The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-10-30
TRIALS oFTHE KIDNAPPERs.

we find an amusing account of the re ~epton
which company of slave-hunlers lately recciv-
ed at village IN Ohio, given by a correspond
ent, in the Cincinnati Philanthropist. 1t seems
that woman with three children" the wife
OF one who had gone before, together with three
men who had become weary of the delights of
the "peculiar institution" crossed the Ohio riv-
er, and made their way Canada ward. They
were holly pursued by an armed band Of slave
catchers, who finally came to the small village
of Pennsville, in Morgan county, inhabited by
members OF the society of Friends. They were
here directed to push on towards Putnam. They
did so with great zeal and animation /; but after
hard and tedious chase, turned back, full ofin-
dignaiion, towards the Quaker village, beng
satisfied that they had been sent upon the wrong
track. 1t was nearly night when they reached
Pennsville. One of the inhabitants was now
seen mailing up his smoke house, and barricading
1t with great care, giving as his reason for so do
ing. that he feared some one would steal his
meat, This was sufficient hint to the kidnap-
pers that the runaways were undoubtedly in The
smoke house. They accordingly set watch a
round it and went for warrant to the Quaker
justice of the peace. He gravey declined Civ
ing them warrant to search for stolen good in
the night, and they had no other alternative than
to wait and watch till daylight. Two were
toned with pistols by the smoke house. and the
rest attempted to sleep. But they were hardly
quiet in bed before phistte was heard-suspic-
ion WINS excited that the Quakers were carrying
off the negroes, and the whole company,
with the exception of the guard at the smoke
house, started of in pursuit, through brush and
brake, and swamp and beat up the woods until
daylight, when they once more returned TO Penns-
vile, and sought the justice for warrant.--
That judicious dignitary looked down the street,
and pointing to the constable, who was mounted
on his horse, and squirting out of the village and
assured them that a warrant would be of no
service, unless they could catch the man who
co,tlI hos, ~,
Of the constable, and overlook him after chase
Of about three miles. But that official had 9TH
er business on his hands, which he assured them
must he first attended to. They were now i'm
greater difficulty than ever. They appealed to
the Friends around them, in their extremity of
distress, and were kindly informed that another
constable lived in another part of the town. Ac-
cordingly they started in pursuit of him. In the
mean time, the sentinels at the smoke mouse be-
came alarmed at the conduct of its owner, who
was beginning very deliberately to tear off the
roof of the house, for no other reason, that they
could Imagine, than to enable the fugitive schat
tells personal to escape. They commanded him
to desist hut the Friend supposed he had a
right, if he pleased, to amuse himself by tearing
his own house to pieces. They presented their
pistols and threatened him. This the Friend
considered justly, breach Of the peace, and ac-
cordrgy lost no time in obtaining a warrant
from the justice, which was forthwith served up
on the unfortunate kidnappers. This was in
deed n hard case. They raved, and swore that
they would not leave the smoke-house and thus
suffer the slaves to escape /; wbereupon, to paci
fy them, the constable opened the door of the
building, when 10 there were no slaves to be
found and they had the modification of reflect
ing that they had been all night engaged in guard
ing few f1tches Of bacon. They were taken
before the justice, and fined They attempted
to give vent to their rage and modification be-
fore his honor, hut were silenced by an intima-
lion that it would perhaps be necessary to send
them to the ConnesvilIe Jail. Sorrowful, dis
heartened, sick of Quakers and abolitonsrn,
they departed, to report to their masters on the
other side of the river. In the mean time, the
seven fugitves were speeding on, aided by kind
friends, towards the Canada Line.--P ennsylua-
MIA Freeman.