from all the witnesses stated, that the difficult and dangerous sally of endeavouring to carry the Main Guard-House was to have been confided to him, for he particularly acquainted one of the witnesses with the combination of stratagem and force with which he proposed to accomplish this object.