The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-12-31
A WARNING TO ABOLITION AGITATORS.
Convictions and Sentences OF Several Persons
In the sIave-holding States, for Aiding

Convictions and Sentences OF Several Persons
In the slave-holding States, for Aiding
Slaves to Escape.
SENTENCE OF THE REV. CHARLES T. ToRREY.-
A very large number OF persons were in attendance
at the City Court tor the purpose OF hearing SEN
tence pronounced upon the above individual, VINO
was convicted during the recent term OF Baltimore
City Court on three separate indictments, tor per-
suading, aiding and sbetting In abducting slaves,
the property OF Mr.. Heckrotte, Of this city. l.
will be remembered that, after the conyicuon Q!
Torrey,a MOTION was made by his counsel In aires,
of judgment and for new trial, when was aIsaeo
before the Court on Monday last. The point oil
new trial, however, having been abaDdoneo, IL was
only contended for an arrest OF Judgment, upon the
grounds of certain alleged informailtles IN the IN
Documents Al the opening OF the Court, TINS morn
ing-a very considerable crowd OF spectators being
present in anticipation of hearing the great speech
which it was reported Torrey would make-there
was quite disappointment In his not appearing
His counsel asked permission of the Court, In ODE
dience TO his (Torreys) request, that he might not
be publicly sentenced, which was granted.
Toney desires to remain in jail until Monday
next, when the sentence will be privately an
nounced to bim, and lie will be removed to the Pc
nltentIary Pat
OPINION OF THE COURT.
State VS.. Tor'y 1T is certainly general principle
Is safest follow tn words OF the act, but such
strictness is not absolutely necessary.
II words equivalent port meaning used II
has always been deemed sufficient as the intention
Legislature is as fully accomplished in the case as in
the other.
The sncc intended to be punished by the act is cor
rectly defined in the several indictments in strict conor
nifty to the law but it has been objected that the words
rea 10 the personal character of the accused have
been omitted and that he should have been described In
the words Of the free person This we think has
been sufficiently done indictments by the usual and
common desig OF yeoman term which in judicial
proceedings, has always meant free person, and
used IN that sense only when free white person is the
subject OF indictment Free negroes rhaps should be
designated free negroes, they entitled to all
the rights and privileges of freeman, and therefore not
yeomen in the proper meaning Of the word
would therefore have been tau,olcgy have used the
words free person. where the word meaning the
indictments could only be sustained against free person
The prisoner IN this case has been tried free and
not been deprived Of any privilege right to which he
use of the word ytomsn instead Of free person"
With regard to the nunber Of indictnents-one for
each lAvei it has been urged that there should have
been bur one Indictment it was only ofenceal
the negroes having gone of at the same time. Anaogies
have been drawn from larceny where many
tices have taken one and the time from the
same person. in which it 10 considered but Of
fence, and therefore, subject to only one indictment
But resemblance between case OF larceny Of
dead chsls in the removal Of which the thief is the
sole agent and the offences charged in these indictments
rately from the rest necessary to the completion OF The
offence each must actually run away consequence Of
the illicit Indictment Of the adviser and thus are
constituted separate Offences for each Of which indic
ment will properly lie.
The OF assembly, think can have no other con.
sructon. Its language is "iha any free person shall
entice persuade any slave servant knowing
him her 10 be SUCH to away from his her law
full possessor and such slave shall
actually away such person shall be liable indct
men In the County Court of the county where such of
fence has been commited in the City Court Of Bal
more ii committed in the City Of Baltimore upon
conviction shall unde rg0 confinement in the penten-
tiary not exceeding six years.
The inducements held ont by the free persons to the
slaves may be addressed many time and far
y act and If the crime consisted emily in that
act might he the subject Of indictment only but
the running away necessary to complete the
offence and separate of each slave the indictment
must be considered as epara ely applicable to each who
shall be inauced to run away, and therefore subjects
the adviser many indictments there may be saves
who may be influenced by it.
The several motions in arrest Of judgment aud iii any
for trial overruled.
sErrErcE.--The following is the sentence :-On the
LIST Indictment confinement in the Pententiary from Dec.
1eth 4a, to 81 April I647. On the ID Indictment,
until q of April isa9. On the Sd Indictment until I'd
April 1881,