Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-07-14
IMPORTANT DECssroN.
From The Pennsylvania .fdroeafe.
INTERESTING TRIAL.
District Court L. s.. Pifts6urg-6efore
The Hon. r. Ty1rin ESo. .Juo,se.


Pearsoll, citizens of Pennsylvania.
Stephen Dalgarn, citizen Of Vir.
gina. against the same. defendants.
The foregoing cases were severallv
tired in the District Court Oft United
States for the Western District of Penn
sylvania, at the late term OF said Court.
holden at Pittsburg. on the frs, Monday
OF May last. They occupied the time
oi the Court for above a week; and rs
The principles involved in them are
deeply interesting 20 our Southern Eel.
low-ci,izens, the following brief report
of the facts disclosed on the trials. 10.
gether with the Charge of the Court in
the first mentioned case, has been OBJ
tanned for publication. The verdicts
and Judgments rendered in both cases,
evinced the determination OF Pennsyl-
wanna juries and of our courts to pro-
tect the constitutional nights of citizens
OF the slave holding states, in their ne
sIo property; and. 1t is hoped, they v Ill
I operate as a warning 10 all who may
be disposed 20 indulge mistaken no.
tons Of philanthrophy, IN acts OF law
less outrage, like those which. i'm this
instance. have met so stern a rebuke.
Tho Plaintiffs reside IN Jefferson coun-
~, Virginia, and were the owners of
two negro slaves, who ,bscondcd some
time in July. 1884, and came 10 Penn
sylvania. They were pursued by their
! ownerS-were. with much difficulty.
traced from place TO place-and we've
finally unprecedented in Ncuango coun-
~ IN this state. There, laboriouS and
prolonged investigation OF the rights Of
The owners took place before Judge
Shipper and the associate Judges of
that county which resulted in the grant
ing OF warrants for the removal of the
slaves to the place whence they ab-
seconded. The plaintiffs on their way
home with their slaves, had to pass
through Brookville, the county town of
Jefferson, in this state. NJ which place
they arrived on the evening of Sunday,
lith OF September, ls3i. and. with the
assent of the High Sheriff. they placed
the negroes in the county jail, for safe
keeping over night. The Sheriff re-
fusing to be accountable for their Sc
cure custody, they were lightly ironed
by their owners.
While the negroes were being plac-
ed IN the Jail, large crowd collected
around IT and in its entry; and amongst
the crowd were the defendants, Eliza
Heath, then an associate Judge. ard
James VI. Steedman, connected with
hIm by marriage, ajuStice Of the peace.
Ii was proved that these person. used
much language 10 excite the multitude.
and to induce them, by violence. or
otherwise, to release the negroes from
the custody OF their masters. Heath in
particular, who was proved 20 be lead
ing and influential man, was heard to
declare that at was christian duty To
release the negroes from Bondage
that they were flesh and blood like
ourselves'-that at was sin and a
shame in free country to see them in
bondage that those clauses of the
Constitution which authorised slavery.
should be nullifed and that every
effort should be made to procure the
release OF the two negroes, then in iail.
before morning" II was proved that
The excitement produced by these de-
claraiIons, amongst several Young, ar
dent and imprudent men aud lads, who
were present, was very great, and va
rlous means Of etiecting the object re-
commended by Heath, were discussed.
Amongst others, it was proposed that.
IN order 10 prevent an immediate pur-
suit after the negroes, when let loose.
complaint should be legged against
their owners before the defendant
Steedman, as a justice Of the peace
for travelling on the Sabbath; that a
lawyer of the name of Brady should
conduct the prosecution, and make a
long and elaborate speech, and that
another lawyer Of the name Of Prime.
should tender his services TO the Vir-
gina owners OF the slaves. and be equal
~ tedious in the defence IL was sun
posed that, ia this way, the greater part
oi the day would be consumed, and the
negroes would get beyond The reach of
their masters.
II was proved that files and other
instruments were procured, aud we're
gwen 20 a man Of the name Of Butler
b. Amos then confined IN Jail. under
sentence for larceny, by whom the nc
grocS were looSencd from the chains
which bound them. and between IL.
and IL o clock at night they m ade their
escape from Jail. Two witnesses swore
that the defendants Heath and Pearsoll
were oonversing with Butler b. Amos
at the jail window, a few minutes be-
fore the release Of the negroes. The
slaves, though pursued by their owners
Tor several days, were never Tciaken.
IN attempt was made. upon the part
OF the defendants, 20 contradict por-
ton q the evidence introduced by the
plaintiffs aud one witness. whose de-.
position vas read by the defendants
sworc that Heath and Stcedn,an did not
leave their residence between the bours
90 and ! o'clock.
The defence was conducted with