American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-02
[Reported for the American Republican,
TRIAL OF THE REV. C. t. TORREY.
BALTIMORE CITY COURT.

TRIAL oF THE REV. 4. Il. TURKEY
BALTIMORE CITY COURT.
Present-Judges Brice, .Nisbet and WorthingtOn.
SATURDAY, Nov. 80. This trial was resumed
this morning, at 10 o'clock; the interest mani
tested on the previous day IN its progress, SEEM
ed to increase, as the court room was crowded
at an early hour. The first witness called to
the stand was
Mrs. Morling, who was sworn, Witness is
daughter of Mr.. Heckrote A short time
previous to the slaves going off had trimmed
bonnet for Judah, the girl, with some old
pieces of ribbon. Witness produced pieces of
ribbon corresponding with the pieces found on
the bridge by MIR. Rigdon
l.. .SouthnseGd, was next called to the
stand by the state, when the counsel for the de-
fence objected to his testimony being received,
as it could be shown that he had been convicted
of stealing horse in the State of New York,
and sentenced to the Penitentiary in 1910
, for three years. The court overruled the OBJ
lection of counsel and the witness was sworn.
Witness had been confined in the same room
with Torrey in the Jail, and during some con-
versaton Torrey had told him that he had
taken three slaves from MIR. Heckrote; that he
had caused them to meet him in the rear of
Green Mount Cemetery, and that from there
he took them of in carriage; said he had
considerable difficulty i'll persuadng the old
woman to leave her master as she seemed very
fond of him, he having been uniformly vely
kind to her. Said that he had been aided in
getting them off by negro living in the rear
of the Cemetery; that he had taken the slaves
to Pennsylvania; that he had taken great
many other slaves off; that he would shoot Mr.
Heckrote and the jailor when he got out of
prison. The state here produced the letter,
which the witness had written to MIR. Heckrote
after he had held the conversation with Torrey
in jail, detailing the facts above stated.
Cross-examined by defence. Had passed by
the names of Southmead, Thomas b. Hatch
and James Wilson. Here some difficulty &C.
Cured between counsel in consequence of an
effort TO draw out of the witness the cause of
his being confined in the Baltimore Jail. Wit
ness had not heard Torrey say any thing about
taking Off the slaves until after he had deter
mined to break Jail; there were several other
prisoners in the same room, but they did not
hear what was said between witness and Tor
rev, what he said in the matter was commune
Gated privately; supposed Torrey had not con-
fidence enough in the other prisoners to inform
them of it. Had not told any one the infor-
nation received from Torrey, until it was COM
municated to Mr.. Heckrote; had not told him
until after Torrey had attempted to break Jail.
A Mr.. Patterson, of Hartford county, had been
tothe jail to enquire if Torrey had said any
thing about his slaves; had given the nforma-
ton voluntarily; had no hope of favor from it.
Officer Zel and Mr.. Heckrote came to the Jail
in company. A black man called "Old Nick"
was implicated in aiding TorreY in the abduc-
ton of the slaves. The slaves were taken off
at night to Pennsylvania, and were to go to
New York. Torrey expected pistols to be
brought to him by his landlady; had not taken
any part in the attempt to break Jail, but might
have gone out if way had been opened for
him. Witness thought it might be considered
he had aided him, as he had aided man in
getting out of prison who was to assist Torrey
in breaking out; witness had given his note in
part payment of debt for which man by the |
name of Holmes was imprisoned; Torrey
gave thirty dollars also to aid him i'll getting
out had procured pen, ink and paper to write |
to Heckrote from Torrey, by means of string
let down from the cell of witnesr to that in |
which he was confined.
In chief Had never spoken with any person |
or knew any thing Of the facts given to Mr.
Heokrote until put in possession of them by
Torrey himself; Holmes soon got out prison
after witness aided in paying his indebtedness
Holiness in compliance with an understanding,
went to Philadelphia and promised to return
with instruments to aid Torrey in getting OUT
he did return and delivered the instruments to
Torrey; Torreys landlady also came to the
Jail and took some instruments from her bosom
and gave them tc Torrey Torey told witness
of the facts.
VIM. Heckrote, recalled. Had visited the
Jail in consequence of receiving information
that man confined there would give some
idea of what had become of his slaves; the
person alluded to was Southmead The wit
ness then narrated what Southmead told him,
as given in his own testimony.
MIR. Graham, sworn. Witness is deputy
warden of the Jail. The prisoner wore whisk-
ers all round his face when he was first com
mitted to Jail; he has but recently shaved them
off.
The State here closed its testimony.
Capt. Wise, sworn for the defence. Knew
the witness, Southmead, for seven years; had
sailed in ship with him for two years; would
not believe him on his oath.
Cross-examined by the State. Had never
!. knew Southmead to tell lie; had never heard
any body speak of his character for veracity.
The counsel for the defence objected to the
State combining the answer of the witness to
the simple question of veracity; and contend
ed that it was only necessary for the witness to
testify as to his opinion of the credbilty of the
witness, from his knowledge of his general
character. The States attorney appealed to
the court in reference to the legality of con-
Gnng the witness to testify as to the veracity
of the person attempted to be impeached. The
court sustained his position.