Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-09-13

Il SINGULAR CAsE.-.7ireSt Of Rnggtes an
| .Wo York-David Ruggles, the colored men
who has figured rather conspicuously of late
| ss a member of the New York Vigilance
| Committee of the aboitionists, has been held
TO bail in sum Of $1,000, charged with being
accessory to The robbery of Mr. Durg by his
slave Thomas Hughes.
/ From the statements in the New York
papers, it appears that Mr.. Darg and his wife
came to New York about two weeks since
from Arkansas, and brought with them about
$4,000 in bank notes and the slave Tom, who
was trusted az q house servant, and had the
| keys Of his masters trunks, one OF which
contained the money aforesaid. On Tues
day week the slave and money were both
missing. On Saturday week, Mr. Barney
Corse, an abolnionist called on Mr.. Darg at
his lodgings and told him that it he would
free the slave Thomas Hughes, tho whole or
the greater part of the money should be re.
stored. To facilitate this object Corse drew
up paper Of which the following is n copy.
which Mr.. Darg signing, he paid him Sl2o.
In consideration of receiving the whole the greater
part Of ihenoney stolen from my lodgings, per nd
verti-enent in the paper called the sun hereby
agree tn the following conditions, To wit;
! That my slave Tom shall be- man,Inttcd forthwith
and e,oneraie from criminal prosecution account of
amy participation In the removal of said money That
IL IL shall be found necessary in order To said
money, {" promise II like eNoncrniion To others who
may have become Implicated, hereby confirm, the same
(s'isncdl JohS y. DANG.
New York, sept. ], 1893.
The above in addition thousand dollars reward
Signed, JjnS =. D,Ro.
On Monday evening he called again and
! len $500 more.
4 lie said he would return in the course Of
the evening. In The Meantime, Darg op-
piled TO the police, and obtained warrant
for the apprehension Of Corse, upon n charge
Of his having received the whole or part Of
tho stolen money, knowing it 10 be stolcn.-
With this warrant the officers went TO Mr..
Darg's lodgings. Mr.. Corse came and pro.
duced paper.
Whereas I, John y. Darg ot the city Of New Orcans
IN the State of Louisiana being in The city OF New York.
and the owner of n bright muatto, named Thomas
Hughes commonly called Tom aged about ~ years, and
about feet inches high with scar on his right fore
finger, Tor life.
la consideration Of one 800 in hand paid, the
receipt OF which hereby acknowledge, aId am there
with satisfied and do hereby nanunit aud free from
slavery the said Thomas Hughes, commonly called Tom
from sll charges oi whatever kind, and will defend him
against The nnd also exoncrate aud DISCHARGE all
other persons who may have sheltered or eniustaineI
hn', from all responsibility touching the same.
In testimony, Ne.
lie said when you sign that will pay over
the balance, $3.50. The officers here step.
ped forward and arrested Corsc. On their
way to Mr.. I.owndes' housc-the police be-
ing closed, AIR. Corse said he had 2003 more
which he gave up, making in all S690S re-
covered
On the following morning Corse was
brought before the police OF charge of re-
ceiving the money stolen from Darg, know
4 ing it to he stolen; and declining to answer
any questions he was held to bail in the sum
Of $4,000.
Subsequently Mr.. Darg entered a com
plant against Rugglcs as having been en-.
gagged with Corse and others, in secreting
Tom, and nllordng him aid TO escape. Rug
giles was accordingly examined by the police
on Thursday.
Mr.. Darg testified as to the eopcment of
Tom and the robbery, and that n few days
after he absconded Rnggles called at their
house and asked for Toms clothes, and said
he had heard Tom had started for Canada II
lie also said that yellow boy had told him
that Tom had taken the money, but that he
had not seen Tom himself He said that Mr..
Corse had gone IN pursuit Of Tom.
Mr.. Arthur Tappan dcposcd that lie had
no knowledge OF the transaction at all, in !,
any shape, except what he has read in the
public papers.
Other witnesses were examined, and in the |
result, Rnggles was held to bail in the sum
of S5CC0-thc sureties to justify in double |
that sum. Failing in procuring the neces.
sary surcties he was committed.
! The New York Sun says The evidence
adduced upon the examination Of the wit
ness brought up-a native African, called
Augustus w. llansOn,we deem worth making
special place for, inasmuch as it throws some
light upon the business Of TINT dark body, the
New York Vigilance Committee of the |
aboitionists, of which Rugglcs is one of the
leading and most vigilaht members. lie
thus deposed:
ole is native African lives now in New York has
been here eight months here from the coast of
Africa has been nine years in England went there
be educated came here with the view OF getting into
mercantile business has done LOthing since he came
here has property, but has Sufficient to provide
himself with food and lodging while hc is here. know
Rnggles am connected with the nboitionsts; but
purpose taking agency from the New York Vigilance
Committee. Their business is seek slaves that
brought here from the South, aud give them protection
aud aid thcm.
"Q What Ia the business of the Vigilance Commit
| tee.
Il "a. If AWAY from the South, and comes
here, is their business give him clothes aud protect
him IN any legal way. know David Rugpcs about two
weeks. have not seen Thomas Hughes ANY person
whom have reason To suppose WINS him. never knew
or heard where hc has been since he len his master.
have not any Of the money which taken from
his master or know any thing about IL. never spoke
to RugRlcs the subject TINT aware oE Since
came tn New York. have lived at III Liberty street,
and g Dey street. would aid any slave to get away
from his master, hs don't think that any has
right To Keep slave"
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