Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-02-17
WORCESTER DAILY SPY:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1851.
FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE.
C4-aonE Rascma

About noon on Saturday, Marshall Devens aires
ted an alleged fugitive slave at Tafts Ccrnhi Coffee
House in Boston, on warrant issued by Commits
sioner George Ticknor Curtis, complaint of John
Kupper, agent of John DeBree, purser in the U.
5. Navy, residing at Norfolk, Va Samuel E. Sew.
all, Ellis Gray Ioring. Richard II. Dana, Jr., and
others, appeared as counsel for the prisoner.
The defendant has gone by the name Of Frederick
Wilkins in Boston, but is described in the complaint
as &c Shadrach." The documents on which the war
rant was issued were read before the commissioners
The Traveller says:
''They consisted Of various dispositions taken be-
fore the United States Judge at Norfolk, the effect
that Shadrach the true and lawful slave of John
DeBree, and that he escaped the Sd of May, 1850
One deposition was to the effect that the deponent
had seen Shadrach in Norfolk the slave of DeBree,
and afterwards in Boston, where Shadrach told him
that he had escaped from DeBree; other dispositions
were TO the effect that they had seen Shadrach in
Norfolk as the slave of DeBree.
At the conclusion of the reading of the documents,
the Commissioner postponed the further considera-
ton of the case to Tuesday next, at 10 A. NJ
The Court Room was then gradually cleared ofits
occupants, the prisoner remaining in the custody Of
Deputy Marshal Riley and his assistants. The Coun-
with him as to the line of defence.
The prisoner is Of dark copper complexion, about
3 feet inches high, Of rather stout build He has
been employed waiter for about three months at
what is known as the CornhIl Coffee House, kept
by Mr.. Taft At the time of the excitement relative
to Craft and his wife, the prisoner left the city and
went Eastward, but afterwards returned. He ap-
peared In Court with his walters apron on, and
seemed calm and composed.
AT / O'Clock the irIUav nf tho Court r onn1 anf
the avenues of the Court House were crowded witt
blacks and whites, males and females, but no act
OF violence or threats were made.
About two O'clock after the consultation of law
yers had ceased, and Mr.. Davis, the last lawyer
was leaving the room, (Which had been locke,
since the adjournment Of the hearing, with severa
oilcers stationed at each door, the door was orcib
thrown open by band of colOred men, who witt
loud cries of tear him away filled the room t
the number of hundred or more
The officers at the door were kicked, cuffed, an
knocked about in every direction, and notwithstand
ing the resistance of posse of about twenty stron
upon the inside, the prisoner was seized by the mo
and carried off in triumph
One negro seized the sword of the United State
Marshal and hourished it about the heads Of all VIII
opposed hun. The sword was afterwards found i
the street, and taken back.
NO adequate description can be given of the seen
IN the Court Room. The attack was so sudden an
unexpected that the officers had not time to make
defence or gather around the prisoner We do NJ
hear that any weapons were used, or that any on
was seriously injured. We believe there were n
white persons engaged in the rescue.''
We rejoice to add to the above that, when tn
last train left Boston Saturday afternoons no accour
had been received of the recapture of the allege
fugitive, though the human blood-hounds were o,
IN full force in pursuit of him. We trust he will e
cape their tender mercies.