Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-05
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
THE PARKERSBURG TRIALS.

The case of the three Ohio citizens, indict-
ed at Parkersburgh for aiding and assisting in
the escape of certain slaves from Wood coun-
ty, Virginia, came on for trial before the Cir
cult Court at Parkersburgh, on Monday last,
and resulted in a special verdict. A large
number Of persons were in attendance from
Virginia and Ohio, bat we are grdtlied with
the information, that the case was conducted
in an orderly and quiet manner, and that great
satisfaction was expressed by the citizens OF
both States at the course of the trial. Gen.
j. ]. jackson appeared for the Common
wealth of Virginia, Mr.. Vinton of Ohio, and
Mr.. VIM. A. HARRISON, Of Harrison county,
Va. for the State of Ohio, on the question OF
the boundary between the two States, and
Messrs. Singer and Spencer for the prison.
ers.
The indictment contains three several
counts, founded OH several laws of Virginia,
one count being adapted to each law, to wit:
l.. An act declaring it felony for any per-
son to e%ntice, advise, or persuade any slave
from the possession or service of his master
or possessor.
3. An act declaring it to be felony for any
person to carry, or cause to be carried, any
slave out of the Commonwealth, against the
consent of the owner with intent to defraud or
deprive the owner of his property.
8. An act declaring it felony in any per-
son travelling by land, who shall give counte-
nance, protection or assistance to slaves abb
scondimg from their owners, with the inten-
ton of preventing the slaves from being stop
ped and apprehended.
The lowest punishment for these offences
il confinement in the Penitentiary for three
years. The Virginia laws confer jurisdiction
on the Circuit Courts in counties where a riv-
no,-eo is tho honodotr ouar crcb
waters, so far as the jurisdiction of the State
extends. There are twenty-one Circuit Judg-
es, allotted to different circuits one in each to
hold Circuit Courts. There is a General
Court held at Richmond twice a year, COM
posed OF these twenty-one Judges, or not less
than ten of them. The Judge holding the
Circuit Court, is authorized in all cases Of
novelty and difficulty, with the consent ofthe
prisoner to adjourn the case over to the Gen
eral Court for its advice, what judgement tC
render. The next term of the General Cour
is held at Richmond, the first Monday of De.
cember.
After all the evidence in the case had beer
examined, on the suggestion of the Judge
and the concurrence of the counsel and the
prisoners, it was agreed to take a special yer
dict, embracing all the material facts, in or
der to take the advice Of the General Cour
upon the case, and if it should become ne
cessary, to put it in shape for revision befor,
the Supreme Court of the United States. Ii
accordance with this arrangement a specia
verdict was returned, finding
/. That the defendants were citizens O
the State of Ohio, and entitled to the protec
ton of that State.
9. That upon information that the slave
named were about to run away from thsil
master in Wood county into the State of Ohio
several persons crossed the river into thi
State and sheltered themselves on the ban
of the river, in order to arrest and take tn
slaves back should they cross over. Tha
late at night the slaves crossed in a canoe
which was hailed from the Ohio bank an
responded to in the canoe, but the words nc
understood. That the Virginia party in an
bush descended to the river to apprehen
the slaves, and found between the ban
and the canoe several white men, an
among them the three prisoners, who Wen
20 the canoe, stepped into the water by il
side, and took from thence and conveyed u
the Ohio side several wallets containing tn
clothing of the slaves. These persons an
slaves were then seized, and taken over int
Wood county and the slaves returned to the
owner.
3. That on the Goth of July, ls45, whe
this transaction took place, the water on IL
bars in the channel of the Ohio River in tn
neighborhood, was 80 inches ~deep-thatin a
ordinary stage of low water, it was from
to 30 inches on those bars, and in the lowe
stage of water III inches, but the water ha
been known to rise SIS feet in that part of Il
river. The water in a good boating conc
ZION was about 6 feet on these bars, and