The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-02-22
Fugitive Slave Case

About noon at Boston on Saturday,
Deputy Marshal Riley, and assistants,
arrested at the Corn Hill Coffee house,
an alleged fugitive slave, one Frederick
Wilkins, or Shadrack, negro waiter
on warrant issued by the u. S. Com
missioner, G. T. Curtis, on complaint
that the accused was the property of
John De Bree, Purser in the L. S. Ma
w, OF Virginia. He was taken with no
opposition, and carried Immediately to
the L. S. Court room.
The news of the arrest spread rapidly,
and the Court room was speedily filled
by large crowd ofrather excited spec
tators. The examination, however,
went off quietly. Seth J. Thomas APP
peared for the claimant, and MeSsrs.
Small, Elias Grey, Corning, and others,
! for the defence.
The counsel for the defendant desired
a postponenent, upon the ground that
time would be wanted to get together
evidence, and prepare for defence.
! The commissioner said he was disposed
to grant this. In the meantime, for the
| information of defendants couLs the
documents upon which the warrant was
issued were read by Seth J. Thomas,
Esq, counsel for claimant. They con.
sisted of various dispositions taken be-
fore the United States Judge at Norfolk,
to the effect that Shadrach was the true
and lawful slave Of John De Bree, and
that he escaped on the Sd of May 1880.
At the conclusion of the reading OF
the documents, the commissioner post
poned the further consideration OF the
case to Tuesday next, at 10, A. NJ.
The deputy marshal then ordered the
room to be cleared Of spectators, which
was gradually done. The prisoner re-
manned in the custody ola dozen men;
as, by law of the State, the Jail cannot
be used to imprison fugitive slaves.
His counsel wishing to consult with
him, they We're readily admitted to the
room to the number of half a dozen.
They remained about an hour, and in
the meantime large crowd of negroes
gathered upon the outside, blocking up
the court room; and, as the door was
opened to let the last lawyer leave the
room, the mob from without suddenly
rushed in, sliced, and knocked down the
officers in keeping, and filled the court
room. The prisoner himscllwas fright
ened at their demoniac appearance, and
fled, with a cry of murder, to the farther
end of the room.
He was, however, secured by the mob
who had speedily siIenced the opposi-
ton of the few officers in the room, and
taken in triumph down the stairs, and in
to the street. The officers did not at
tempt to follow, and with shouts of tri-
umph the mob hurried off with the flu
gitive, and We're last seen in the vicinity
of Belknap street, where negroes chiefly
congregate.
While the mob was in the courtroom
the sword of the marshal, hanging in
the sheath over his desk, was drawn by
one of them and tlourished over the
heads of the officers. 1t was afterwards
found in the street. The mob showed
no weapons, though number ofthe ne
grocs boosted of having revolvers in their
possession. One negro, in his flight,
dropped his knife.
BosroN, Feb. 1S.-Johh Fey, the
ring-leader in the mob of Friday nj ght
growing out OF the arrest Of Shadrack,
the alleged fugitive slave who was res
cued by the aboitionists, has been ar
rested. Z. Wright editor ofthe Ch;on.
otype, and young lawyer named Davis
have also been arrested as aiderS and
abettors. Fey has been released in three
thousand dollars bail.
BosroN, Feb. lo.-The examination
of Ellzur Wright, charged with partici-
pating in the rescue of Shadrack Wilkins
was continued in the court to-day. AT
the opening of the court, Mr.. Lunt mo-
we'd that the proclamation of the Presi-
dent of the United States, relative to
the riot, be read in court by the U. S.
Marshal.
BosroN, Feb. 2O-6 p. M.-Thc OK
animation of Elizur Wright was con.
tinucd to-day: 1t resulted in his being
held to bail in the sum of $4,000 for
appearance at the United States Court,
on the third Tuesday in March next.
Mr.. Sewell entered the required bail.