North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-12
From the same paper.


REPoRr OF THE EXAMINATION OF THE FUGITIVE
SIMS. At O'Clock yesterday forenoon Thomas
Sims. mulatto, the alleged fugitive slave. who was
arrested on Thursday night, was brought before
George T. Curtis, esq.,. u. S. Commissioners, on the
complaint of John B. Beacon, agent and attorney of
James Potter, of Chatham county, Georgia, alleged
owner of the said Sims.
Col. Seth ]. Thomas appeared counsel for Mr..
Beacon, and G. G. Loring, Robert Rantoul, jr, and
S. E. Sewall, as counsel for Sims.
After the complaint and warrant thereon had been
read, COL Thomas proposed to put in the authentca-
ted documentary evidence brought on by Mr.. Beacon.
according to the provisions of the Fugitive law.
The counsel for Sims objected to the proceeding
with that hearing, the ground that they had had
opportunity of conyersing with Sims, and ascertaining
what his defence Mr.. Sewall said he believed,
if time allowed, he should be able to show that
Sims was free by the laws of Georgia, he is by
the laws of Massachusetts. The counsel said, how
ever that they had objection to the reading of the
Georgia papers, de bene esse. 4
Colonel Thomas insisted upon his right to pro-
coed with the on the compliments side by put
ting in the proofs. so Sc -
The commissioner said the law required the pro-
ceedings to be summary, which he understood to
mean that they were to be conducted with as much
expedition as was compatible with regular judicial
proceedings The object of the requirement proba-
bly was that claimant should not be unnecessarily
detained in prosecuting his claim. and thereby be
put to large expense. But whenever legal and prop
er grounds for delay were shown. it would be gram
ted in this as in any other judicial proceeding. He
saw no reason why the claimants proofs should not
be put in forthwith, and if the defence were not pre-
pared to go into the cross-examnation, Il could be
deferred until all the written and oral testimony had
been put in by the other side.
:. Col. Thomas now proceeded to the power of at
torney given to Mr.. Beacon BY James Potter, and
authencation thereof Next the disposition of John
Williamson. Adam Short, Edward Pendergast, and
NJ Sheftoll, r., all of Chatham county, Georgia, de-
scribinp Sims, and declaring that they had long
known him as the property of James Potter planter,
of said county and that he escaped in February last
Covering these affidavits was the prescribed GER
tfcate of Henry R. Jackson, Judge of the superior
court of the eastern dstrt of the State of Georgia
He certifes that the said Potter, having BY such
witnesses thoroughly and satisfactorily made oct said
ownership of said slave and said escape and having
also proved by said witness the general description of
the said slave with such convenient certainty as
might be- he causes the necessary papers for the
clamation of Sims be made ont, authenticated and
furnished to the said Potter provided by the stat
ute.
The counsel for the defence gave notice that they
had weghty objections to offer at the proper time to
the legal sufciency of the authorization ofthe pow
er ofattorney, the deposons and other certified pa
pers.
The oral testimony was commenced by calling Ed
ward Burnett who testified that he belonged to Sa-
vannah !; that he knew Sims there; had known him
some ten months, and that his name was Thomas
Sims had worked on the same scaftoid with him
at bricklaying some months worked with him last
August and September; had, while working with
him, asked him. whether he was slaye Or free. He