Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-01-19


him to foot the bills-a small matter, we
should Judge, compared with their morii-
flying defeat in this case. Let il be borne
in mind, first, hat the master was pres
ent in person, claiming his slave; second
that his nephew, who has always lived
on his estate, was also present us u wit
ness, and swore 10 the identity Of the
slave third, that Lee had one Of the
most able and acute lawyers which could
be found at the New York bar, and the
reader can easily imagine the case was
u most sharply contested one, and in its
result as completely triumphant as could
well be desired.
Notwithstanding all these seeming ad-
vantages Lee failed TO make out his case
in several most important particulars
He failed 10 prove, first, that Joseph
owed him service or labor Had he done
this, the proof was equally deficient as TO
his having escaped from said SERVICE
On the contrary, his witness testified when
he last saw Joseph he wa with his mas
ter on board the cars bound toward Bal
timore. Second, he could not prove that
Slavery existed by law in Maryland
His counsel introduced the statutes of
Maryland, and placed Lee upon the stand
10 prove them, but being an interested
witness his evidence was very properly
objected 10 on this ground, and he was
dismissed. Mr.. Child was then called,
but though he had been a practising law.
yer in Baltimore, he could not swear
that The volume in his hand was a true
copy Of the statutes Of Maryland. 1t pur.
ported TO be such a copy, and the name
Of the State printer was in the title page,
but it only claimed to be printed ''by au-
thority," whereas our law, under which
the proof was offered, required that it
should be ''by authority Of the Legisla-
lure Of said State"
These were only a few Of the links
wanting in the chain Of evidence on
which he rested his claim so sure was
he Of securing his prey, he seemed TO
suppose nothing else would be needed to
carry n free citizen into Slavery, but his
own ipSe Dirt. The disadvantages he
labored under, was his finding Joseph in
a Free State, where, by the rules of evil
donce, a black mans word is as good as q
white mans.
That Lee would have ventured to show
his head in New York on this nefarious
errGnd, without some strong assurances
OF finding here a pack Of %servile hounds
10 run down his prey we do not believe.
He has his reward.
Now let the mercenary wretches who
were sordid enough 10 take the accused
bride TO betray an innocent young man
INFO hopeless bondage, meet with that
recompense which their rerfdy merits,
and which the law, if enforced, awards
them, as a lesson TO all others who may
be tempted TO repeat the Kidnapping ex-
pertinent.
Lee manifested from time TO time con-
siderable needless trepidaiion respecting
his personal safety, and made frequent
requests of the police to oscor him to
and from his lodgings, which they did,
though some of Them complained that he
was not gentleman enough TO offer them
anything for their service. This feeling
evidently increased with the excitement
about the City Hall, and when the Judge
pronounced the word, discharging Belt,
and he rose and strobe out of Court be-
fore his face, Mr.. Whiting as a last du-
~ to his client, failing 10 obtain Of Judge
Edmonds an order 10 carry the fugitive
before a United States Judge, directed
Lee to seize his slave, but Lee, apparent
ly somewhat fearful of being seized HIM
self, and hearing at the instant the ''noise
and confusion" from the multitude out
side, who were by this time carrying a.
way his ehattcl with triumphant shouts,
forgot bis slave in the all-absorbing idea
Of self-presergation, turned 10 the judge
and requested hin 10 give him an escort
10 his lodgings, which was readily gran
led f; and Lee went TO the Astor House,
and Joseph TO take the underground Rail-
road Norlhward.