The republic., 1851-02-22
THE REPUBLIC.
cs.. ss nIisnr wright.

District Attorney rose and stated that, since the
adiournment Of the court, a proclamation by the
President in relation 70 the rescue on Saturday had
been received from Washington, and, as he could
conceive Of no moro suitable place for the reading
| of such document than public court he moved
that the proclamation be read by the United States
marshal.
Mr. scwali rose to object.
Mr.. Lunt said to him, you have nothing to do
| with this matter
The commissioner also said to him, don't SEQ,
Mr.. Sewall that you, counsel, have any thing to
do in this matter.
Mr.. SewalI.-As amicus curie, may be allowed
| to suggest that the document is not authentic. IL
| s such bunging affair, that should not be sur
prised lift should turn out to be hoax and should
sorry to have hoax imposed upon the good people
| here.
Mr.. Lunt replied. that there doubt of the
authenticity Of the proclamation, and the commits
sioner ordered il to be read by the rshal and
| read 1t accordingly.
Calvin Hutchins was the first witness called
ployed on Saturday by the United States marshal
was placed at the door of the court room, to pass
| in such persons az had orders to admit was at
the door when Mr.. Wright came-whcn opened
| the door to SEQ who was at 1t, several persons
caught hold Of the door 70 pull il topcn--I kept them
all back. Mr.. Wright said he belonged to the
| press. and had right to come in-I sent word to
Mr.. Riley that Mr.. Wright wanted to come in--I
then received orders 10 let him ip.
| don't recollect Mr.. Wright going out till he
went out directly in front Of Mr.. Davis. heard
some words between Mr. Riley and Mr.. Wright
soon after he went in, but did not hear what they
were, except that Mr.. Riley said something about
| Mr.. Wright's being put out. heard the call Of
"come inn at the time the green door was forced.
| think Wright could not have got through the
crowd. Davis was in the crowd outside When
| Wright passed out, Davis and Mr.. Byrnes were
talking; SO that Wright, should think, passed
| by Davis in going out Of the door. Davis had bold
| Of the door at one time-perhaps the time he was
speaking with Mr.. Byrncs Blows were passed at
me, and some kicks. got hold Of one OF them
that kicked. saw the fugitive brought out. -Four
| or five had hold of him. i had been crowded back
| from the door. There were some white people
among the crowd at the head of the stairs. They
joined in the hurra, or some OF them did. When
attempted to get to the door was slated back.
Cross. examIned-Mr Wright appeared to be
agitated when he first came He was out Of breath.
Charles Sawin.-I have been deputy marshalov
month-was an assistant at the courtroom
Saturday-heard the call ''takc him out boys''-I
saw Mr.. Wright standing in the crowd, and he was
sayiug-"In-i fy
Cross -examined.--I was at the baze door at the
time--it was far enough open to admit man. at
the time saw Mr.. Wright, and heard him saying
CHIN" There were two or three black niggers
between me and Mr.. Wright. They were short
men, and could see Mr.. Wright over their heads;
but some Of tho crowd wcro real big bull niggers
am an American-was born at South Naiick
never kept gambling house; nor bawdy house.
Was dropped one year as constable on account OF
false misrepresentation, which proved to be 80, and
was re- appointed afterwards.
The cross examination of Mr.. Sawin having been
concluded Mr.. Lunt rose and stated that he should
rest the case for the prosecution here.
Mr.. Sewall, for the defence, maintained
that nothing had been proved which the defendant
could be called upon oanswer to. 1t had not been
proved that Shadrack was slave, or that he
the person who was named in the warrant.
Mr.. Lunt for the prosecution, contcuded that it
was sufficient that it had been shown that the per-
son named was in the custody of the law.
Mr. Hildrcth, for the defence, replied that if the
person arrested was not the person named he had
inhf IN hill the m rshal all his an
thanked God that such the law OF the land.
He also made some sharp remarks about the man
ner in which the commissioners had ruled some
points in tho course Of the examination, and the
commissioner directed him 10 be seated.
Mr.. Sewall said he thought Mr.. Hidreth, as
counsel, had right to be heard.
The commissioner replied that he preferred to
address Mr.. Sewall as he had raised the points
der discussion M
The commissioner. after some further discussion,
held that it was sufficient to prove that the party
named in the warrant was an alleged slave. This
he found established by the papers under the seal
of court of record at Norfolk
Mr.. Riley was now recalled, and testified to the
return which he had made on the warrant, that he
had arrested the within named Shadrack, and
further that he had been in his custody in the court
room, and that he was forcibly rebcued from the
court room, he being at the time in his custody.
icient to give the court jurisdiction, and to hold
the defendant answerabe, if he had aided or abct-
! ted in the escape.
|
that il was not supposed that two of the witnesses
had intended to testify falsely. If they had erred,
it be attributed to the excitement of the oc-
casion; but with regard to Mr. Byrnes. it would be
| argued that he had come into court intending TO
swear the through, without any regard to truth
or justice. It would be proved that Mr.. Wright
was employed on Saturday forenoon that he
could not have been engaged in concerning any
plan for the rescue Of the fugitive; and that when
he did come to the court room, at late hour, 1t
only in his capacity as areporter for tue news
paper, with which he wns connected
William II. Jamcson.-l saw MIR. Wright at the
Adams house between IL and o'clock on Satur-
day forenoon, at committee meeting in regard to
paper. There were about thirty persons present.
went up there to communicate the fact that a u-
gitivc slave had been arrested. stated it to Mr..
Wright. 1t was nearer o'clock than IL, should
think. About half-past J., cav Mr. Wright COM
ing up the stairs in the court. house. l saw nm
enter the court ROOM He was admitted after he had
stated he was reporter. did not go in. think he
spoke to ono about the door. He spoke to me He
was there two minutes before he got in. lie re-
marked, that he had to stay with the committee, rs
a reason for not getting at the court house sooner.
Cross examined.--I was acquainted with only
three persons outside; talked with one or two of
them. DIR. Hanscomb, Mr. Lockwood, and Rev.
Mr.. Grimes were the persons knew. Mr.. Grimes
wanted permission 10 speak to the fugitive
Samuel Downer, jr.-I was present at meet
| ing at the Adams House on saturday noon 1t was
| a meeting of the trustees subscribers OF the
Commonwealth. Mr.. Wright was there Saw him
| near the close of the meeting. II was near two
o'clock whom the meeting broke up.
| Gross examined.--l was once requested to con.
sent to be placed on a committee whose duty would
be to see that persons arrested as fugitive slaves
should have all proper legal defence.
| DR.. James W. Stone also testified to seeing Mr..
Wright at the meeting of the proprietors OF the
| close of the meeting. The fact of the arrest was
| not communicated to the meeting generally for
fear it would cause the breaking up OF the meeting
] am committee for providing legal defence tor
| fugitive slaves
| Charles G. Davis esq.-I was in the courtroom
when MIR. Wright came in. There was some con-
vcrsation. Mr.. Riley said he did not know how
the fact was, but he supposed If gentlemen were so
disposed they could buy the man.
Mr. Riley said he would be glad to give twenty five
dollars towards buying him, and getting rid OF the
trouble of the case. MIR. Wright sad he would
rather give fifty dollars to purchase persons who
hnnicd eriiivc ala for their southcrn