The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-02

| to him.
Q-Hsd you any interview with Mr.. Albert
previously to this arrest
Al had several interviews with Mr.. Albert
be was pointed out to me three years ago | have
| lived here since 1898 my business brought Al
BERT and me together.
Q-Whst was that business
THAT ismy busipess- -,s, -,-. VT ,... -
R-ChepeateoJ 100 "
The CoRlmissioHer.-Yo need not answer
that question unless it has some connection with
this case
Mr. BrOwn-It is the Commissioners duty to
decide whether it has any connection with this
case.
Mr. Commissioner Lagraham-The witness is to
decide whether it has any connection with this
case.
The witness declined answering the question.
Q-ls any Of the correspondence between your
self and Mr.. knight in your possession
A-No, sir. Mr. knight asked me to witness
this power of attorney; it was at Congress Hall
GLOW many other persons were present.
About half dozen.
Q-Who were they?
A-Mr. Spencer a man named Davis, and
Owen Pennington.
Q-Nobody elsel
A-No, sir.
Q-Was not Albert there2
A-Yes. Mr.. Knight sent for me. ] can't say
who came for me. don't know this boy
Mr.. Hanbest renewed the application for q
postponement On Mr.. Browns suggestion, the
colored boy was sworn. lie was asked if he knew
the nature Of an oath by Mr.. Lehman. He an
swered
Yes, and that it was to tell the truth, and moth
ing but the truth. He said that If he had time
he could produce several witnesses, whose names
were Henry Gibson, Julia Simmons, Rebecca Sim
mons, Samuel Anderson, Mr.. Mason, some seven
miles in New Jersey, Mr. Burroughs in New
Jersey, and several others, whom he named, some
of whom were in Wilmington, Delaware.
Mr.. Hqnbed said-The decision of this ques-
ton is vitality important to the public as well as
to the boy This is the first case under the law
before a Commissioner and the public should
know whether this law clothes the Commissioner
with power to deliver to a claimant party who
has been arrested on a false preteDce, without
granting him reasonable time to consult his coun-
sci, to collect his witnesses and TO prepare his de-
fence. Whether a free colored man, who has
come from the State of New Jersey on An errand
Of business, and who has been arrested on the
charge of stealing chickens, and dragged before
a Commissioner, can under its provisions be sem
on his way to a slave State, and thus be thrown
into prison, out Of which no writ Of h0beas cor
yus, no judicial act whatever, can take him.
such be the construction Of the word summary
no free colored man in Pennsylvania is safe. M
| free colored man is out OF the power OF u +. Al
| berti and his accomplish Price.
| Mr.. Commissioner asked how long continu
ance WAS wantedl
Mr.. Brown said only an hour.
The Commissioner then said that he had al
ready been there three hours and that before h
came, the man had been kept in the adjoinin
room for more than an hour
Mr. Pierce stated that the boy had been toll
that he had been arrested for chicken stealing
and that he had not known, until he had bee
brought before the Commissioner, that he ha
been arrested as fugitive; and then the first op
portunity was permitted him for consulting will
his counsel. That the Commissioner has refused
TO grant him continuance for short time fol
that purpoue but had directed the examination Il
proceed instantly and that the colored man has
been surrounded by strangers, and could not senC
for his friends
The prisoner here said that he had sent.
The Commissioner at this point directed mes
senger to bring him certificate. This occasione
some delay
Samuel Anderson, one of the witnesses, resd
ing in Philadelphia, who had been named by tn
boy, was now brought into Court and sworn;
know this boy his name is Adam Gibson
have known him all my lifetime; he lived i
Cecil county, Maryland when | first knew hin
he liv d with Robert Robinson he after that live
with Parson Davis we lived six miles apart; tn
water divided us; | never heard Parson Dav
say that he was his property | heard his mothe
say he belonged to Parson Davis; | never kne
him to live with Mr.. knight in 1913 he lived
Kent county, Maryland, and lived with Parse
Davis know Of no relationship between Knigl
and Davis ! understood that he was set free b
his master, at his death ! know Of one DO
knight had, called Emery, that carried q sprin
horse about; am certain that this is not Emer
that lived with Mr.. knight; Emery was rattle
taller, not quite 80 stout built aud was much olde
than this boy ! WAS born In 1923; knew M
Knights boy Emery some thirteen years ago
know they called him Emery Rice; he is no
about 90 years Of age
CrOSS- Erdmiaed-He first lived with Rober
, Robinson he then lived after that with Parse
Davis, and afterward with Dr. Davis; his nam
was Adam Gibson; in Cecil county, Maryland,
lived with John b. Schell | knew Emery goiD
about with Mr. Knights spring horse this DO
never went about with spring horse came
Philadelphia in n steamboat.
Q-Were you slave and who was your ma
ter
Al never had master.
Mr.. Bushell lived about six miles from knight
house the water divided us; believe he col
tinued to live with DIR. Davis; his name ws
Adam; he lived in Kent county, Md; | nevs
knew him called by any other name
Here Mr.. Brown real q copy Of the will
DR. Henry Davis, freeing at his death, all h
slaves, upon condition that they would 90
Africa, this Adam being one of them. The wi
was certified by the Register Of that county
Dnui WiikmS, who had been found in II
crowd, sworn.--l live in Fettersville State
New Jersey knew the father aud mother Of th
boy some twenty years ago; this boy was then
small child | did not know his name his moti
er's name was Charity; she lived with Parse
Davis, in Kent county, Maryland left ther
some twenty years ago. I returned 20 pay Wis
in lsla; saw this boy Adm Gibson there then
that was the first knowledge ] had Of Parse
Days's death; can't say how long he hal bee
dead before that, as he had died Since left thi
boys mother was free then, and this boy was liv
lng then he had no master then never kue'
Mr. Knight nor his slave Emery when was dow
there his mother and he were living on Nil
farm, Sassafras Neck It did not belong to Nose
Cannon don't know who owns Il now
Cross Eramaed.-l left there when | was abou
% years old was slave, aud belonged to MI
Stevens; bought my time Of my master, and h
set me free
Mr. Price addressed the Commissioner In behal
1 of tha dafance He spoke of fhe oharacter of IN