The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-02
From the New York Tribune.
KIDNAPPING IN PHILADELPHIA.
Human Liberty under the Fugitive Slave Law.
CASE OF GIBSON.

hIUN1ffIAu IN IHlL1DL UTHIh'
Human Liberty under the Fugitive Slave Law.
CASE OF GIBSON.
friend in Philadelphia has procured for US
the following authentic account mainly as report
ed for the Led{e, of the recent case of atrocious
kidnapping under the shelter of the Fugitive
Slave Law Adam Gibson, the alleged land false
ly goUsd) Fugitive Slave, was seized last Sstur-
day, taken before Edward J. Ingraham, United
States Commissioner, and forthwith adjudged
slave and hurried off into slavery. But be hap
pened to fall into the hands of an honest and con-
scentious man, who knew at glance that he was
not the person he was sworn to be, and refused to
receive him as such. That might happen in an
other case, and then it might not Just consider
the facts
The prisoner was arrested while standing at
the corner Of Second and Lombard streets by
three men-Georgs II. Albert, William McKin-
ley, and Robert Smith - who thrust him into q
carriage, telling him that he was charged with
stealing The carriage was driven toward the
State House, and when it arrived there the pris-
oner was carried up stairs. Soon after, counsel
for the prisoner who had been sent for arrived
and demanded of MIR Albert his warrant. Mr.
Albert had none, and the prisoners counsel ad-
vsed him that he was at liberty to go but he
not seeming to understand the plot of which he
was the victim declared that he was charged with
stealng--that he was an innocent man. and had a
right to be regularly cleared. Mr. Alberti then
seized and handouffed him, and he was taken into
the jury room, where he was detained in custody
until MIR. lngrahsm arrived.
A young man. about twenty years Of age, was
brought before the Commissioner, by George
f. Albert, who claimed him by virtue Of power
Of attorney, as a fugitive from labor the property
IF William 81 X ni1hf ~ ffa~5l ma Marv.
land
w. < Lehmsn, Esq- appeared for the claimant I,
w. s. Pierce and + q. Hanbest, Esqs., appeared
for the Respondent.
Mr. Pierce said that the respondent had been
only arrested an hour and half before and that
until then ne had been confined in a room by
hin.selk And bad not heard the charge against
him That consequently his counsel had neither
time 10 make themselves acquainted with the
claimants case, nor to prepare the defence. That
there were persons residing at distance, some
in New Jersey and some in Wilmington, Della
ware who would be important witnesses In his
behalf lie therefore hoped that the Commits
soner would grant a continuance, as Judge Grier
had done in the case of Garner.
Mr.. Lehmaa said-lIe hoped there would be no
continuance The law had contemplated sum-
mary hearing. He asked the Commissioner to
deliver this property to its owner TO execute the
law, and to save the Union.
Commissioner IagrahGm said-The hearing is to
be asummary one; let it proceed.
George T. Price, sworn have seen that power
Of attorney before, and that is my signature
George w. Spence was present when signed il
he resides in Maryland George +. Albert was
likewise present knew William s. Knight in
Cecil county, Maryland my store and place Of
business is No ~ Bank street w. s. gave his
power of attorney to Albert. (Mr. Lehman read
the power of Attorney
James s. Price, sworn.-I know w s knight
he lives in Cecil county, Maryland; | knew his
property in negroes; | knew Emery Rice; the
way knew him. kept little store on the main
road In Cecil county he passed my store with
Mr.. knights spring horse | resided at Chester
Greek | traded there with horse and wagon ;
! traded in market some seven miles from old
Chester my children worked in a factory; |
have followed selling oysters latterly | live now
at No Is Vernon street have lived there three
years Mr. knight is a tall man, he Is taller than
| suppose he is thirty odd years old he lives
in Cecil county, three or four miles below Freder
icktown was born there | have known Mr.
Knight fifteen or twenty years expect Knight
was born there; have known this Emery Rice
some four years ! did not know him until
moved back to Cecil county, and all the know
ledge have of his being slave was seeing hin
pass my house with Mr.. Knights spring horse
II might have been TWO months since converse0
with Mr. Knight; ! can't recolect the time that
he ran away think he ran away about 1870
] moved in ls45; | can't say how many slaves
MIR. knight had never worked with this Emery
Rice he was not there at the time | worked
there worked with Mr.. knight in 1888; he
had but one man and some children he had ran
away before 1882 ! can't say how old Emery
Rice was when he run away he was q man
grown and looked to be 81 or 22 years old | can't
say how long knew him; knew him in 1898 or
1888; worked for knight again in 1893 he was
a man grown then knew Rice in 1888; meant
TO say in lSi3 meant to say he had run away
in 1913 Knight had other slaves in his employ
ment in 1888.
QSestiOH.-By Mr.. Pierce.-DO you know that
Rice was slave?
Aamer.-I know that he worked for Mr. knight,
and heard IL said that he was a slave.
Q-The Commissioner When a colored man
is engaged at work for a STAKEHOLDER in Mary
land the presumption is that he is slave
Q-By Mr. Hanbest-Are not many free col
Ored persons employed at service In the State Of
Maryland by slsvebolders7
AT harvest time.
Cat no other times
A.-Sometimes In cutting wood ,
Gu no other way
Al can't say that there are not colored per-
sons employed who are not slaves.
Mr.. Hanbest here asked whether this question
was to be decided by the laws Of Maryland or
by him.
MIR IDgraham said ii was to be decided by the
laws Of Maryland.
aalya 81 a.. Ia. LafL No