Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-05-17

ABOUT 1t.
Richard Livingston, colored man, tes-
tilted with great clearness and directness
to the identity Of the prisoner Witness
has lived in the family of WiIlett Hicks
ever since 1927. In the year 1928, in
April, Mr.. Hicks went to the Yearly
Meeting of Friends in Philadelphia, and
during his absence, witness employed
William Dixon, the ccused as white
Observation-Disclosures the circumstances per-
fectly; it occurred about the time of the
birth of witnesses son James, who is now
eight years old-witness is positive this
man in Court before him is the same he
employed in whitewashing-witness had
been servant in Hon. Theodore Freling-
huysen's family two years, and referred TO
him for his character. Has known Dix
on ever since.
Albert G.. Demerit, Esquire. a respect
able merchant, who had just heard of the
case through the papers, came forward
and swore
That he knew William Dixon, the
prisoner, in Boston, in 1929 or 1890
Witness was clerk in a grain store, and
Dixon was porter for the same establish
ment-saw him there every day for three
months-winess knew him particularly
as the best natured man be had ever met
with.
The prisoner, at the suggestion Of the
Recorder, and by consent Of counsel, was
taken into private room and Intercepted
! in reference to the situation Of the last
witnesses store in Boston, and also in re-
lation to the other localities of that city.
The result of this inquiry remained, Of
course, in the breast of the Recorder, but
it struck us as a very extraordinary pro-
cess to be employed on man who was on
trial for his liberty.
The case was then adjourned till Mon
day next, at which time the Recorder stat
of.
The prisoner was taken to private
room, and orders were given to clear the
Park previous to his Icing removed to
prison. This precaution, however, was
unnecessary, there being not the slightest
indication Of disorder among the assem-
bIage, which was nearly as numerous as
upon the day previous. The Police were
upon this, as upon many other occasions, a
day after the fair.
The next week, the case was ia ken ur
again and plenty of witnesses were
found to testify to the identity of the person
claimed, as the slave of DR.. Allender.
Before proceeding with the witnesses,
the defendants counsel read the affidavit
of DR.. Allender, the claimant, on which
the man was arrested, and in which the
time of his flight from Maryland is stated
to be April 1882; the counsel insisted
that the claimant should be held strictly
to this date while the claimants counsel
gave notice that he should prove it a cler.
ical error.
The witnesses examined we're all pro.
duced by the claimant. They were Thos
Merrich and Walter Price, brothers-in
law of Dr. Allender, James d. AlIender
his brother, Arthur McGinnis and David
Williams, now residents in New Y ork bu
formerly in Baltimore. They all swore
very positively to the identity of Dixon
or as they called him, Jake Jacob) Ellis
and as positively TO the fact Of his having
been slave to the late DR.. AIIender, faith
er 10 the claimant, until some time If
, 1881. They all recognized him, the mo
, ment they saw him, after his arrest. MIR
r Allender swore to peculiar mark on the
; abdomen of the defendant, which he hac
r frequently noticed when they were bath
ing together DR.. Alender, the claimant
t being examined as to this mark, BY con
2 sent of parties, corro5orated his brother.
desert ption of it.
The Recorder took occasion to say that
he had examined the person Of the de-
PENDANT, with reference to the mark, blu
/ did not say whether he had or had no
5 found it to exist as described. In this, we
: conceive, he acted properly; it is his duty
f to hear all the testimony, pro and con
=, .before he gives or intimates an opinion
t or discloses any fact within his own
t knowledge. The existence or non exist
ence of the mark may be explained away
= After the examination of these witness
a es, the case was ad journed until Monday
! Another attempt was made to rescue the
< prisoner by two colored men, one named
= Griffith, the other Palmer. 1t was no
successful, although made IN the midst o
t several hundred colored persons, none o
p whom attempted TO interfere In the course
p of the scufle between these two and the
1 officers. one of the latter, Waldron, had 1
i severe blow on the head from white
It wash brush, inflicted by Griffith, who wa
t himself feIled by one Of the Spectators
!, Boudinot, the officer, drew pistol upor
4 Griffith, but it missed fire. We shouI(
: be glad to know whether he was justified
/. in using pistol on such an OCCASION 0
if justified, in the strict exposition of tn
: law, whether it would not be much bette
to rely rather upon numbers and judiclou
t arrangements. for the prevention Of res