_Zachariah Bowen_ recalled.--"I didn't come here on any terms; I hardly
understand what you mean by terms; I made no contract; I came upon my
own book; there was no contract; I have no expectations; I don't know
that Dr. P. ever manumitted any female slaves; I never knew that she was
in the family way when she ran away; I heard of it about that time; she
ran off in the fall of 1828. Dr. P. told me so; in the fall of 1828; in
1825, '26, '27, she lived with my brother; in 1825 I lived there; in
1827 and '28 I lived with Dr. P. I moved there and was overseer for him;
I was overseer for fifteen years for him; two years at his house; I
ceased to be his overseer in 1841, I think; he was living in 1841; I am
certain of that year, I think; Dr. Purnell died in 1844, I feel certain;
I said to Mr. Purnell that I did not know what ailed the other Mr.
Bowen, for the doctor died in 1844; he died in the latter part of the
Spring of 1844; Mr. Bowen made a mistake in saying it was eighteen years
ago; if you recall him he will rectify the mistake, I think; several
slaves escaped from Dr. Purnell; a boy, that lived with my brother, ran
away in 1827; the others were not hired to my brother; I don't know that
I could tell the exact time, nor the year; the doctor used to say to us,
there is another of my niggers ran away; the reason that I can tell when
Mahala ran away, is because she took a husband and ran away; I was
married that year; the reason I cannot tell about the others is, because
they went at different times in five years; the first who ran away
before Mahala, was named Grace; she went in 1827; I don't know when the
last went, or who it was."
* * * * *
Gloucester said they had raised a mob on him, on account of this case,
and he would have to leave the city; the case of this woman or these
proceedings was not spoken of there; he staid but a short time; he said
one of the witnesses had betrayed him in court, yesterday, and they
attacked him last night; I asked him how he escaped from so many; he
said very few were in the city who could outrun him; I asked him where
he was going, he replied he had a notion to put for Canada; some of the
gentlemen proposed his going to Baltimore; he said that would not do, as
the laws of Maryland would catch him; he was going to get a boat and go
to New Jersey, and then to New York; Mr. Purnell gave him just
thirty-five dollars last night; he paused a while, and Mr. P. told him
to hand it back; he then took out his money and put some more to it, and
said: "Here is fifty dollars." Mr. P. said that if he got the slave he
would leave fifty dollars more with a person in the city.
* * * * *
Question by the judge.--"You have spoken of a conversation in which Mr.
P. told you of certain letters or correspondence, and that they had
reference to this alleged fugitive. I want you to give me, to the best
of your recollection, everything he said the letters contained."
_Witness_.--Mr. P. told me when he first mentioned it to me, he said
that he was going to mention something to me, that he did not want
anything said, in regard to some negroes that had run away from his
father; he said he wanted me to come on here, and he did not want me to
tell any person before we left our county; that if the negroes heard of
it, they could get information to the parties before he could get here;
I told him I would not tell any person except my wife; he then said he
had correspondence with a person here, for a month or two, and he had no
doubt but that several of his negroes were here, from what he had heard
from his correspondent; he asked me if I could recognize the favor of
this Mahala? I told him I didn't know; he then said if anybody would
know her, I would, as she had lived with my brother three years; he then
said that he would want to start the next week, but he would see me
again at that time; that was all he said at that time, only we turned
into a hotel, and he said don't breathe this to anybody; on Saturday
before we left home, he came to my house, and said: well, I shall want
you to start for Philadelphia, on Monday morning; I suppose you will go?
I told him I would rather not, if he could do without out me; but as I
told him before, I would go, if he still requested it. I would go;
that's all, sir, except that I said I would be along in the stage.
* * * * *
J.T. Hammond was then called, a young man who admitted he had never seen
the respondent till he came to the court-house, but was ready to swear
that he would have known her by her resemblance to Dr. Purnell's set of
negroes. "His whole set?" said Mr. Brown. "Yes, sir." (Derisive
laughter).
* * * * *
Mr. McMurtrie offered to prove, by persons who had known the two
witnesses who had testified in this case, from their youth, that they
were respectable and worthy men. D.P. Brown, said that if the gentleman
found it necessary to sustain his witnesses' reputation, in consequence
of the peculiar dilemma they had got into, he would object, and if he
supposed that he was about to contradict them in some point in the
defence, he certainly was right, but as the case could not be concluded
to-day, he would like to have the matter adjourned over until Tuesday
next.
Mr. McMurtrie objected, by saying, that his client was anxious to have
the matter disposed of as soon as possible, as he had been subjected to
numerous insults since the matter had been before the court.
Judge Kane intimated that no weight was to be attached to this
consideration, as the full power of the court was at his disposal for
the purpose of protecting his client from insult.
Mr. McMurtrie replied that he did not know whether words spoken came
within the meaning of the act of Congress, in such matters.
The court took a recess until a quarter to three o'clock.
The court met again at a quarter to three o'clock.
Mr. McMurtrie asked that the witnesses for the defence be excluded from
the court room, except the one upon the stand.
This was objected to by Mr. Brown, as the witnesses for the prosecution
had not been required so to do; but he afterwards withdrew his
objections, and notified Mr. McMurtrie that he would require any
witnesses he might have in addition, should retire also; as he would
object to any of them being heard if they remained.
_The Defence_.--Mr. Pierce opened the case by saying that the testimony
for the defence would be clear and conclusive; that the witnesses for
the prosecution are mistaken in the identity of the alleged fugitive.
That at the time they allege her to have been in Maryland, on the
plantation of Dr. Purnell, she was in Chester county, and in the year
Lafayette visited this country, she was in this city. He would confine
the testimony exclusively to these two counties, and show that she is
not the alleged slave.
Henry C. Cornish, sworn. I live in this city, and am a shoemaker; I came
here in the year 1830; before that I lived in Chester county, East
Whiteland township, with Wm. Latta; my father lived with Mr. Latta six
or eight years; I lived there three years before that time, and was
familiar with the place for more than six years before 1830; I saw the
alleged fugitive some five years before 1830, at George Amos', in
Uwchland township, some eight or ten miles from our house; I fix the
time from a meeting being held on the Valley Hill by a minister, named
Nathan D. Tierney; that must have been in 1825; I am positive it was
before the beginning of the year 1828; I have not the least doubt; I
joined church about that time; it was the first of my uniting with the
church; it was in 1825; I joined the Methodist Episcopal Church; before
they built a church they held meetings alternately at people's houses; I
met her at Amos' house, I recollect my father going to dig the
foundation of the church: I saw her there before the church was built; I
knew her before she was married; and since I left there I have met her
at the annual meetings of the church; I have kept up the acquaintance
ever since; I knew that she had two children, that were buried as long
as twenty-one or twenty-two years ago; if the boy had lived he would
have been twenty-three or twenty-four years old; he was the oldest; she
was not married when I first saw her in 1827; she did not appear to be
anything but a girl, and was not married, and she of course could not be
in the condition of a married woman; I was not at her wedding; if I had
not continued to know her, I would not now know her; she was then a
small person; age and flesh would change her a little; her complexion
has not changed; I think she worked for Mrs. Amos; a church record is
now kept very correct; but when I first went into the church, colored
men could not read and write; I acted as the clerk of the church; I
united with the church after I first saw her; I have seen her very often
since I left Chester; five hundred times to speak safely; I worship down
town and she up in Brown street; to the best of my recollection they
moved over Schuylkill about twelve years ago; she has lived here about
nine years; she has six children, I have heard; I have seen five; the
oldest is eighteen or nineteen; the youngest a sucking babe; I have
visited her house since I have been here; I was not sent for by my
uncle, who was employed by Joseph Smith & Co., next to the Girard Bank;
I was with Edward Biddle for four years, until he was elected President
of the Morris Canal and Banking Company, and then I went to learn
shoemaking under instructions, since which time I have been in business
for myself; my father burnt limestone for Mr. Latta; he and his wife are
dead; I was there a day or two ago for witnesses to testify in this
case.
_Cross-examined._--I was born in 1814, and am thirty-seven years of age;
when I first knew her I suppose she was fifteen years old; she was
married about three years afterwards; her husband's name is Micajah
Williams; I heard he was in prison for stealing; her name before
marriage was Phamie Coates; I didn't know her husband before they were
married; don't know whether they came from Maryland; I never knew of
Mahala Richardson before last evening in court; the difference in her
appearance is a natural one, that every body is acquainted with; I mean
that a little boy is not a man, and a growing girl is not a woman; age
and flesh and size make a difference; if I had not conversed with her
during the twenty-one years, I would not have known her; I never changed
a word with her about the case, except to say I was sorry to see her
here; I knew her the moment I saw her; her arrest could not have been in
the newspapers of the morning as she was not arrested until seven
o'clock that day; I went to Chester to look for witnesses; I came to the
court because I am a vigilant man, and my principle is to save any
person whose liberty is in danger; I had heard that a woman was
arrested; her business is to get work wherever she can.
Deborah Ann Boyer, sworn. I was thirty-three last January; I live within
one mile of West Chester; I am a married woman; I have lived there since
1835. I went there with my mother; I can read; I have seen the alleged
fugitive before this; I first knew her at Downingtown, when she came to
my mother's house; that was before I had gone to West Chester with my
mother; you can tell how long it was, for it was in 1826; my brother was
born in that year; I was quite small then; don't know how she came
there; she was with my mother during her confinement; my brother is
dead; it is written down in our Testament; and I took an epitaph from it
to put on the tombstone; the last time I saw it was when the fellow
killed the school-mistress. I looked because about 1830, a man killed a
woman, and was hung, and I wanted to see how long ago it was. I have
seen her more or less ever since, until within two years. I don't
remember when she went from mother, but I saw her at Mr. Latta's
afterwards. I have no doubt she is the woman; she was then a slim, tall
girl, larger than myself; she is not darker now, but heavier set every
way.
* * * * *
Sarah Gayly affirmed.--I am between forty-seven and forty-eight years of
age. I live in the city at this time. I was raised in Chester county, in
1824, and have been here about five years. I lived in Downingtown nine
or ten years. I lived awhile in West Chester, and lived in Chester
county until about five years ago. I know the alleged fugitive. I first
saw her in the neighborhood of Downingtown, at a place they call
Downing's old stage office; she worked in the house with me; it was
somewhere near 1824, just before Lafayette came about; she worked off
and on days' work, to wash dishes; she was a small girl then, very thin,
and younger than me. I met with her, as near as I can tell you, down in
the valley, at a place called the Valley Inn. I used to see her off and
on at church, in 1826. I visited her at Mr. Latta's, after she lived at
the Valley Inn. I don't know when she left that county. I know the
alleged fugitive is the same person; she belonged to the same church,
Ebenezer. I know the brothers Cornish, and have whipped them many a
time. I lived with Latta myself, and the Cornish, who is now a minister,
lived there; he lived there before I did, and so did the alleged
fugitive. I was then between twenty-three and twenty-five years old; she
was a strip of a girl; she was not in the family way when she came
there.
Cross-examined.--I have not seen her since 1826, until I saw her here in
the court-room; I recognized her when I first saw her here without
anybody pointing her out, and she recognized me; I have reason to know
her, because she has the same sort of a scar on her forehead that I
have; we used to make fun of each other about the marks; she went by the
name of Fanny Coates. I know nothing about her husband; she did not do
the work of a woman in 1826; she washed dishes, scrubbed, etc. I heard
her say her father and mother were dead, and that they lived somewhere
in that neighborhood; she at that time made her home with a family named
Amos.
The Judge asked to see the scar on the witness' forehead and that on the
forehead of the respondent. They were brought near the bench, and the
marks inspected, which were plainly seen on both. During this time the
infant of the respondent was entrusted to another colored woman. The
child, who, up to this time, had been quiet, raised a piteous cry and
would not be pacified. The whole scene excited a great sensation.
* * * * *
Mr. Brown then rose in reply to the plaintiff's counsel, and said: If I
consulted my own views, I should not say one syllable, in answer to the
arguments of the learned counsel upon the other side, and relying as I
do upon the evidence, and out of respect to the convenience of your
honor, I shall say very little as it is. The views of the counsel it
appears to me, are most extraordinary indeed. He seems to take it for
granted that everything that is said on the part of the witnesses for
the claimant is gospel, and that what is said on the part of the
witnesses for the respondent, is to be considered matter of suspicion.
Now I rate no man by his size, color, or position, but I appeal to you
in looking at the testimony that has been produced here, on the
different sides of the question, and judging it by its intrinsic worth,
whether there is the slightest possible comparison between the witnesses
on the part of the plaintiff, and those of the defendant, either in
intelligence, memory, language, thought, or anything else. This is a
fine commentary upon the disparagement of color! Looking at the men as
they are, as you will, I say that the testimony exhibited on the part of
the respondent would outweigh a whole theatre of such men as are
exhibited on the part of the complainant. I say nothing here about their
respectability. It would have been proper for the learned counsel on the
part of the plaintiff, if he thought the witnesses on the part of the
respondent unworthy of belief, to have proved them so; but instead of
that, he attempts to bolster up men, who, whether respectable or
otherwise, from their inconsistency, involutions and tergiversations in
regard to this case, produce no possible effect upon the judicial mind,
but that which is unfavorable to themselves. Impartial men, are they?
How do they appear before you? They appear under cover from first to
last; standing upon their right to resist inquiries legitimately
propounded to them; burning up letters since they have arrived,
calculated to shed light upon this subject; and before they come here,
corresponding with and deriving information from a man, an evident
kidnapper, who dare not sign his name and gets his wife to sign hers.
This is the character these men exhibit here before you; clandestinely
meeting together at the tavern, and that to consult in regard to the
identity of a person about whom they know nothing. Can they refer to any
marks by which to identify this person? Nothing at all of the kind. Do
they, with the exception of the first witness examined, state even the
time when she left? Have they produced the letter written by this
kidnapper, showing how he described her? Why, let me ask, is not the
full light allowed to shine on this case? But even with the light they
have shed upon it, I would have been perfectly content to have rested
it, relying upon their testimony alone, for a just decision.
* * * * *
Now, what man among them, professes to have seen this woman for
twenty-one years? Not one. The learned gentleman attempts to sustain his
case, because one of our witnesses, certainly not more than one, has not
seen this woman for about the same length of time: but don't you
perceive, that in this case they all lived in the same State, if not in
the same county--they had intercourse with persons mutually acquainted
with her, and three out of four of them, met her for several months at
the same church; and one witness, who had long been in her society, and
in close association with her, knew she had a mark upon her forehead
corresponding to the one she bore on her own. And by dint of all these
matters, this long continued acquaintance only reviving the impressions
received in early life, they had no doubt of the identity of the person.
Was there ever a more perfect train of evidence exhibited to prove the
identity of a person, than on the present occasion?
* * * * *
We have called witnesses on this point alone, and have more than
counterpoised the evidence produced upon the opposite side. And we have
not only made it manifest that she was a free woman, but we have
confirmed her charter by separate proof. What does the gentleman say
further? Do I understand him to say we have no right to determine this
matter judicially? Now what is all this about? Why is it before you,
taking your time day after day? According to this argument, you have
nothing to do but to give the master the flesh he claims. But you are to
be satisfied that you have sufficient reason to believe that these
claims are well founded. And if you leave that matter in a state of
doubt, it does not require a single witness to be called on the part of
the respondent, to prove on the opposite side of the question. But we
have come in with a weight of evidence demolishing the structure he has
raised, restoring the woman to her original position in the estimation
of the law. "Well," says the gentleman, "it is like the case of a
fugitive from justice." But it is not, and if it were, it would not
benefit his case. The case of a fugitive from justice is one in which
the prisoner is remanded to the custody of the law, handed over for
legal purposes. The case of a fugitive from labor is a case in which the
individual is handed over sometimes to a merciless master, and very
rarely to a charitable one. Does the counsel mean to say that in the
case of a fugitive from justice he is not bound to satisfy the judge
before whom, the question is heard? He should prove our witnesses
unworthy of belief. As Judge Grier said, upon a former occasion, "You
can choose your own time; you have full and abundant opportunities on
every side to prepare against any contingency." Why don't they do so? He
is not to come here and force on a case, and say, I suppose you take
every thing for granted. He is to come prepared to prove the justice of
his claim before the tribunal who is to decide upon it. That he has not
done successfully, and I would, therefore, ask your Honor, after the
elaborate argument on the part of the plaintiff, to discharge this
woman: for after such an abundance of testimony unbroken and
incontestable as that we have exhibited here, it would be a monstrous
perversion of reason to suppose that anything more could be required.
Mr. McMurtrie replied by reasserting his positions. It was a grave
question for the court to consider what evidence was required. He
thought that this decision might be the turning case to show whether the
act of Congress would be carried out or whether we were to return in
fact to the state of affairs under the old laws.
Judge Kane said, in reference to the remarks at the close of Mr.
McMurtrie's speech: So long as I retain my seat on this bench, I shall
endeavor to enforce this law without reference to my own sympathies, or
the sympathies and opinions of others. I do not think, in the cases
under this act of Congress, or a treaty, or constitutional, or legal
provision for the extradition of fugitives from justice, that it is
possible to imagine that conclusive proof of identity could be
established by depositions. From the nature of the case and the facts to
be proved, proof cannot be made in anticipation of the identity of the
party. That being established, it is the office of the judge, to
determine whether a _prima facie_ case indicates the identity of the
party charged, with the party before him.
* * * * *
On the other hand, the evidence of the claimant has been met, and
regarding the bearing of the witnesses for the respondent, met by
witnesses who testified, with apparent candor and great intelligence. If
they are believed, then the witnesses for the claimant are mistaken. The
question is, whether two witnesses for the claimant, who have not seen
the respondent for twenty-three, one for twenty-four years, are to be
believed in preference to four witnesses on the other side, three of
whom have seen her frequently since 1826, and known her as Euphemia
Williams, and the fourth, who has not seen her for a quarter of a
century, but testifies that when they were children, they used to jest
each other about scars, which they still bear upon their persons; I am
bound to say that the proof by the four witnesses has not been
overthrown by the contrary evidence of the two who only recognized her
when they called on her with the marshall. One says he called her Mahala
Purnell as soon as he saw her. He might be mistaken. He inferred he
would find her at the place to which he went. There were three persons
in the room, one was Mahala Richardson, whom he knew, a young girl, and
the prisoner. If she had been alone, his recognition would have been of
no avail. The fact is obvious to this court, that the respondent has no
peculiar physiognomy or gait. It has been shown she has no peculiarity
of voice; I cannot but feel that the fact alleged by the claimant is
very doubtful, when the witnesses, without mark or peculiarity, testify
that they can readily recognize the girl of fifteen in the woman of
forty. The prisoner is therefore discharged.
A slight attempt at applause in the court room was promptly suppressed.
The intelligence of the discharge of the woman, was quickly spread to
those without, who raised shouts of joy. The woman, with her children,
were hurried into a carriage, which was driven first to the Anti-slavery
office and then to the Philadelphia Institute, in Lombard Street above
Seventh. Here she was introduced to a large audience of colored people,
who hailed her appearance with lively joy; several excited speeches were
made, and great enthusiasm was manifested in and outside of the building
and the adjacent streets. When Euphemia came out, the horses were taken
out of the carriage, and a long rope was attached, which was taken by as
many colored people as could get hold of it, and the woman and her
children thus conveyed to her home.
The procession was accompanied by several hundreds of men, women and
boys. They dragged the carriage past the residence of the counsel for
the respondent, cheering them by huzzas of the wildest kind, and then
took the vehicle and its contents to the residence of the woman,
Germantown Road near Fifth street, beguiling the way with songs and
shouts. The whole scene was one of wild, ungovernable excitement,
produced by exuberance of joy.
The masterly management of abolitionists in connection with the counsel,
saved poor Euphemia from being dragged from her children into hopeless
bondage. While the victory was a source of great momentary rejoicing on
the part of the friends of the slave it was nevertheless quite manifest
that she was only released by the "skin of her teeth." "A scar on her
forehead" saved her. Relative to this important mark, a few of
Euphemia's friends enjoyed a very pleasing anecdote, which, at the time,
they were obliged to withhold from the public; it is too good to be kept
any longer. For a time, Euphemia was kept in durance vile, up in the
dome of Independence Hall, partly in the custody of Lieutenant Gouldy of
the Mayor's police, (who was the right man in the right place), whose
sympathies were secretly on the side of the slave. While his pitying
eyes gazed on Euphemia's sad face, he observed a very large scar on her
forehead, and was immediately struck with the idea that that old scar
might be used with damaging effect by the witnesses and counsel against
her. At once he decided that the scar must be concealed, at least, until
after the examination of the claimant's witnesses. Accordingly a large
turban was procured and placed on Euphemia's head in such a manner as to
hide the scar completely, without exciting the least suspicion in the
minds of any. So when the witnesses against her swore that she had no
particular mark, David Paul Brown made them clinch this part of their
testimony irrevocably. Now, when Sarah Gayly affirmed (on the part of
the prisoner) that "I have reason to know her because she has the same
sort of a scar on her forehead that I have, we used to make fun of each
other about the marks," etc., if it was not evident to all, it was to
some, that she had "stolen their thunder," as the "chop-fallen"
countenances of the slave-holder's witnesses indicated in a moment.
Despair was depicted on all faces sympathizing with the pursuers.
With heavy pecuniary losses, sad damage of character, and comfortless,
the unhappy claimant and his witnesses were compelled to return to
Maryland, wiser if not better men. The account of this interesting
trial, we have condensed from a very careful and elaborate report of it
published in the "Pennsylvania Freeman," January 13th, 1857.
Apparently, the vigilance of slave-hunters was not slackened by this
defeat, as the records show that many exciting cases took place in
Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, and if the records of the old
Abolitionist Society could be published, as they should be, it would
appear that many hard-fought battles have taken place between Freedom
and Slavery on this soil.
Here in conclusion touching the Fugitive Slave Law, arrests under it,
etc., as a fitting sequel we copy two extracts from high authority. The
first is from the able and graphic pen of James Miller McKim, who was
well known to stand in the front ranks of both the Anti-slavery Society
and the Underground Rail Road cause through all the long and trying
contest, during which the country was agitated by the question of
immediate emancipation, and shared the full confidence and respect of
Abolitionists of all classes throughout the United States and Great
Britain.
The letter from which we have made this extract was written to Hon.
George Thompson, the distinguished abolitionist of England, and speaks
for itself. The other quotation is from the pen of a highly respectable
and intelligent lady, belonging to the Society of Friends, or Quakers,
and a most devoted friend of the slave, whose statement obviously is
literally true.
From Mr. McKiM to GEORGE THOMPSON, 1851.
The accompanying parcel of extracts will give you a full account
of the different slave cases tried in this city, under the new
Fugitive Slave Law up to this time. Full and accurate as these
reports are, they will afford you but a faint idea of the
anguish and confusion that have been produced in this part of
the country by this infamous statute. It has turned Southeastern
Pennsylvania into another Guinea Coast, and caused a large
portion of the inhabitants to feel as insecure from the brutal
violence and diabolical acts of the kidnapper, as are the
unhappy creatures who people the shores of Africa. Ruffians from
the other side of the Slave-line, aided by professional
kidnappers on our own soil, a class of men whose 'occupation'
until lately, had been 'gone,' are continually prowling through
the community, and every now and then seizing and carrying away
their prey. As a specimen of the boldness, though fortunately,
not of the success always with which these wretches prosecute
their nefarious trade, read the enclosed article, which I cut
from the _Freeman_, of January 2d, and bear in mind that in no
respect are the facts here mentioned over-stated.
This affair occurred in Chester county, one of the most orderly
and intelligent counties in the State, a county settled
principally by Quakers. A week or two after this occurrence, and
not far from the same place, a farmhouse was entered by a band
of armed ruffians, in the evening, and at a time when all the
able-bodied occupants, save one, were known to be absent. This
was a colored man, who was seated by the kitchen fire, and in
the act of taking off his shoes. He was instantly knocked down
and gagged; but, still resisting, he was beaten most
unmercifully. There was a woman, and also a feeble old man, in
the house, who were attracted to the spot by the scuffle; but
they could neither render any assistance, nor (the light being
put out), could they recognize the parties engaged in it. The
unhappy victim being fairly overcome, was dragged like a slain
beast to a wagon, which was about a hundred yards distant,
waiting to receive him. In this he was placed, and conveyed
across the line, which was about twenty miles further south; and
that was the last, so far as I know, that has ever been heard of
him. The alarm was given, of course, as soon as possible, and
the neighbors were quickly in pursuit; but the kidnappers had
got the start of them. The next morning the trail between the
house, and the place where the wagon stood, was distinctly
visible, and deeply marked with blood.
About a fortnight since, a letter was brought to our office,
from a well-known friend, the contents of which were in
substance as follows: A case of kidnapping had occurred in the
vicinity of West Cain Township, Chester county, at about half
past one on Sunday morning, the 16th March. A black man, by the
name of Thomas Hall, an honest, sober, and industrious
individual, living in the midst of a settlement of farmers, had
been stolen by persons who knocked at his door, and told him
that his nearest neighbor wanted him to come to his house, one
of his children being sick. Hall, not immediately opening his
door, it was burst in, and three men rushed into his house; Hall
was felled by the bludgeons of the men. His wife received
several severe blows, and on making for the door was told, that
if she attempted to go out or halloo, she would have her brains
blown out. She, however, escaped through a back window, and gave
the alarm; but before any person arrived upon the ground, they
had fled with their victim. He was taken without any clothing,
except his night clothes. A six-barrelled revolver, heavily
loaded, was dropped in the scuffle, and left; also a silk
handkerchief, and some old advertisement of a bear bait, that
was to take place in Emmittsburg, Maryland. In how many cases
the persons stolen are legally liable to capture, it is
impossible to state. The law, you know, authorizes arrests to be
made, with or without process, and nothing is easier under such
circumstances than to kidnap persons who are free born.
The very same day that I received the above mentioned letter,
and while our hearts were still aching over its contents,
another was brought us from Thomas Garrett, of Wilmington,
Delaware, announcing the abduction, a night or two before, of a
free colored man of that city. The outrage was committed by an
ex-policeman, who, pretending to be acting under the commission
which he had been known to hold, entered, near the hour of
midnight, the house of the victim, and alleging against him some
petty act of disorder, seized him, handcuffed him in the
presence of his dismayed family, and carried him off to
Maryland. The cheat that had been practised was not discovered
by the family until next evening; but it was too late, the man
was gone.
At the time Mr. Garrett's letter was handed to me, narrating the
foregoing case of man stealing, I was listening to the sad tales
of two colored women, who had come to the office for advice and
assistance. One of them was an elderly person, whose son had
been pursued by the marshal's deputies, and who had just escaped
with 'the skin of his teeth.' She did not come on her own
account, however; her heart was too full of joy for that. She
came to accompany the young woman who was with her. This young
woman was a remarkably intelligent, lady-like person, and her
story made a strong appeal to my feelings. She is a resident of
Washington, and her errand here was, to procure the liberation
of a sister-in-law, who is confined in that city, under very
peculiar circumstances. The sister-in-law had absconded from her
mistress about nine months since, and was secreted in the room
of an acquaintance, who was cook in a distinguished
slave-holding family in Washington; her intention being, there
to wait until all search should be over, and an opportunity
offer of escape to the North. But, as yet, no such opportunity
had presented itself; at least none that was available, and for
nine long months had that poor girl been confined in the narrow
limits of the cook's chamber, watched over day and night by that
faithful friend with a vigilance as sleepless as it was
disinterested. The time had now come, however, when something
must be done. The family in whose house she is hid is about to
be broken up, and the house to be vacated, and the girl must
either be rescued from her peril, or she, and all her
accomplices must be exposed. What to do under these
circumstances was the question which brought this woman to
Philadelphia. I advised her to the best of my ability, and sent
her away hopeful, if not rejoicing.
But in many of these cases we can render no aid whatever. All we
can do is to commend them to the God of the oppressed, and labor
on for the day of general deliverance. But, oh! the horrors of
this hell-born system, and the havoc made by this; its last foul
offspring, the Fugitive Slave law. The anguish, the terror, the
agony inflicted by this infamous statute, must be witnessed to
be fully appreciated. You must hear the tale of the
broken-hearted mother, who has just received tidings that her
son is in the hands of man-thieves. You must listen to the
impassioned appeal of the wife, whose husband's retreat has been
discovered, and whose footsteps are dogged by the blood-hounds
of Slavery. You must hear the husband, as I did, a few weeks
ago, himself bound and helpless, beg you for God's sake to save
his wife. You must see such a woman as Hannah Dellam, with her
noble-looking boy at her side, pleading in vain before a
pro-slavery judge, that she is of right free; that her son is
entitled to his freedom; and above all, that her babe, about to
be born, should be permitted to open its eyes upon the light of
liberty. You must hear the judge's decision, remorselessly
giving up the woman with her children born and unborn, into the
hands of their claimants--by them to be carried to the slave
prison, and thence to be sold to a returnless distance from the
remaining but scattered fragments of her once happy family.
These things you must see and hear for yourself before you can
form any adequate idea of the bitterness of this cup which the
unhappy children of oppression along this southern border are
called upon to drink. Manifestations like these have we been
obliged either to witness ourselves, or hear the recital of from
others, almost daily, for weeks together. Our aching hearts of
late, have known but little respite. A shadow has been cast over
our home circles, and a check been given to the wonted
cheerfulness of our families. One night, the night that the
woman and the boy and the unborn babe received their doom, my
wife, long after midnight, literally wept herself to sleep. For
the last fortnight we have had no new cases; but even now, when
I go home in the evening, if I happen to look more serious than
usual, my wife notices it, and asks: "Is there another slave
case?" and my little girls look up anxiously for my reply.
* * * * *
From Miss MARY B. THOMAS.
Daring outrage! burglary and kidnapping! The following letter tells its
own startling and most painful story. Every manly and generous heart
must burn with indignation at the villainy it describes, and bleed with
sympathy for the almost broken-hearted sufferers.
DOWNINGTOWN, 19th, 4th mo., 1848.
"My Dear Friend:--This morning our family was aroused by the
screams of a young colored girl, who has been living with us
nearly a year past; but we were awakened only in time to see her
borne off by three white men, ruffians indeed, to a carriage at
our door, and in an instant she was on her way to the South. I
feel so much excited by the attendant circumstances of this
daring and atrocious deed, as scarcely to be able to give you a
coherent account of it, but I know that it is a duty to make it
known, and, I therefore write this immediately.
"As soon as the house was opened in the morning, these men who
were lurking without, having a carriage in waiting in the
street, entered on their horrid errand. They encountered no one
in their entrance, except a colored boy, who was making the
fire; and who, being frightened at their approach, ran and hid
himself; taking a lighted candle from the kitchen, and carrying
it up stairs, they went directly to the chamber in which the
poor girl lay in a sound sleep. They lifted her from her bed and
carried her down stairs. In the entry of the second floor they
met one of my sisters, who, hearing an unusual noise, had sprung
from her bed. Her screams, and those of the poor girl, who was
now thoroughly awakened to the dreadful truth, aroused my
father, who hurried undressed from his chamber, on the ground
floor. My father's efforts were powerless against the three;
they threw him off, and with frightful imprecations hurried the
girl to the carriage. Quickly as possible my father started in
pursuit, and reached West Chester only to learn that the
carriage had driven through the borough at full speed, about
half an hour before. They had two horses to their vehicle, and
there were three men besides those in the house. These
particulars we gather from the colored boy Ned, who, from his
hiding-place, was watching them in the road.
"Can anything be done for the rescue of this girl from the
kidnappers? We are surprised and alarmed! This deliberate
invasion of our house, is a thing unimagined. There must be some
informer, who is acquainted with our house and its arrangements,
or they never would have come so boldly through. Truly, there is
no need to preach about Slavery in the abstract, this individual
case combines every wickedness by which human nature can be
degraded.
Truly, thy friend,