Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-09-03
FIs~ ~ ks.i (.v<.) Bvgis, -asssss a.
A SUSPICIOUS CHARACrER.

\ fvs~ ~ ks~i ~. Bsgis, -3sgssf "a.
: A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER
, We attended. on Monday last. the
examination Of q man who calls him.
, self SfNKoS Cochran. II seems that
being observed to pass his time chiefly
with the blacks, and being seen at
their houses, and IN conversation with
them IN retired situations, an effort was
made to ascertain fiom him who he
, was, and what he was, and what was
has business.-His apparent unwilling
hess to give any satisfactory account OF
himself led to suspicion, upon which
his arrest Was ordered.
The Magistrate who issued the war
rant invited the two Judges residing in
Town to be present, and his person,
baggage, and papers, were infinitely
examined. He had in has pockets
near $1,000 in Bank paper, most of IL
IN notes Of 500 each Of the U. 8.
Bank. His trunks exhibited most
singular spectacle. being the reccpta-
Gle Of almost every thing their size
could Observation-Disclosures Of almost
every jeo~ipdon; Axes, Hammers:
I ChiselS; Gimlets, Dice; Sweatcloth;
Handouts, Candle-stick, pieces of
Sperm Candle; Bridle-reins, Cups and
Saucers; Spoons, sc. SC. Amongst
his papers, besides old newspapers,
and pamphlets, bills, receipts Src. were
found \ commission as Justice of the
Peace, aud Post Master, in North Caro-
lima, some IL or Is years ago. A let
ter from gentleman of the Bar dated
Louisville, Kentucky, April llth. 1885,
of which the superscription and adj
dress were torn off, in which the wri-
ter complains that he had failed to an
/ pear At the Circuit Court, in conse-
quencc of which his recognisance in
which the writer and another were Sc.
curitieS for $1,000 would be forfeited,
and urges him to come and take his
trial. OT send HIM the amount of his Sc
cuntyship. Another letter written by
himself dated Baltimore, July 18th.
/ 1888, is addressed To his Son in Phila-
delphia, which states that he had Just
arrived in Baltimore, found no negroes,
and that he thought of going to Liver
pool. Another letter. apparently writ
ten at the same time, is dated Liver
pool. July 1885, addressed 10 his
daughter in Tennessee, which states
that he had just arrived after passage
OF % days, and thought of going to
Scotland. Another paper purported 10
BE- an agreement, in which the person
who signed 1t contracted to prosecute
or expose s. Cochran for carrying of
has negro woman from Adams county.
Mississippi, compensation therefor hay-
ing been made.
In answer to Undergraduates pr,.
pounded 10 him, and which he was in
formed he might answer or not, as he
pleased. he stated that he was a native
of ". Carolina. where he had been a
Merchant; that he renewed To the vi
cinity OF Nashville some 3 or 10 years
ago; that he had been purchasing Ne
groes in Kentucky, Mississippi, and
Louisiana for the last year or two; had
left y. Orleans in the Brig Pilgrims
about the 9TH June last, and arrived in
Philadelphia about the middle OF July,
from thence had proceeded to Bald.
more, and came TO this place on tue
Goth July, solely to purchase negroes.
In answer 10 the proof as 10 the mys-
terry With which he had conducted
himself here, his absenting himself
from his lodgings. partic ularly at night.
and his being found aSsociating with
the blacks, visiting their houses pFi.
vaiely and much 10 their alarm, ba
gave no satisfactory account, except
That be told several persons he wished
To buy negroes, and IN one instance
was actually treating for the purc base
Of a woman. When n the close az
the examination he was asked Tor en-.
plsnaiion as to the papers mentioned
above he seemed quite COMPOUNDED.
and scarcely attempted explanation
Although no proof wa gwen Of any
specific crime committed by him here.
Ne believe the impression was uni
versal that he was an old offender. most
probably a regular kid-Rsypey. ana
nov a fugitive from Justice The Ma
CITRATE consented that he should forth
with take himsclfO IN the steam Boat
Tor Baltimore with the assurance that II
again found in our vicinity he would
be- apprehcnded and committed. We
have deemed 4 our duty n put ~
community on their guard againsf rim
and for that purpose will add thas @.
chran - apparently between IS SD
80 years Of age, shout . n. 10 -
high aiOops N hls walk. has a Ao
look, hair very gray, and hss ioes
two first joints a he little finger ~
len hand. The papers above ailut
70 have been detained and are deues
ed with the Clerk ~ Kent &c.
Court Cochran len ihis on
day IN the Steambost Virginia fov
iimofc.
RufiaR Pgssioa. When Melhe,s
vas dying be repnmanded be ns,
tof making use d solecisn -
langusge' and when his confess &c..