Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-29

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FOLiCE OFFICE = Ga yesterday morning ?
neg'o man wa brought 10 the Police Office by Mr..
f. Alexander, claiming him a. his slave. Two mem
bers of The nanumission Soce'y attended to OPPOSE
TIE claim.
Several very respectable witnesses were exom-
ined on the part of the claimant from whose test-
mony II appear d that the (cal!ed Ben Wash
lrs'on) was formerly the slave OF Nj. Peyon W no
sold him Z" runnirg,'' 10 MIR. Alexander: since
which he had run away from Stafford in Vir. mia
In company with thee women, bis daughter and
son-i"-:a'T The MN in custody was fully identi-
hei; be was carl enter; ard hsd been tried and
convicted oi an exten,iYe roLbery, for which he
was burnt in the hand. On his hard eng examined
the scar of the brand discovered which he
sad was done by accident
MIR. Alexander had power of at,or,ev from
the administrators ofIhe esta'eto Which ,be women
and cor Panion OF Washington belonged, to appre-
hend them Warrington, fellow calling himself
George Smith, and the women, were committed
1or luther examination.
Yesterday morning. two members of the Manu-.
n'sion Society, attended by Mr.. Clzbe as counsel
appeared before the magistrates. Mr.. G. remarked
that they had witnesses, by whom they int ended to
dI$Prove the identity of the prisoner Washington
who, 1t appears, is known here by Tie name OF
y lcson, aud to show that he had resided here pre-
WINS 10 the alleged date of his departure from
Stafford. Tie names of the witnesses having
been gwen, Mr. HoPson, The Iolice magistrate
declared, that, this was a case with r,gatd 10
which much sympathy had been excited The court
thought it oTcr 10 hear the Witnesses separately:
and he warned them, hat if he discovered any
shade OF falsify in their testimony, they would
he committed 10 BTidewell 10 answer charge oil
peri ry.
l'lr. Clizbe. We are perfectly willing IN submit
TO this condiiion but we with that the other part,
be subjected 10 the same scrutiny.
Mr.. IIOhgOn. The evidence IN n q othes rsrt, h
closed.
fIr. c. But the prisoners had no counsel pre-
nt.
Mr.. II. Reg your p'rdon, sir, they had.
gent. We have oae more witness TO offer on
or side.
MIR. III. As far as testimony may be ofer ed on
either size, u scrutiny will be equal on orr part
Mr.. Clizbe then entered uron The defence by as.
sdling the validity Of the power If attorney pro-
d1ced by the agent in the case of three of tie
slaves. lie stated that this Instrument was. ac-
cordirg 10 be law, Of no force. 1t was a power
granted TO the agent by persons said to be holding
representative au hoity Of which here wa. moi
the slightest proof. Here was paper giving 10
the scent auth rri'y 10 seize hese slaves signed by
two men Of hOnI the police knew nothing, who
sate themselves 10 be the administrators OF the
estate to which the negroes belong, but Of which
the police had proof No documents had been
shown 10 prove their appointment to the admins
rauon, unless he bare assertion Of two stranger.
were taken A. such. II was fully laid down In the
law that documentary proof OF adminstra o. sbp
should be produced TO render valid any act done
under iis an hory. He theref re e, ns'dered that
The agent bad right to act with regard TO the
prisoners ~ question.
Mr.. Hopson. We wish time 10 consider the
point in tie meanwhile we will proceed to the
examination.
Clerk Of the Police. The law states that pro.
party may be proved either by oral or written
Testimony.
Mr.. Cliz5s. True, property may be 20 proved:
but delegated or representative power must be
shown b. do umentary testimony. Oral proof is
not sufficient.
Clerk. we have the evidence ofiwo persons,