Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-09-27
CITY AFFAIRS.

arrest o. q supposed AccompIce in Abducting Slaues
0ohe weeks since officers Pearce and T B. White were
put IN possession of information which led them to susnect
that Tree coored man named James Smith (who former
V Kept cake shop Broad street. between Sd and 4th
stfees was participant in the plans of certain white
persons VINO were engaged in running off slaves to free
States lhese officers proceeded cautiously to collect evil
sufficiently strong to warrant his arrest and having
OBTAINED that determined to arrest him. Since the arrest
- 'e'"'"e' H. omHh, (the Red Boot man, who is now
III JAZZ awaiting his trial before the Superior Court James
SMITH has kept very close quarters and the officers of DO
ice nave rarely seen him. On Tuesday evening, how
ever officer Pearce having perfected his plans accidentally
met m and at once took him into custody and Yesterday
brought him before the Mayor
Agred and Sd,oney, the two slaves who were found co,
creleo IN boxes on the in May last were summoned
an" required 10 give testimony relative to the participation
vi m the plan arranged to enable them to reach
Philadelphia, at the time above alluded to-
Alfred denied all knowledge of the prisoner and stated
that he had taken part the arrangements far
knew.
Sawney stated that at the instance of Tired he had
visited the house OF the prisoner few DAYS before
ens had been made for their escape for the purpose of
se'ng information in relation to the matter-tat the pr
oher tod MN he must leave his trunk with him. and that
he would put it on the cars the morning they should be
paced on them Tor transportation to Philadelphia Saw
ney stated that he sent his trunk the shop of prisoner
drected-tha prisoner caused to be enveloped in cam
vass, and had the initial letters j. M F. marked in two
places on the canvassthat passing the shop of prison.
er next day. In company with Alfred he called q atten
ton to the FACT and pointed his trunk He and Alfred
Called company to see prisoner the Monday preced-
ing the DAY they were to get off, and prisoner told them
ey must return to their respective hotels and tell their
masters they were SICK and by this get leave of alb
sence Tor day or twohat unless they did So thew would
be discovered pursued and brought back His directions
were followed. On Tuesday morning. prisoner took his
Sawney s. trunk to the depotput on the cars procur-
ed check for it, which he gave Witness and which ena
bled witness again to get his trunk after the plan mscar
RED Witness stated that prisoner was connected in this
business with Samuel A Smtl-that he introduced AL
fred and himself to Smith, &C.
Alfred was again questioned that he had wish
TED prisoners shop in company with Sawney but denied
all knowledge OF prisoners aiding and abetng their es-
cape
John Mettauer, mulatto man. a carpenter by trade
oelng sworn, stated that about six months ago Samuel
A. Smith called on and employed him to make a pine box
tor hm--thmks the box was about S feet long and q
deep Smith stated that he was great hurry for the
box, and witness worked after dark to finish ibid not
Know tor what purpose Smith wanted the box-only made
one box Tor h-saw the boxes which contained Sawnev
and Alfred and certain neither of them was the one
he had made.
The Mayor, deemng the evidence against the prisoner
James Smith, sufficiently strong to warrant his doing so
committed him to jail to await his trial before the Hust
ngs Court, on the Sth of October