Strange case

[archieclement]

Around the 1st of Jan 1861, two old negroes, a man and a woman, were found hanging in a stable belonging to Capt John Taylor, in the northern part of the township. The man was one legged old man named Charley and had formerly belonged as a slave to Dr David Clark, deceased. The woman was named Rachel and a slave belonging to J M Phillips of near Palmyra. For some time the old couple had lived in a cabin in Palmyra, and their house had been the resort of a woman of ill fame from Quincy, named Mary Burnell, alias "French Mary". She had advised them to remove to Quincy and on New Years night they started in a old wagon, with some goods of small value, designing to cross the Mississippi before daybreak. French Mary accompanied them during their flight.

The fugitives were pursued by Mr Earhart, of near West Ely, in whose employ they had been, and some of whose property they had in their possession. He overtook them not far from Quincy, and brought them back to Taylors to stay the night. The courtesan was with them, when he came upon them. The next morning the two old negroes were found hanging by the same rope in Taylors stable. The coroners jury said they had committed suicide. Others believed they had been murdered for what little belongings they had, and French Mary and a male companion were suspected. Others again whispered they had been hung by a pro slavery vigilance committee, although there never was the slightest evidence produced of the latter charge.

French Mary was arrested in Quincy, brought to Palmyra without a requisition, given a preliminary examination, and committed to jail on a charge of decoying away the negroes. Afterwards in June she was charged, tried and acquitted. The case was a mysterious one, and it will never be known in what manner Uncle Charley and Aunt Rachel met their deaths.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Sad and terrible and we will never know.

 

[archieclement]

Sad and terrible and we will never know.

Cant but help wonder how common it was for slaves to host brothels.............


And strange part to me............West Ely is 10 miles southwest of Palmyra........West Quincy bottoms where they apparently were captured is 10 miles NE of Palmyra............That Mr Earhart could become aware of their flight 10 miles away, then travel 2o miles to recapture them in time to still leave them somewhere for the night..........all in one night.........seems pretty incredulous to me......................

 

[John Hartwell]

Given today's date, as I read this I kept waiting for the punch-line that would make me the Fool for doing so.

But, it seems to be a genuine sad, curious mystery. I just ran a quick period newspaper search, but could find no mention of the incident anywhere.

I haven't seen the original source of the story, but as stated in post #1, there seems to be no suggestion that the elderly couple necessarily "hosted a brothel." Mary Burnell might have been the proverbial "prostitute with a heart of gold," who somehow met them and befriended and visited them from time to time, eventually trying to arrange their escape to freedom. Maybe "French Mary" was an abolitionist at heart.

At least, that's how I'd like to imagine it.

 

[archieclement]

Given today's date, as I read this I kept waiting for the punch-line that would make me the Fool for doing so.

But, it seems to be a genuine sad, curious mystery. I just ran a quick period newspaper search, but could find no mention of the incident anywhere.

I haven't seen the original source of the story, but as stated in post #1, there seems to be no suggestion that the elderly couple necessarily "hosted a brothel." Mary Burnell might have been the proverbial "prostitute with a heart of gold," who somehow met them and befriended and visited them from time to time, eventually trying to arrange their escape to freedom. Maybe "French Mary" was an abolitionist at heart.

At least, that's how I'd like to imagine it.

its genuine, from the History of Marion County Missouri, pages 778-779

the story itself is mysterious, as its vagueness to some details makes it more so..........would assume Earhart has some business interest in Palmyra for them to be in his employ so far from his residence.......perhaps he himself stayed in Palmyra for New Years Eve which would make his discovery and pursuit more probable........

Probable speculation I can provide, Charleys' previous owner Dr David Clark was a former Presbyterian Professor at Marion college, probable he was emancipated upon death. Taylors of Fabius township were a prominent family with no motive for their meager possessions, however wonder where the title Capt comes from......it could be militia......it could be slave patrol...........which perhaps would make the vigilance committee theory seem more probable