The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-31
The Alleged Fugitive Slave Case.
Before Chas. M. Hall, esq.

U. s. COMMISSIONERS COURT.
Before Chas. M. Hall, esq.
Dec. 2s.-At IL o'clock Henry Long, the al
legged fugitive, was brought before the Commits
sioner in the custody of the marshal. The pro
ceedings, which were to have commenced at J.
o'clock, were delayed by the absence of one of
the counsel until about half past II o'clock:
The first witness examined was Elizabeth Dixon,
a young woman Of color. Being sworn, she de-
posed live at 129 Elizabeth street; was born
in New York; am % years of age; know that
man (pointing to the alleged fugltive); know him
by the name Of Henry Long; first became ac-
uuainted with him in November, lS47; have
known him since that time; have not been in the
habit of seeing him very often since lS4S, when
he left my house; | have only seen him three
TIRES since then; it was in the winter of the year
'4S he left my house; think it was the month of
February, '49; from the time first knew him, in
November, AL till he left my house in February,
'4S, was in the habit Of seeing him daily; think
it was February, but | am not certain; he boarded
with me during that time; ] am positive as to the
fact that first knew him in November, lS47.
Q-ls there any circumstance which fastens that
date on your memory?
Ayes, sir, had sickness in my family; my
husband was sick six weeks; then lived at 70
Spring street; my landlord was Mr.. Fowler, who
lived at the corner Of Mott street and Grand,
where he kept shoe store; during the time
Henry Long lodged with me, he worked down
waiter; after February, 1S4S, do not know what
became of him; am confident the man who sits
here is the same man who boarded at my house;
l had no other boariers; my husband is now
down town; don't kno who he is working for
he works " along shore"
Crosse xamined-I can write; have memo
randum in writing showing the time he came to
me; have house rent receipts taken at that time;
I have them at home; have examined them to
see that was accurate as to the date Of Longs
i ....l Al ~
Spring street, who knows of Longs living at my
house; do not know if Long came from the
South when he came to my house; | don't know
W here he was brought up; | do not know if he
came from Richmond, Virginia; would not know
by his voice whether he was Southern man or
not; he never talked of the South 10 me; never
knew him to drive a carriage.
Counsel for claimant asked for and obtained
subpoena for John G. Barker.
Cross. examination continued While he board:
cd with me he WAS part Of the time waiter do
not know where, but it was at some hotel in the
city; he used to work "along shore" down town;
he went to board with Mrs. Stansbury, in Null
berry street, when he left me; I don't know how
he has been employed since he left my house;
have never been in Florida; | was married 9Th
April, 1885, five years next April.
Direct examination resumed. -When he worked
down town don't know what he did; the reason
he left me and went to Mrs. S,ansbury, was be-
cause expected to be sick, and had not room for
him ; it was who spoke to Mrs Stansbury about
him.
To the Commissioner frs. time ever
saw Henry was the time he came to my house;
he brought small trunk with him; | don't know
where he brought it from; that was all he brought;
when spoke to him always called him Henry.
Mr.. Western requested to put another question
to the witness the Commissioner said the exam
nation was concluded before he read over his
notes to the witness. Mr.. Western excepted TO
the ruling Of the Commissioner.
Emeline Stansbury (colored woman) deposed--
now reside at 70 Spring street; | lived at 240
Mulberry street in january, lS4S; ! know Eliza
beth Dixon; she lived in Elizabeth street in jan
uary, ls4S; knew her when she lived in Spring
street; | live now in the same room she moved
out Of; know this man who is in custody; first
got acquainted with him at Mrs. Dixon s house,
in Elizabeth street; he (Long) boarded with me;
| can write; (paper produced) that is in my hand
writing; the contents are true.
Mr.. Western objected to the paper being pro-
duced to the witness without having been first
shown to him.
Question: Did you ever see that paper, and in
whose hand writing is it Al did; believe it
person in custody.
Mr. White proposed to offer the paper in evil
dence.
Mr. Western objected.
The paper, which was much dilapidated, was
as folows:-
New YoRK, Jan. oath, 1S48.
Henry Long contracted to pay Mrs. Stansbury
one dollar and quarter week for board.
Witness contnued-That paper was written by
me the day it bears date; gave it to Henry after
wrote it; he commenced boarding with me in
January, lS4S; | got acquainted with him in No
vember, l847; don't remember who spoke to me
about taking him to board; he came to me from
Mrs. Dixon s house; l don't believe can be UNI
der any mistake about his coming to board with
me in January, ls4S; he stopped with me nearly
tha. k<,,, /
Mrs. Dixon's; | used to go round there once or
twice a week, and didn't miss seeing him one
time out Of ten.
MIR. Jay here said that tie Of habeas pend
ing before the superior court, was adjourned 10
this day, at one o clock.
The Commissioner said he must not he inter.
rupted.
Mr.. Jay then handed the Commissioner Il
subpoena II was to attend to the superior court
this day, at one o'clock in the matter Of James
i. smith agans, Henry Long, and produce the or
der Tor his appointment as Commissioner.
The Commissloner-You have a right to serve
me wi h a subpoena, if you like
Mr.. Jay-The hour to which the case was ad
journed is nearly at hand.
The examination was then continued-Wher
Long left me, he went to board with Mrs Gould
in Church street; don't know what ons 3 bust
when he boarded with me; cannot be
mistaken that this man is the same person
On cross.examnation, she said she never saw O
man whom she could mistake Tor Long; | some.
times went TO Mrs. Dixon's in the evening, and
sometimes in the day time; more generally IN III,
cay time; did not see him n.uch in the day tim
as in the evenings; don't know whether he eve
drove carriage; know that did not make
mistake Of year in the date Of this paper; kno,
1t, because my mo'her's husband went to Califor
MIA in January, l84S, and that circumstance ike
the date of tn paper on her mind; he went in tn
Tarlton, as a waiter on board; he has not sine
returned; he went the same day the paper is dated
] can read and write.
-Q.-Can you tell me the name Of the first boo
in the Old Testament?
An objection was made to the question, and, a
tsr argument Of counsel, it was admitted,