The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-12-19
From the Liberdfor.
Jonathan Walker Sentenced, and
Branded !!

T. cVVm WC AsVcFUtoFs
Jonathan Walker Sentenced, and
Branded
The following letter has been received
in due course Of mail from Pensacola, and
though it was sent without she name of
the writer, we have every reason 10 be.
ieve that its statements are strictly 10 be
relied on. 1t appears by Il. that the amid
! Bile, noble hea rled Walker, has not only
been sentenced to imprisonment and to be
fined, for aiding the oppressed, but BRAND.
ED IN THE HAND with the letters S. s.
(Slave Stealer is meant, we supposed )mads
with red hot iron! And this in demo.
cratic, christian America! Horrible, hor-
rible, beyond all expression. This is not
all. Suits for damages have been brought
against him to the amount of 100000!
And for all this, the American people and
The American Congress are responsible.
If Walker can only be suffered 10 return
to the North, THAT BRANDED
HAND must be held up in the presence
of all the people and the effect will be TO
fill their bosoms with Indignation and hor.
ror, and to unite them for The overthrow
OF the diabolicd slave system. Northern
Freemen swell the cry-'NO UNION
WITH SHAREHOLDERS!
EscAMBlA County, Nov. Eth 1914.
HENRY w. WILLIAMS:
| RESPECTED FRIEND--Being under
the impression that there are some per.
sons in your section of the country who
are anxious to learn The result Of Jona-
than Walkers trial at Pensacola. hasten
10 inform you that it took place on The l4th
and terminated on the same day. Between
10 and II, A. M. the prisoner was arraign-
ed before the Court but, not having any
counsel, the Judge appointed Benjamin D.
Wright. member of the bar, TO defend
him. The District Attorney, who was
the prosecuting officer, presented to the
Court four indictments against the prison.
er-one for aiding and assisting, and one
for enicing slaves 10 run away-and TWO
for stealing slaves. The prisoner was put
upon his trial, and found guilty o! all four
indictments by the jury and a verdict rem
dered as follows;
LIST. To be BRANDED IN THE
RIGHT HAND with the letters S. S.
ed. To stand in the pillory one hour.
Sd. To be imprisoned fifteen days.
4th. To pay fine Of one hundred and
sixty dollars.
Prisoner Walker was again remanded
to Jail until the 10th, at 10 A. NJ. whea
he was again conducted 10 Court, and the
| Judge pronounced the sentence upon him,
VITO stand one hour in the pilory.
(which was in front Of the CONTINUOUSLY
and branded in the right hand with tho
letters S. Safer which, TO be remanded
20 prson for fifteen days, and there to re-
main committed until the fine and cost Of
prosecution should be paid, which cos! l
have not been able 10 ascertain.
The first two specifications were exea
cuted, and prisoner Walker was again
placed in Jail, 10 undergo the third. but
was not put in irons. as before, greatly TO
his relief.
A lew hours after he had been commit.
ted. the sheriff came and served three writs
upon him. for trespass and damage TO the
amount of 9l06. 000-viz byrd G.
Willis. $4,000; Robert G. Caldwell, $300G
George Willis, $l00,000!l Upon each
of these writs, the prisoner was summon"
ed 10 appear at the May term, l845, and
answer, &c. The three above named
persons are the reputed owners Of the
slaves named In the indictments. Good
order and quietness prevailed through all
the proceedings, with one exception
When the prisoner had been in the pillo~
ry about half an hour the afol esaid George
Willis stepped TO the prisoner, from the
crowd Of spectators, (who were very peace.
ably behoding the execution Of The laws
o. Florida,) and snatched from his head q
handkerchief, which the deputy marshal
had placed upon it to screen the prisoners
head from the violent heat of the sun
which shone upon it, and took from his
pocket taco rotten eggs, and hurled thea
at the prisoners head. which took effect.
This excited burst of indignation from
many present. | was satisfactorily in
formed that he had been very solicitous
among the boys, offering them a great
prise for some rotten eggs, and any per-
son who would throw those be had at tie
prisoner; but he could no. bfbe or find
any one inhuman or vile enough to do the
deed but himself The prisoner remains
ed silent throughout except TO The officers
who had him in charge. He is in good
spirits. and thinks that, il it is for Tie best,
he shall weather the storm by and by.
AN EYE WITNESS.
INFAMOUS SLANDER.-No, content
| al ~ lol g, l. "A