The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-25
ROWLAND STEVENSON.

1t was found that funds to a large amount had
been distracted by him, some of which belong I
ed to the firm, and some to individuals who had
made deposits in their hands. The latter were
chiefly in public securities, the abstraction of
which is, by act of parliament, constituted fell
ony, and twas to avoid the penalties of that law
which, probably, induced him to make an igno-
mnious escape. After his departure with his
clerk, Lloyd, though unwearied pains was TAX
en-, it was some time before any trace of them
could be discovered. 1t was, however, at |
length found that they took boat and cruised
off the coast of Wales till they fell in with
ship bound TO Savannah, OH board Of which
they took passage under fictitious names.
In the mean time, J. w. Parkins, Esq, late
sheriff of London, took passage for New York,
; where, on his arrival, he advertised offering
reward of fifteen hundred dollars for the appre-
hension Of Stevenson, and an additional reward
| of one hundred dollars to the person who should
give him the first information of his arrest. He
also gave notice that E1000 sterling had also
been offered in London for his apprehension
! 1t was not long before accounts were received
of the arrival of the ship at Savannah, with two
passengers on board, answering to the descrip-
ton of Stevenson and Lloyd. On the 18th
inst. it was rumored in New York that pilot
boat had arrived in the harbor from Savannah
with Stevenson on board, and that he was then
in custody in the city. Public curiosity was
excited, and the inquiry became general by
| hat bo bol hoon &ol
ed, and several persons believing, from what
they could learn, that the laws of the country
had been violated, in his person, and that
further aggression was intended, IN his unlawful
removal from the country, interested themselves
in behalf of him and of the law, and procured
a writ of habeGs corpus, on which he was
brought before the civil. authority on the 18th.
Warrants were also issued for the purpose of
arrestng the boats crew. On the examination,
under the writ of habeas corpus, it appeared
that Stevenson had been taken from his bed at
public house, about seventeen miles from Sa
vannah, at 9 o'clock on the morning of the It'll,
by four ruffians, armed with swords and pistols,
| and, without any legal authority, carried on
board the boat, and hurried off to New York,
for the purpose of securing the reward offered
for him. Throughout the whole transaction,
the most brutal and unfeelng disposition was
manifested. When the boat arrived at New
York, Parkins not being readily found, the per-
son, having custody of Stevenson, applied to
the British Consul, and, in consequence of some
arrangement between them, he was removed
to the house of merchant named Goodhue,
(who was the agent for some of Stevenson's
creditors) in the custody, however, of Hays,
the high constable Of the city, where he recev.
ed such attention his situation required In
this stage of the business, it appears that the
person who brought him from Savannah, in
hopes of obtaining, through the British Con-
| sui, the reward of $1,000 sterling, offered in
London, refused TO deliver Stevenson to Par.
kins, in consequence of which the latter con.
, sders himself exonerated from the payment of
the reward he had offered. The result of the
examination was, an order for the release of
Stevenson, whereupoE the sheriff of New York
produced writs against him, on civil process,
! instituted by Parkins as creditor, and took
him into his custody, the court deciding, that,
in such case, they could not interfere He
was accordingly conveyed to the debtors prison.
The current of popular feeling was very
strong against the British Consul and Mr.
Goodhue, till it was ascertained that they had
no agency in the abduction of Stevenson and
I pledged themselves that they had no intention
of removing him from the country, without the
authority of the law. II was a just and proper
feeling; not of sympathy, merely, for GRIM
I inal individual, but Of respect for the majesty
of the law, and determination to maintain its
supremacy. At the time of our last accounts
from New York, the captain of the pilot boat.
( and those who accompanied Stevenson on board
of her, had eluded the vigilance of the officers,
and the boat in charge of the hands had sailed
! on her return to Savannah.
From the Savannah papers we learn that, on
the morning of SLevensons abduction, Lloyd
went before the civil authority and made affida-
Wit to the facts; whereupon whale boat, with
twelve armed men, was sent in pursuit of the
pilot boat, but returned the next day without
success Three of the men who kidnapped
Stevenson had been arrested and nut under
heavy bonds to appear and take their trials
The fourth accompanied him to New York
and will not be likely long to elude the vigil
lance of the law. The punishment of kidnap.
ping, at common law, is fine, Imprisonment,
and the pilory, so that, those engaged in this
transaction, instead of realizing their golden
dreams, will have subjected themselves TO the
punishment Of an infamous crime.
Whatever may be tho merits or dement's of
Stevenson-whether innocent or guilty->he is
entitled to the protection of the laws; and it is
the duty of every good citizen to see them duly
nd fnrnd Ii 10 hut i,,nt l. |