New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-27
FUGITIVE SLAVES AT HARRISBURG
Further Partic udge Pearscn's Opin-
isu-DischarGe OF the Slaves.

n
isn-Disc harGe OF the Slaves
From The Phlsdelphis North American ...,o.
HARRIsBuRG, Saturday, AugnstT "a.
IARcINy-Commoaxeai vs.. Samuel WATSON,
Geo. Brooks and Bilisy.-These three defendants
negroes, escaped during the month OF July IRON
their masters, in Clark Co. va. near DA'ueso"s;
or Berryville and on the same night the owners Oh
the negroes missed also three horses, saddles and
brides.
WIN. Tsylor, the owner OF two OF the slaves,
and Geo. ii. Eisler, resident OF Berryvile, ar
rived here some days ago, and made Information
before Henry Beader, Esq. charging the above
lives from justice. Upon this a warrant was q.
sued, and the men were arrested and lodged in
=" On last Tuesday an application was made to the
Court, then in session, to bring these men before
them on writ Of kabeas corpus the next morning,
which was granted; and the next day the Court
decided to postpone the case until Friday, in order
10 dispose Of the jury trials frat
On last Friday defendants were brought into
Court, defended by Messrs. Rawn and Judge Nc
Kinney, two eminent lawyers at our bar. The
owners, VIM. Taylor and Geo. ii. Esler, under.
went long examination, and it was concusively
proven las the Court. sdmittedD that these men
were slaves from the State of Virginia, and that
the horses stolen were no doubt Tsed for the pur-
pose Of rendering their escape from bondage paore
easy and effective.
The whole day Of Friday was occupied by this
sides. The prosecution was conducted by Messrs.
Vfunkel, Lamberton and CarsoH, all well known &C
the most eminent lawyers Ia our town; when, on
Saturday morning bis Honor J1dse Pearson deliver
ed the following opinion
These cases were before the Court on writs Of
Asbeas corpus, the defendants having been commit
BED on warrants issued by Justice of the Peace.
IL seems that oatbs were made, charging them with
having stolen certain property. On these osths
warrants were Issued. the defendants arrested,
tha ota I--sek ko.r
Ing, committed TO prison. Ii might be implied and
IL admitted, that shs ofense, II any was committed
% tie State OF Virginia
Several objections have been raised to the regu-
larsy Of the warrants OF commitment
1. That II 10 not stated where the ofense was
committed.
2 That the ownership Of the property stolen is
not sufficiently avened
The deferdsn have also given evidence to show
The irregularity Of the proceedings, and on what
circumstances the charge was founded. The oath
was No sde, and note OF the facts stated on the
docket of the Justice, but not ngned oy the dePo-
nent.
We are of opinion that the whole proceeding 10
verv loose and irregular. The warrant OF commit
pent should state whose property was stolen, and
where tbs offense was committed. Had that pro
ce eding been regular, we should not have looked
beyond il, except when called on to fix the amount
of bail and possibly TO see whether any gross mis-
take had been committed by the magistrate
The defendants have called toe party making the
charge and also the man whose property was a.
Ieged TO have been stolen. to show the circum-
stances under which it was stolen; and from the
evidence IL seems that three horses were taken 10
he ststs OF Virginia probably by the three prison
srs who were proved to be absconding slaves.
Two of them belonging to Mr. Taylor They 1t II
stated took with the m two OF their MASTER borses
With saddles and brides, rode them about thirty
niles, and tarned them loose.
The slaves we're pauued, and the horses ioaDd