Worcester daily spy., 1851-04-07
The Boston Fugitive Slave Case.

Inc examination OF Thomas Sims, alleged no
live from slavery, resumed at Boston, on Sa,urd
morning before Commissioner Curtis Seth ]. Tbomo.
OF Charestown, acting the attorney for the k;dr,n
pers, and Robert Ranoul, Jr., Ellis GRAY Loruo and
Samuel E. Sewal, for the defence
The Court House, on the day before, was ep,i,.I.
surrounded with chains, which the venerable Cbi.r
Justice Shaw and his associates were compelled 10 o.
under before they could reach the court room and ccm
mence their official duties in the courts of Massacbn
sets, a most shameful indigny to impose upon such
men, but which they bore with becoming fortimde and
resignation The gathering of people about the court
house was large throughout the morning, but no yio.
lence of any kind was threatened
The Georgia Slave Hunters, Burnett Bacon and De
Lyons, were escorted through the crowd by sroOo
force of policemen, and greeted as they passed
along with Kisses and groans om the assembled multi
tude. The substance of the proceedings before the
Commissioner may be related in few words
Edmund Brown sworn; testified that he knew ,be
prisoner and that he had been employed by Mr. Bacon
the attorney of the claimant to come on 10 Boston and
identify him, that he was to receive from him his ex
penses and whatever else he might choose to pay Had
known Sims upon the plantation Of James Potter, in
Georgia, where he had worked in the erection of ne
gro houses.
Johm D. Bacon, of Savannah, testified that the pris
oner was the person mentioned in the power of attorney
which he held from his master, auhorisng him 10 ar.
rest him as his property.
John BH sworn. Reside in Boston; know the COL
ored man under arrest. He came on in the vessel in
which was hand upon her last trip, from Savan.
nah to Boston. He had secreted himself on board and
was not discovered until the vessel approached the
wharf in Boston, The mate said to the Captain, when
he discovered him, that he had found prize, and the
Captain ordered him to be locked up in the rum which
was DONE The next morning, it being quite cold the
man was locked up in the cabin, and during the next
night he made his escape.
Cqhas J. Anes, mate of the vessel, whose testimo.
ny proved him to be very devil ncarnate testified to
the same facts with the additional recital of his own
proves in wrnging the of the helpless fugitive
and kicking him across the deck. The prisoner had
told him that he free man, That he was boru IL
Florida and into the State of Georgia. that there
he complained Of for coming into another State
and Gned $780, which he was unable to pay, and sold
as slave.
Capt Kabal Eldridge testified to the manner of find
ing the prisoner. Mr. S. DeLyon, regular specimen
of the Southern bloodhound testified that he came to
Boston at the request of the attorney of the claimant
that he had received from said claimants legal attorney
$3.50, and letter Of credit upon Jim H. Person. for
an indefinite amount. At this stage of the proceeding.
Mr. Sewal read certificate from ha Clerk of the Po.
lice Court Of Boston, stating that the prisoner was IN.
der bonds to appear witness in criminal proces,
in one of the Courts of this Commonwealth.
Mr. Sewall then read the following affidavit:
"Ihomas Sims, alias Joseph Santinna, on oath dc.
cares that he born in St. Augustine, in Florida,
that he has been free long he can remember, that
his free papers were eby him, many years ago, with
Morris Potter, of Savannah, who now probably, has
them. That these papers were obtained in ST. Angus
tine by his father, Spanard. He further states that
he never knew or heard of such person James Pot
ter, who now claims him his slave, till this morning
his
THOMAS X SIMS.
mark.
| Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk, Mass
Subscribed and sworn to by said Sims, before me,
S. E. SEWALL,
Justice Of the Peace
April 4, 1851
Mr. Ranloul stated the several points which the
defence would argue, and urged for the time neces.
sary to prepare to do them justice.
Mr.. Thomas endeayored to persuade the Commits.
sioner that his incompetence as court was not ar
guabe before him. The point went to prove him
trespasser in sitting there.
The Commissioner decided that he was bound to hear
an argument on the unconstituonality of the law, if
the counsel for the defence saw fit to insist upon it
The council for the defence urged that they should
have ill Thursday next to prepare. But the Commits
sioner decided that account of the great expense to
the city in Keeping under pay 100 men protect these
proceedings, he could not allow longer than till Monday,
and the hearing accordingly adjourned to IL O'Clock
on Monday.