232 ELBERT COUNTY. 



rest, upon a charge of murder. William Barnet, for a long time 

 afterward a well-known public man, and member of the Le- 

 gislature, and member of Congress, was the Sheriff of Elbert 

 county. Upon receiving the warrant he assembled a large 

 guard, and went in pursuit. The Aliens had concealed them- 

 selves in a high log-house, which stood for a long time after 

 the event alluded to, on the side of the road near Beaver Dam 

 creek. The place of their concealment being communicated 

 to the Sheriff, he surrounded it with his guard. The doors 

 were barricaded so as to prevent entrance. After many fruit- 

 less attempts to get the Aliens out, the house was set on fire. 

 Billy Allen, finding resistance in vain, opened the doors and 

 gave himself up. The fire was put out, and search com- 

 menced for Beverly Allen, the principal offender. He was at 

 first concealed between the ceiling of the cockloft, and the 

 roof. The Aliens were immediately confined in the jail of 

 the county. This became known to the people. The news 

 spread that the servant of God was in jail for resisting an effort 

 to take from him his liberty, to separate him from his home, 

 friends, and flock, by confining him in jail in Augusta, through 

 the process of the United States Court, the instrument by 

 which the federalists intended to deprive the people of 

 their rights, and for a debt to one who was not a citizen of 

 the State. In these days the people were a law unto them- 

 selves. The restraints of government were very slight during 

 the dominion of Great Britain, and scarcely felt at all in the 

 States, especially on the frontiers of the new States ; voluntary 

 associations called Lynch Men afforded some protection against 

 thieves. Personal rights were secured from violation only by 

 the sure aim of a good gun, or a heavy fist and a fearless 

 spirit. Liberty, and especially liberty of person was, from the 

 habits of speaking, acting, and feeling of the times of the Revo- 

 lution, and immediately after, considered by many as the 

 chief good. In such times, among such people, operated upon 

 by such causes, the Aliens could not remain prisoners. The 

 Sheriff, finding that their rescue would be attempted, set off 

 with his prisoners for Washington, Wilkes county. He was 

 headed on the road, and considered it safest to return. He 



