"The negroes who murdered Mrs Witherspoon were tried by the law of the land and were hung. A man named Wingate, with a John Brown spirit—namely that negroes were bound to rise up and kill women, and his philanthropy taking that turn, he made himself devil's counsel and stood by the negroes clear through. At the hanging he denounced John Witherspoon bitterly. And had high words, too, with George Williams.*
Afterward George Williams, having raised a company, was made captain of it. The men were actually on board the train, and Captain Williams was sitting in a chair, near at hand, ready to jump on when the whistle blew. Wingate came behind him, rested his gun on the back of the chair, and shot him dead. There—before the very faces of his soldiers. It was very hard to rescue Wingate from the hands of George's men, who wanted to shoot him instantly—no wonder. (The people who laud and magnify John Brown's philanthropy must adore Wingate.)"
*George Frederick Williams was Elizabeth "Betsey" Witherspoon's grandson.
