The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-11-04
QUITE AN EXCITEMENT.


excited by the report that an examination
1ftwo persons, reported to be concerned,
was to take place at the Mayors office.
Theroom was accordingly crowded with
anxious citizens at an early hour, and from
what followed, il appeared the report was
not without foundation.
The District Attorney, John M. Read,
Esq opened the matter by stating that in
formation was received of sufficiently |
strong and positive kind, to warrant the
arrest Of two individuals then in the Office, |
viz: Capt Blankman and son, who had ac-
cordngly been arrested. He proceeded |
to state that sufficient evidence had been |
elected t0kiow that Capt. Blankman had
fitted out, or been connected with the fitting
out, of the port Of Philadelphia, about three
weeks since, vessel Of suspicious charac-
ter, named Mitchell, sailor and but late
lv an inmate of the Eastern Penitentiary,
who was supposed to be in the vessel call
ed Commodore Perry, while Blankman re-
manned here behind. He remarked that,
with reference to the Susquehannah, her
her owners were men whose scubles did
not allow them to keep arms on board their
ship, and that, upon the whole, the circum-
stances were sufficiently strong TO warrant
the arrest Of these individuals. Capt.
Blankman is a man of strong muscular
build and Herculean frame, and had for his
COUNSEL ID; p. Brown and several other of
our most distinguished lawyers.
After the District Attorney sat down,
Mr.. Brown arose, and stated that it was
not his intention to make speech; that has
time had not yet come; but he demanded,
| lie said, "upon what charge was Mr.. Blank
man and son there; and upon whose? with
what crime were they indicated? He said
| that, under the influence of the present state
| of excited feeling in the community, he
would say nothing of the fact that Mr..
| Blankman was there without having been
arrested upon a warrant---a privilege
guaranteed by the constitution to the mean
est ciizen--he did not question the motives
of the Mayor, nor stop now to notice the
fact of the matter, but he wanted him TO tell
him, and to tell him explicitly. upon what
ground was a citizen arrested, and what
vas the specific charges against him.
The Mayor in reply, said that he had
knowledge of the sailing of this ship, and
that Captain Blankman was concerned
therein previous to its sailing; and as it was
certainly suspicious affair, when taken in
connection whith the recent capture of the
Susquhannah, he, more as a citizen than an
officer, ordered the arrest Of the captain un
der these crcum; tances.
The first witness examined, was Mr..
Augustus Davis, who stated in effect that
Blankman, Mitchell, & man named Huff
master were speaking to him frequently
about procuring ship for the purpose of
proceeding TO Galveston bay, bat he knew
nothing about the sailing of the Perry.
The conversation between him and the
persons referred to took place in July last.
In regard to a question put to Mr.. Read,
whether any proposition had been made to
him about going, Mr.. Brown arose and OBJ
jected to the course pursued by the Com
monwealth. According to the testimony OF
Davis, Captain Michel, the individual sup
posed to be in command of the plratical
vessel, was in this city few weeks since,
and was very bad off, Mr.. Huflmaster was
induced to lend him some money to sup.
port himself decenty, which he did--un.
derstanding that Mitchell was possessed Of
property in the West Indies.
Another witness was called, whose teSti,
mony did not vary the above any.
Mrs. Roberts sworn. She stated tha
Mitchell came to her husband and said thai
he had about one million of dollars buried
near Key Vest acquired during last war.
Her huspand was invited to join in fitting
out vessel to go after it. Each man was
To pay down two hundred dollars as an out
lit Mitchell stated that five or six other:
had agreed to go. Her husband put down
one hundred and twenty-five dollars. A
day or two after, Mitchell came TO his
house and wanted more; said that the one
hundred and twenty-five dollars had
been stolen from him after some dispute
her husband gave one hundred more; anG
then she subsequently,, on the night of sal.
t ling, gave thirty-fye more on Captain
Blankman's promising to let his son return
it. The son however returned and said
that he had purchased large quantities q
diamonds, for vessel which he expected
to own, to The amount Of about one thou
sand dollars. Capt Blankman and some oI
his sons sailed IN this schooner, called the
Com. Perry. After some time the schoo
ner repaired to Eewistown to reit, anC
Mrs. B. went down there. After this, she
knew no more Of them, excepting letters