The New York herald., 1851-10-21
The Fugitive Slave Riot at Syracuse.


EXAMINATION OF THE ALLEGED REscUERs AT AU-
BURN.
The following is a portion of the testimony, be-
fore Judge Concklin, at Auburn, in the Of the
rescuers Of the fugitive slave, Jerry;-
b. l.. Higgins called ami sworn-I reside in Sy-
racuse; am one Of the aldermen Of that city; was
requested by Deputy Marshal Allen to assist in
preventing a rescue or disturbance in the case Of
Jerry, the fugitive slave, the lst Of Oct inst at
Syracuse, before Commissioner Sabine; was at the
feot of the stairs when Jerry was drawn down by
white and bla ,k men from the Commissioner Office
the first time be was rescued; know one of the
black men; was informed his name was Hornebeck;
after they got him to the bottom of the stairs, q
white man and two negroes lifted him on his feet
and told him to run, and they all went of together
followed till they got to the iron bridge at Null
berry street; saw Jerry when he was brought
back to the police office, brick building, where
the examination was resumed; as he came to the
Office before the Commissioner, a great many
rushed up and halooed rescue him; one white man
took oil his coat, and said, take him away, rescue
him, calling upon the crowd to rescue him; there
was great crowd OF people in front OF the office,
considerable noise and much threatening and de-
nunciation Of the officers; at about seven in the
evening, saw them breaking In the windows; saw
through the windows; got into the Office about .
quarter before seven spoke to police Justice House
and officer Ormsby to 60 with me out to catch those
who were throwing the stones; We went out upon
the steps in front of the office; saw stones thrown,
but could not tell by whom except by one negrs,
whom We caught and took In the office; several tried
TO prevent our taking him In, but we succeeded; |
remained in tho Office Till the doors and windows
we're broken down, and the crowd rushed in; the
6rst / saw come were two negroes; they came
in ut the north door window, with clubs or bars,
. great deal Of hallooing and yelling at the time;
they Immediately attempted to break down the
door and partition separating the police Office from
q back room where Jerry was with the Off ,ers.
Then James Nj: Clapp. who was engaged in fur
mace formerly, broke into the south door window
with an axe; he then came in with club; John
jones' one Of the assistants Of the officers, clinched
him; Clspp said let 60 Of me, We must have the
slave, or negro, he has got to come out; they had
tussel; about this time the lights were turned of;
can't tell who 1t was, but had Just before Ira
III. Cobb sitting where the man stood and no other
man near him he sat within the enclosure picket
ed OF for the police Justice, and where he sits when
engaged in his official business, and which IL nearly
under the gaslight; Cobb had been there time;
there was still light in the backroom where the
officers and Jerry were; after the lights were put
out in the front office, two pistol shots were fire by
n large colored man, near the window; he then ad-
vsnced q step or two and fred again; then t~o or
three shots were fred from the back Office; the
crowd rushed in when the lights were put out, and
commenced breaking in the door and partition
which separated them from the negro Jerry
they had long bars Of iron, clubs, and q long
plank; at this time ran 10 the front door window
and told them to stand back they would get shot
q short thick set negro threw stone at my head,
which missed me; he threw another. which hit me
on the leg; by this time the assaiants broke down
the partition; colored man, called Enoch Strong,
raised q club and attempted to strike me a. came
out; Oliver Shuart caught him and prevented the
blow; at this time the assailants rushed out with
the negro jerry; while in the Office received n
blow from club struck by q white man. ran after
the crowd which had Jerry; came up with them on
the sidewalk, about two rods from the Office; AZ
came up, Moses Summers, of the Ono~daga Sfani-
ard, strsck me on the breast with his hand. and
showed me of the sidewalk into the gutter: at the
.sme time saying, " don't Interfere" again started
OF my coat and jerked me of the sidewalk into the
gutter; the crowd then passed by with Jerry; fol-
lowed after and got by them at the car house de-
pot, and kept very near those who were carrying
Jerry, till they got to the foot Of the stairs that
led up to Dr Hiram Hoyts Office; some one said
man went up and tried the door, said II was
locked; there was light In the Office; they then
carried Jerry along on the west side Of, War
rem street, to within ten or fifteen feet OF Dr.
Lyman CIarys Office, then halted some Of them
enquired where is the wagon where are the horses
in lees than minute horse and buggy, top ppsrtly
Of light trimmings, drove up from the north along
Warren street and stoppedopposte where Jerry Was;
ran cut to the wagon to see If could find out who
drove he was a small man, with very Ia rye whis-
hers, which thought at the time must be false whis-
ters; dark clothes, cap en- | spoke to him; asked
him " he did not want my overcoat; he made no
answer l thought at the time IL Was DR. Pease
the psrtser Of Doctor Hoyt; II appeared TO be sbsy
borse, switch tail, not very large; the negro was
Put into the wagon; the driver raised M in buggy,
whip In hard, and drove off south at full speed 1
can't recolect the persons who we're at the buggy :
the last saw OF Summers he was with the crowd :
the next day | saw Summers at the Arcade he said
to me there was considerable ut asst night
vas J GU much irjuredl said not very materially ;
Tut lhtusbt be vss rather fast IN throwing me Of
the sidev alk. .srd ssked him VI he thought was go
ing TO tpke the Learo apsy from them he Sail IA