That fall, twelve of us were being tried for the murder of Massa Edward, his nephew Howard, and the three crew members. His personal servant, Lewis, told the sheriff that he saw Stephen, Jo, Resin, Wesley, and Duke beating the men to death. He also pointed the finger at seven other men he suspected in carrying out this revolt, which included Roseberry’s Jim and me. Unfortunately they caught Jim the next day hiding in a barn a few miles north of where they caught me. Jim told me that he thought Lizzie made it farther north with two other women and Stu. It made me feel good knowing that they had gotten away. Most of the other slaves had already been shipped south to be sold in Natchez.  

We was sittin’ and waiting for the trial to happen. Cooped up in the jail cell for nearly a month. Stephen and Resin still be plottin’ some way to break us outta this place, but it just talk. Duke been moping around missin’ his wife and family. Jo, got his leg chewed pretty bad. 

The trial started on the morning of October 16. The jailer led all twelve of us to a courtroom in Breckinridge County. Angry white folks lined the sidewalks, yelling at the top of their lungs. Die nigger! Hang the bastards! and all sorts of rough words. I hung my head trying not to look in their eyes. They led us inside, all of us chained. The courtroom was packed with angry white faces. In their minds, we was all guilty. The judge had to slam his hammer down to make them be quiet.

The trial lasted over a week. It was rough when they put young Lewis up on the stand. It was his testimony that got the people all riled up. He accused Stephen of actually killing Massa Edward. Jo, Resin and Wesley helped to hold Edward down while he tortured the man. If anyone deserved to die, it would be Massa Edward. He also said he saw Duke beat Howard to death. When asked about the death of Mr Cobb and Mr Wood, Lewis wasn’t sure who killed those men, but pointed out that Roseberry’s Jim, myself and five other slaves that he had kept in his basement were likely responsible for their deaths. 

Things were not looking good for us and I was praying for a miracle. I prayed that Lizzie and Stu had made it safely North and was free. I prayed that the public defender could convince the white jury that we was just trying to gain our freedom.

On the morning of Thursday, October, 26 we led one final time to the courthouse to get the news if we was gonna live or die. The courthouse was packed full of angry white folk and so was the grounds. I was scared and hung my head. 

When the judge read the verdict, I was both relieved and horrified. me and Jim and five others were found not guilty, but Steven, Jo, Resin, Wesley, and Duke were found guilty of murder and was sentenced to be hanged on the 29th day of November. 

Duke, Jo, and Wesley were my closest friends. They hung their heads in silence when the judge read their sentence. It was a sombre time when they led us back to our cells. Wesley be crying saying he didn’t kill nobody. It was true, all he did was help hold Massa Edward down and beat on Lewis, but he didn’t kill nobody.

The other men just sits all quiet. I didn’t have nothin’ to say. I hated that my closest friends were to be hanged and nothin’ I could do ‘about it. I looked out the winder and sees that another come be headin’ this way. It gets cold in this jail. 

As the storm approached, I pulls out my lucky coin and holds it to my chest. It be all magic and maybe da Lord he takes me away agin. I be wishin’ he could take us all away and spare our lives. I hear the rain come and the lightnin’ flash. Next thing I know, it’s dark and raining and I’m sitting in the middle of nowhere.  They be no tree, or building, just tall grass and small bushes. It was rainin’ something fierce. I saw lights in the distance and takes off running in that direction. I trips over a rock and dropped that coin somewhere in the darkness.  I was soaked to da bone and feelin’ drunk. 

I moseyed down the road to a local shop and stood outside in the rain. I was cold and shivering. An old white man walked past me and asked, “What are you doing standing there in the rain? Come inside and warm yourself.”

I was surprised that a white man would invite me in the store. I thanked him, nodded and followed the man through the door. It was a sit down eatin’ place. A nice young woman asked if I wanted to sit down and she gave me a menu. I sat all confused. I couldn’t read the list of things she had printed on that piece of paper. I stuck my hand in my pocket and was shocked to find money in a leather pouch all folded up nicely. 

The woman came back again and asked, “What would you like, Mister?”

I smiled all wide thinkin’ it be all funny that she’d call me, mister. I pulled out some money and said, “What can I get with this much?”

“Just about anything on this menu.”

“Well then, I be havin’ what most other people be havin’ I guess,” I said smiling all wide.

“A burger and fries sound good to you?”

“Yes, Ma’am. That would do nicely.”

She brought me the most tasty meal and I paid her the money and had a lot left over. When I walked outside the rain had stopped and I was still here.  I wandered back to a small shed and slept on the floor.  

The next morning I awoke to the sound of birds. I peeked out the door and saw the sun rising up over the horizon. I looked at my white hands and wondered if it was still a dream. I stretched and looked around at the empty road. A few white men walked past me and said good morning as if I was just another white man. I shook my head and whispered to myself, “Am I free?”