Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-11-22
From the Morning Chronicle.
A Vermont Lady in Prison.

VERGENNEs, Nov. A, 1914.
Mr. LEAvITT,-A fair daughter of the Green
Mountain State, is in prison! Where? In the
ChiUaIrous State OF Kentucky, city of Lexington
almost in sight Of the shades OF Ashland. For
what? On the charge of stealing slaves, two 3inli-
lar charges and indictments have been found, and
she held to bail in the moderate sum Of $4,000
and for want of which, is now incarcerated in a
IOathSome prison. to await ner trial next March.
The following is a statement Of facts, and can be
relied on, as coming from good authority.
Miss Della A. Webster, who has been arrested
and is now confined in Jail at Lexington, KY,
charged with breaking The slave laws of that State
is daughter Of Mr.. Bennjah Webster, of Ferris
hurgh VT. She was engaged rs teacher in IL
Seminary. The Rev Calvin Fairbanks, who is
now in prison, and in irons, in the same jail with
Miss W., and upon the same charges, is a Meth
odist minister, who, while visiting Lexington,
boarded in the same house with her Mr.. F..
preached once in the Congregational church in
Lexington, while there to the acceptance Of his
audience; and soon after three slaves were mis-
sing. reward was offered, and every effort
made to find them, without success; and upon this
failure, suspicion rested upon Mr.. F., who was
followed into an adjoining county, arrested, brO't
back and imprisoned. Shortly after, Miss Web
Sten was waited upon by the authorities at one o.
clock at night, and the inspection of her trunk de-
manded, which she acceded to without objection;
and on the following day, Che 9th ofSept..) she
was arrested and imprisoned, and has since had
three indictments found against her, has been held
to bail in the sum Of So, 000 and now awaits her
trial, which takes place in March.
We understand the main cause of suspicion
against her, consists Of letter, alleged to have
been found among her papers, speaking of her ac-
Quanance with Mr.. F. while boarding at the
same house with her, and Of general remarks
about slavery; and last, though perhaps not least
that she happens to be a northern lady.
! Miss Webster is respectable young lady, of Il
worthy family, we'll educated, and of fair talents
and denies ever having uttered an abolition sent
ment in Kentucky, excepting one time, when i'm
pcrtnently being questioned on that subject she
said she wished the slaves were all back IN Africa
and she would be willing to spend her days il
teaching them, for they had souls. Her father il
well known by the citizens of Vergennes and Fer
rsburgh, to have been always hostile TO abolition
| in any form; indeed, has been noted for his urt
opinions on this subject. The following certlf
cate, connected with this subject, appeared in
late number Of the Ohio Statesman, and undoubt
eddy is correct:
estate OF KENTUCKY, Fayette county
Jaitor's Office, Lexington KV.
/, Thomas B. Mcgowan, jaiIor for the county
aforesaid do certify that man calling himsel
Rev. Calvin Fairbanks, and woman who call
herself Della A. Webster, are confined in this Jail
awaiting trial on indictment found by the Crane
Jury for the Fayette County Court for negrt
stealing, and conveying the same to Ohio; ant
further certify that for good cause, have hat
the said Fairbanks irOned.
Given under my hand, this the 9th day of Octo
ber in the year of our Lord one thousand eigh
hundred and forty-four,aud of the CammonWealt
the SOL. THOMAS B. MCGOWAN,
JaIor of Fayette Co., State of Kentucky.'
Miss Webster was poor, dependent wholly or
her own eXertiOns for support. Should she ht
Gthnd innocent, as we doubt not she will be upol
trial, she Is wholly ruined in her circumstances ID,
the heavy expense which her defence will entai
upon her, us we understand the attorneys fees Of
her lawyers amount to between seven hundred ant
a thousand dollars Surely this is southern chiv
airy, with a vengeance.
The charge Of negro stealing as it is termed b.
the Kentucky jNiIor, amounts TO nothing NOR
than suppOslllOn OF being an abolIOnist. 4
Young lady, poor, and teaching seminary for
Lying, could have no money to spare, to by ne
groes or hire Others to steal; and as she had ney
er left her employment before her arrest she cOu
not, of course, have been personally concerned i
enticing or helping away slaves. But even if Mis-
Nv. were an aboIitionst, how does her arrest up
on such charge appear, when placed in contra'
with the present position of Henry Clay's FRIEND
at the north at this time. For the elevation of til
great emhoduent Kentucky's favorite son, the
are billing and cooling for abolition votes, upon til
alleged ground that he is no enemy TO the cause
f while, at the same time, fair daughter of tn
, Green Mountains tenants aKentucky prtson,almo
in sight of Ashland, upon a charge Of being frienC
v to the cause. This is the sympathy of Hem
Clay's friends at home for aboltionists.
Let every true abolitonst remember this fac
when he is mtreated TO ri1e with his vote by cas-
ing it for the Wing candidate for the Ptesidenc
And should think it worth while for even II
D Wings themselves to pause, when they see Il
f daughter of a strong Wing inosrcerated ina pri