The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-04-15
More Excitement in BOstOn-- Case of the
Fugitive Slave Simms.

"A dispatch OF the 4th inst. from Boston, give,
the particulars OF the arrest there at late hour
| the night of the Sd, Of the fugitive slave Thomas
Smms, from Savannah, Ga He was taken by a
Deputy u. s. Marshal, assisted by members of the
police and watch. He at first supposed that he
was arrested for drunkenness, but as he reached
the Courthouse, the true nature OF the case was
made known, when the cry OF kidnapper was
raised, and the. prisoner drew knife and stabbed
Officer BuckmaA in the groin. He was, however
safely lodged in the Courthouse. AT about 10
o'clock, an abolition lawyer, named Samuel E.
Sewell, met Deputy Marshal Reilly in the street.
and was so violent and abusive that he was sent to
the Watch house, where he remained for an hour
Late in the night Fletcher Webster, Daniel Web
sters son, found Waterman ringing the bell of
Stones Chapel, and supposing an alarm of fire had
been raised by the abolitonists in order to collect
a mob, he ordered the Waterman to desist Mr.
Webster attempted to drag the man from the rope,
and afterwards assaulted him. The officer called
for assistance, and Mr. Webster was taken to the
Watch. house, and thence to the Jail.
The next morning the Court house was COM
pletey surrounded by Marshal Turkey and his police
officers, who drew chain completely about it.
There was large crowd about the place, few of
whom were blacks. .....
The examination of the fugitive slave was com
menced at 3 O'Clock, before Commissioner G.. L.
Curtis. Seth J. Thomas appeared for claimant
the Hon. Robert Rantoul, Chas. &. Loring and s.
E. Sewell, for the fugitive.
The complaint was then read, alleging that Sims
escaped from James Potter, rice planter, Chatham
county, Ca, on the 22d February last. Several
DISPOSITIONS of persons in Savannah were read, to
the effect that they knew Simms as the slave of
James Potter Some deposed that Smms had con-
essed that he was the slave OF Potter; and, also,
that bis mother had acknowledged that both she
and her son were the slaves Of Potter.
Edward Burnett testified thai he lived in Sa-
vannah that he knew Thos. Simms the prisoner at
the bar Simms had worked with him at brcklav-
ing had told him that he was the slave of Potter
also heard his mother say thai she and her son We're
slaves of Potter
John T.. Bacon, the agent of the owner, testified
that he had known Thomas Simms well for long
period II years /; he has resided in Savannah and
was the slave of James Potter had lived within
sixty yards of his mother, and the prisoner passed
my house twice day going 10 his work am posi-
tive that Simms is the man; have seen the mother
of Simms pay over his wages 10 Potter in Simm's
presence. There was one other witness, but his
testimony was not put In.
Defendants counsel prayed for delay until Tues
day, but the Commissioner only granted a post
pcnemeht for t~enty-iour hours. The counsel for
the defence stated that they believed Simms TO be
a free man, even under the laws of Georgia.
The case was then adjourned until the 9TH, and
the Court house cleared. Simms remained III
room in the Court house, fitted up for such an
emergency, and so far every thing has been quiet.
The police guarded the Courthouse. But few
blacks were 10 be seen. Simms has, it is said,
wife and children who are free, in Savannah, and
who are about to Join him.
The case of Fletcher Webster was brought be-
fore the police court, and he gave bonds TO appear
next week TO answer to the charge of assauiting a
policeman. The Supreme Court refused 10 grant
a writ of habeds corpus in the case of Simms
AT half past O'clock, p. M, on The 4th, the fol-
lowing notice was issued from the Commonwealth
office, and published about the streets:
"pubiic IHseliuy-Hl1aaDDsfs an ROsfOn.-Msu of Ros
slave huners He is in the imminent desdy peril the
citizens Of Boston and its neghboood earnestly invited
to assemble without arms, in front OF the State house. at
half past oclock M, 10 consult for the public goods
The crowd continued large about the Court.
house, and the blacks began 10 appear in consider
able numbers
In the Legislature the same day, the following
petition was presented:
" That the of the State house yard be granted to the
enoon TO take into consideration the arrest Of elzen OF
Massachusetts, under the operation of The fugitive slave law
protection of citizens OF Massachusetts
. Mr.. Gushing, Of Newbury, spoke IN opposition
o the petition, and moved that it be laid on the
able.
Mr.. Keith, Of Roxbury, moved that it be laid
under the table.
The motion TO lay il on the table was carried by
l4l yeas to ll3 nays.
The meeting OF those opposed to the enforce
nent of the fugitive slave law was accordingly
leld on the Common.
The meeting was called to order by the Rev.
Mr.. Colyer, and Mr.. ID. Howe was appointed
Wendell Phillips addressed the meeting He
spoke OF the Courthouse in chains. He hoped the
people would come in from the country in such
solid columns as to block up the streets and pre-
the fugitive from being carried OIL except over
their heads. He reoiced that the law could not be