Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-04-28

place here on Thursday afternoon. A
negro man who had absccnded from his
master, residing in Maryland, about a
twelye-month ago, was claimed as a
runaway save. He wa. taken by his
master and lodged in goal in this coun-
ty for security, when a habeas corpus
issued, at the instance of the slave, to
show cause why he should not be dis
charged from imprisonment. The cause
came on for adjudication on ThuAsday
afternoon before his honor Judge Buch-
er. Proof of the blackman having been
a slave under the laws of Maryland and
owned By the individual claiming him,
and of having absconded a short time
before Easter Sunday a year, having
been made by a young man who came
from Maryland for that purpose in COM
pany with the owner, the counsel for the
claimant urged his case. On the other
side a black man was offered as a wit
ness to prove that the prisoner was re-
siding IN York county prior to thu time
when be was said 10 have left his mas
Ter in Maryland, and that he, the wit
ness worked with him under. the en-
ploy Of the same mar, a farmer, in York
county, and knew him well. This. eyi-
dence wasrebutted by the testimony Of
a brother-in law of the farmer who hap
pened to be present, and who stated
that be never saw the prisoner in his
employ. and that he would in all pro-
liability have been aware of the fact, if
the runaway had worked any length OF
time with his brother-in-law
Upon this state Of the ease the Judge
ordered the individual claimed TO be de-
livered up to the custody Of the master.
During the whole time Of the trial the
Count House vas crowded with blacks
who seemed to take a deep interest in
the discussion, and the greater part of
whom had each subscribed a quarter of
a dollar to fee an attorney to attend to
the case of their brother black. The
precaution takento secure the remanded
slave from escaping, by tying his hands
10 the presence OF SO many OF hisown CO.
Tor, VA perhaps what gave the finish
ing stroke to the excitement of the ne
groes. They collected in a cluster at
the door CT the court house, and as
soon as the object of their sympathy
stepped beyond the threshold, accom
panied by his master and the young
Marylander who had been examined as
a witness, an attempt was made To res
cue the slave by force. Numbers Of
blows were given and received. The
conflict in a short time became general.
The black exceeded their opponents in
number. Fists, cudgels, and brickbats
few about in handsome style for a few
minutes, and the most serious conse-
quenees might have ensued, If in the
midst of melee the sudden discharge of
q pistolhad not produced an electriiying
effect upon the combatants. All stop
ped to see where the mischief had "a
lighted, and such was the CONSERVATION
for an instant among the blacks, that
one Of them though entirely out Of the
direction in which the pistol was fired,
swore that the bullet had passed just a.
bove his ear and displaced some half
dozen Of the sable curls that revelled on
bis temple. Advantage was taken of
the confusion that prevailed and the
slaye was hurried into an adjoining ia
yern. Numbers of persons by this time
had collected or the theatre of action.
Many of the negroes, however, still
kept their ground in front ofthe tavern,&
among the rest a mulatto who had been
shot in the arm by the pistol fred. As
theywould not dispense quietly but seem
ed bent on mischiefa number of them
were arrested & carried Otto goal. A
scampering scene then commenced
which lasted for a few hours, and n
ded in the catching of between fifteen
and twenty blacks who were safely pla-
ced lin durancs vile" to answer for
their conduct at the ensuing term of
Quarter Sessions.-O Oracle Dauphin.
DR.. Richard Rarland, Of Phil. has in
the press, his valuable work, an octave
volumn, entitled Fauna .Americana, be-
ing a Description of the Mammiferous
Animals inhabiling North America. II
will be an important accession to Ma
tural History, and comprise a number
Of species hitherto unnoticed or very
imperfectly treated. This is the only
attic mpt of the kind which has been
made by an American naturalist. DIR.
Harlan, who is Professor of Compare
tive Anatomy to Philadelphia Museum,
and ii distinguished member Of our CT
A.A.En con.nIIon .n-...n ---ltE-l l.