Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-01

The Utica Observer gives the following
plain account Of the slave case in that city.-
can affair of considerable interest came be-
lore Judge Root, at his Office in this city, last
week. The particulars, as we are informed,
are substantially as foliows:-Dr. Samuel G.
benjamin, Of North Carolina, and Mr. John
Mum, OF Natchez, Miss, both formerly resi-
dents of this city, were here on a visit 10 their
friends. Mr. Mum had with him, as a nurse
10 his children, slave named Rena, colored
woman. A report was in circulation that Rena
desired TO be free, and an application was made
TO Judge Root, by VIM. NJ. Allen, Esq, wa
writ OF habeas corpus, under the statute of this
State, in order TO procure her release from bon
dage. II was supposed Rena was owned by
DIR. Benjamin, and a writ was issued and sew
ed upon him. He appeared before the Judge
and made return under oath that he had no
slave in his custody or under his power or re-
straint in this State, and was OF course dischar-
ged and the proceedings against him dismissed.
Another petition was Immediately prepared
and presented to the Judge, for writ against
MIR Mum. At this point of time, the Judge
had been informed that Rena was not restrain
ed of her freedom by Mr. Mum, but that she
was at liberty to depart and leave his service
whenever she pleased, and that he had repeat
eddy told her SO. The proceedings, however,
in this, as in the case against Dr. Benjamin.
being regular and legal upon their face, the
judge could not decline to allow the writ with
out FORGETTING $1,000, that being the penalty for
refusing writ when properly applied for, in
all cases.
A writ was accordingly issued against Mr.
Mum, in the afternoon, commanding him TO
bring the slave before Judge Root Il was re-
turned the next morning at O'Clock, at which
time Mr. Mum, with Rena, appeared at the
judges Office, and made return under oath that
Rena was his slave in Mississippi; that she ac-
companied him and his family here as nurse,
and that he did not in any manner restrain her
oil her freedom, but had informed her that she
was free and could leave him if she desired to
do so. Rena was then informed by the Judge
that she was no longer a slave, but free wo-
man, by law not only, but by the consent Of
her master, and that she could leave or stay
with him, as she pleased. She replied that she
preferred TO stay with her master, and would
not under any circumstances leave him; that
she was old, in6rm, and in poor health, and not
able to do hard work, and that she could not
live here among strangers; that Mr. Mum was
good and kind TO her, and she wished TO stay
with him; that she took care of his children,
and thought she would be better off with him
than she would be here. The proceedings
were thereupon dismissed, and Rena returned
with Mr. Mum.
II has been reported that Mr. M. was cruel
to her, and had beat her badly Mr. M. desi-
red to be examined on this subject 1Rder oath,
and requested the judge to examine Rena. He
did so, and she declared IL TO be wholly untrue:
that he never fogged her or cruelty treated her
but on the contrary, was always good to her,
II is proper to remark that Mr. Munn's con.
duct throughout the whole affair was frank
manly aud unexceptionable.
There were some fears OF an outbreak OF
k.,f alt L.. =
high al one time, eiill il passed of quietly and
without any disturbance Rens's unalterable
determination 10 remain with her master oper.
ated as prompt exiinguisher OF all excited
feeling that had been got up in her favor"
HorTid Mrder.--The Hartford Times of Juls
23d says-"We learn that most atroeions murdei
was committed in Avon last night (the 22d) by Or
rim Woodford, Of that town. The victim was hi
wife, whom he struck with an axe, splitting he
head completely open, and thea ripped out hel
bowels with knife He has been arrested"