Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-19
EDWARD RUSHTON.
From the MeW Tork HeroH.
ST. LOUIS, October, 1917.

A fortnight ago ] gave you the details of
the trial Of Cornelia, a female slave, indicted
by the grand jury of this county, for the muir
der of Sarah, a colored child, also a slave, the
property of Mrs. Cordell. A nOHe pr0seqri,
it will be recollected, was entered in the case
of the defendant, and she remanded to prison.
On Friday last, Mrs. Ann Tanner, also in
dicted for murder in the case, being the mis-
tress for the time, of the two slaves, and, as
was alleged, a participation, If not the princi-
pal in the commission Of the atrocity, was
placed upon trial. For the State, Mr.. Hall
appeared as counsel, and for the defence,
Mcssrs. Polk and CAN'T.
The prisoner was assisted into court, hav-
ing just risen from a bed of sickness. She
is apparently forty years of age, tall, and ra-
ther masculine, though on this occasion APP
pearing much emaciated. Her counienance
is Of a sirikingly peculiar cast, giving traces
of a quick, irrascible temperament, great firm
ness Of purpose, a will delying control, and a
want of sympathy that would readily account
for the c%ruelties charged against her. She
was attended by her husband and a female
friend, who, during a trial Of Two days con-
tinuance, assidulously labored TO render her
situation comfortable.
Much of The evidence elected was but a
repetition Of that given on the trial of Cornelia.
Judge Dunnica, Ishom Finck, Mr.. and Mrs.
Friter, DIS. Mcdowell and Stevens, Coroner
Owens, and one or two others, all swore to
The leading facts before enumerated. DR..
Mcdowell, however, was a good deal more
explicit, in his description of the appearance
of the child before and after death, and the
effect of his testimony was most conclusive
that nothing hut a severe and olt-repeated
beating had led TO the fatal issue. Coroner
Owens, in giving his testimony, made use Of
a very strong expression. He was asked if
he thought that The condition Of the corrse
was such as to induce the belief that the
death oil the child had been produced by vio-
lence. He replied, In my opinion, gather
ed from the observation of half a century, no
person can live long without a certain amount
of sound skin, which this child had not
She was literally a mass Of purifying matter,
from the crown OF her head TO the soles of her
feet"
| mentioned, in giving the details of the
trial OF Cornelia, that the court decided against
the testimony of Thomas Fritter, a youth; lie
knew nothing about future rewards and pun
ishments. At the trial at present in question,
this lad was produced, and having given such
nswer as were deemed satisfactory, he was
admitted TO testify. The testimony OF the
hoy was TO the effect, that on one occasion
he saw Mrs. Tanner severely chastise the de.
ceased. The little girl was in the yard in
front of the house; witness was in the road
a few PAGES distant; accused struck deceas.
ed seven or eight times with a hickory stick,
as thick as his thumb, and three feet long
struck her over The left shoulder and back
has frequently heard screams at the residence
of the Tanners; does not know any thing
further in relation to the charge against pri
soner.
Mrs. Dunnica and Mrs. Cordell, (mothe,
and daughter.) testified to hiring of deceased
to Mr.. and Mrs. Tanner. Sarah was tht
property of Mrs. Cordell, left her by her ia
theT, who was the first husband of Mrs. Dun
MICA Cornelia is a slave belonging to Mrs
Dunnica, or rather 10 the estate of her frs
husband Judge Dunnica had hired her abou
a year ago to the Tanners; Mrs. Dummies
stated that when Sarah was hired, she, wit
ness, exacled a promise from Mrs. Tanner
, that Cornelia should NOT be permitted to ex
r ercise any authority over the child. Furthe
n the testimony of these ladies was not impor
: tant, except as ii corroborated the lestimon,
previously given,