The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-03
TO THE PUBLIC.
No. w.

NiuuaiS, SuFpoec oH dCCouiit VI my OI1e-
rations at this place. for know of no 9TH
er reason under heaven. | had given no
cause of offence, and. consequently, sought
no palliation, but did what ] have been
wont to do all my life-attend to my own
business and lei every body else's alone.
While was gone TO the east, man by
the name of Datus Kent known to ma
NY Of the early settlers Of this vicinity to
their sorrow absconded, taking with him
five or six yoke of oxen, horse, and 9th
er property belonging to me, and was in
my debt to large amount besides. On
my return, hearing of him in Calhoun
county, | sent writ to the sheriff Of that
county. The sheriff and coroner. it would
seem, not being aware that coroners could
not act in common cases without being
deputized, this writ was given to the CO.
roner by the sheriff to serve. He found
Kent, but the property was gone TO Mis-
souri,. Kent could not obtain bail, and he
brought him TO this county. Kent got
away from him, and caused him much
trouble, and he found him. He could MOI,
get bail here, and the sheriff of this coun-
ty would not risk such man in The Jail
of this county, and was about to send him
TO Chicago. Kent then applied to me to
save him from being sent 10 Chicago to
Jail. His prayers and tears prevailed. My
better feelings got the ascendancy over my
better judgment. | took him into my
possession. The first thing did was to
take off his irons. took him home with
me. He eat with me at my table, and
slept on as good bed as did and Jared
as well in every respect; and have no
doubt but should have got my property
again and all would have been salisiacto-
ry, but for the lawyers. They got hold
of the matter-found that the coroner had
served this writ, consequently it was all
illegal, and every one that had had him in
custody was liable for false Imprisonment.
Those wishing TO raise an excitement
against me got hold of this, and all sorts
of stories were told but true ones. As |
took no pains TO contradict or explain this
matter, satisfied that had acted in good
faith, | felt Indifferent as to what med
dlesomc people said, but found on the
trial of this case that much had been eff
fectcd, and that the public mind was in
quite state of excitement against me.
The case Of false imprisonment was tried,
and | was fined five hundred dollars.
Some of the jurors living in Ottawa were
for iining me from three to FIVE thousand
dollars, whilst others living in the extreme
parts of the county, where they had
heard nothing Of the case till it was tried,
were not for fning me at all, or in very
small amounts, and ii was long time be-
fore they agreed. was liable for false
because he was tIken by
one who had no authority TO do so by
law, which fact knew nothing of. The
man that brought him here supposed to
be the sheriff OF Calhoun county. Now,
| would ASH every candid man whether ]
should be censured Tor the part took {!
or, whether did not extend the hand of
liberality and kindness to Mr. Kent, when
he was really in distress And when all
of those who afterwards pretended so
much friendship for him, and spi! out SO
much venom at me, shrunk back and re-
fused 10 bail or aid him in any way, |
took him into my custody to save him
from being sent to jail amongst entire
strangers. This act made me liable. IL
| had not taken him into custody, I could
not have been touched, as the false i'm
prlsonment grew on. of the fact that the
writ was served by one not legally author
lied to do so. If had stood back aud
have let him gone to Jail, | could not have
been touched; but taking him into my
custody, and keeping him as a prisoner,
made me liable. The person serving the
writ not being legally authorized to do so,
every body taking him into custody was
liable, because he was not legally a priso-
ner. secured him nights in way that
| thought he could not make his escape
without awaking me, but in a manner not
at all to discommode him. And once he
got little Observation-Disclosures very
quarrelsome-hogged two or three men,
and knocked down his own brother.
came along at this time and he refusing to
desist or hear to what | said, | put the
irons on to him, and the next day when
he became sober and sane, took them Of.
These are the facts Of this case, which
challenge all the world to disprovc. If
have acted wrong in this case towards
any one but myself, must confess can.
not see it, and | do not think that any