Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-10-27
From the Pennsylvania Freeman.
Another Attempt at kidnapping.

BY a letter from our esteemed friend Thos.
Garrett, of Wilmington, we learn that an
atrocious and daring attempt was made near
that town ON Saturday last, TO kidnap a free
colored woman by the name of Ann Brown,
and carry her into slavery. The kidnappers
were Marcy Fountain, a negro-trader, of
Baltimore, and Isaac Clarke, a constable in
Wilmington, assisted by Charles Lowman, n
shoemaker, of Wilmington, who was pro-
badly the informer in the case.
Fountain held a power of Attorney from
Elijah Il. Massey, of Kent CO., Md, who lays
claim to Ann Brown as his slave, and en-
ployed Clarke and Lowman TO aid him in
his infamous business. At 8 or 10 o'clock
on Saturday morning, having supplied them-
selves with handouts and with carriages, one
of which was hired at Porter's livery stable,
the ruflians repaired TO the house of Jacob
Hiland, just outside the city, where Ann (Hi-
lands sister, resided they went through the
house, Clarke leading the way, seized Ann
in the yard, and attempted TO drag her to the
carriage. This they doubtless would have
done, but for the intrepidity of Hiland, her
brother, who rushed to her defence against
the armed man-thieves.
Lowman struck Hiland with a pistol, but
the latter drew an axe, and told them they
might take his sister before a magistrate, but
his life or theirs should be sacrificed before
they should put her into the carriage. Clark
then proposed to take them both in the car
riage to a magistrate, but he refused, saying
she should walk if she went at all. The
slave-catchers finding the r~esolute spirit they
had to deal with, yielded and took her on foot
before the Mayor. After the constable, with
Ann and her brother, had left, Fountain, 10
satisfy those who had witnessed their high
handed proceedings, exhibited a watch, and
told them that they had arrested her for
stealing it. Before Mayor huntington, p. 5.
Johnson, ESD appeared as counsel for the
defence. Here the ruffians said not q word
of the charge of theft, and after a few hours
spent in investigating the case, an adjourn
ment was had till 2 O'clock, in order TO OBJ
tain further evidence. At 2 p. NJ, the case
was called up in the presence Of a large
number of most respectable citizens, when 1t
was found that the Mayor had ordered her
commitment to prison during the ADJOURN
ment, and that before the case was fully
heard. Application was Immediately made
to Judge Mill gan, who granted a habeas
: corpus to have the woman before him on
Wednesday, the Goth at 10 O'Clock, A NJ
The case came up on Friday morning, the
18th ult., having been postponed from the 10th
alsaHrI-ai s=rl1n=siIAy tlk~agh eIpaacisaa
, exertions of the friends of freedom, most sat
~isfactory evidence had been obtained that
:. Ann Brown was legally free. Before the
trial came Oh, the kidnappers, finding they
, had little hope of gaining the case, attempted
. to sell the woman TO her friends for one hun.
. bred dollars. This was promptly refused
"Not a dollar-not a cent will we pay YOU
, was the noble reply of Thomas Garrett Il
f. Fountains urgent solicitation for a compro
I. mise. Finding they had determined men Il
. deal with, and fearing for their own safety
the whole robber gang left for Maryland be
fore the trial came on, and consequently NJ
claimant appeared in court. The judg'
=; heard the testimony in her behalf and de
"a clared her a free woman, remarklng at tn
% same time that he should have discharge,
X her without any evidence, on account of TN
= Illegally of the commitment, even had tn
81 claimants appeared. This is the second tim
10 an attempt has been made by the Masseyst
20 reduce this woman TO slavery, the first bein
- in this city several years since, when the
lu were defeated in court, and narrowly escape
III an arrest for perjury for their false swearing
ld At this time, they doubtless expected TO tax
IL her by force, not counting on the interference
h of her brother. We understand that the il
famous McCreary, the head kidnapper in til
cy abduction of Thomas Mitchell, was actlvel
D engaged in this case.
st 1t is but justice 10 add, that much cred
IS. was due TO the Acting Committee of the d
10 Abolition Society for their active aid III S
VI curing evidence and counsel i'll behalf of Il
~ accused; and also that they are ever reaC
~ to render pecuniary or personal aid, or u
vice in such cases.