The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-31
The Fugitive Slave Case.
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.

Nelson.
AuG 80 A few minutes after 10 o'clock, yester lay
Mr.. Commissioner Nelson took his seat in the United
OF Barnett ard Anderson against John Bodng claimed
by them ms fugitive slave, the having been ad-
jourDed from Friday afternoon.
MIR. Culver the part of the defence, made q lengthy
speech, in the Of which he in
terms the qualifications Of the evidence brought for
ward by the opposite side to that his client
African descent He stated that he advocating the
Of humanity, and appealed to the synpathes OF
tbose around HIM. lie spoke for about hiatt an hour
and said be did not consider shoems kers taiiors or
wLeelwights competent judges OF the physiological dis
nctions in such case as this; and the other lie
had produced evidence which they called expert. lie
hoped the Commissioner would allow him TO bring for
ward witnesses who under the legal accep,aton OF
term expert were judges Of the peculiar distinctions
that characterize the different families of the human
race.
when Mr.. c. concluded, Alfred C. Post was sworn,
and he testified as oilows:--I reside in this city, ANA
ply stefan After question or two more, Boiling
told TO sit by the side OF the witness and after exan
ing him witness resumed My opinion is that he is
hall Indian; i think by his prominent cheek
bones his black straight hair and his eyes his general
physognomy has the resemblance Of an Indian hi, ge-
neral complexion indicates mixture of white blood;
bad lot known that he from South Carolina =
slave State would not suppose he had any African
blood in him; did not him before l came INFO The
court room, this morning.
l.. s Waldo svoru--l live in Poughseepsie: am a
Clergyman; have known John Bcidiug since Ia lived
there which is about three four years ne has
married since first knew hin; performed the
riEse eere monies; by observation have become
quainted with several Indian tribes; first seeing him
my impression that there African blood in him
knowing whence he came; but meeting him several
times my impression was that he was an Indian;
thought from the general expression of his features
Mcclure Smith (colored) sworn-I live in this city;
] an Ihyscian have iGe the science Of physiology
study for several years have examined the prisoner
Boldps; thiuk it can be demonstrated by the sciences
Of etLpogrphy which is the history races that he
is part white and part Indian with very little OF the
mixture OF African, II sny the adu fixture of
parent gives the offspring the bony part ani the
other parent the soft If the skeleton OF the mattto ia
Caucasian the soft part will be African in such If
the hsir was straight, the skull would have the
srnf.N fha
the Caucasian the Indian, and the negro there will be
some ira ces of the latter;
Johns conformation, as far az his skeleton IL
duced work Of DR. Richard, entitled " hgsical
Researches into the History Of Mankind" showing
nistts Of the various tribes of the human race.
The coctor showed 10 the court plates in which
the formations Of the African and Indian head,
were contracted, and made some leagthy add in Iced,
learned remarks on the physiological distinctions
that characterize the two races lie brought for
ward small boy VINO, he said. part iadian and
The mother and father Of the boy the former Indian
the latter nnat,o. were ia the court. Their names
sere Panel The father had visible Of the Indian
in bis features and be stated that he claimed part
eestIy to that race. Mr. Smith read. at leug,h,
distinctions Of the different families OF the hunla races
after which he said according TO the doctrines Of the
blood in John The curl ia his hair is MT the African
curl lean see many around who have more curl in
their hair than John has yet believe they purely o.
In to a question from Me Wood. Dr. Smith re.
pied That his father was defendant Of the pdri;aas
rial Carcssian- and his mother m ilatto.
l.. v Fowler sworp,i reside In this city; Cor many
years my principal business has been lsc:grng on plre
noogy aud physiology; have made examination Of
John head this rcrning II hal exarlinei his head
blindfoided should say there African blood Ia
him; Mr. Fowler bought forward skulis--oue Of
which lie said, was that u Iniiin, and she oths-
That 81 a genuine Airican--snd explained. ~ gF-at
length. the distinguishing pecu ariti,s aaI
formations Of each IL sSd the sEpll Of tha .fricaa
is asa general feature, elongated from the car
backwards than that Of the ludln the crown OF tho
Africans head Is notso high M that OF the INDIAN the
prominent occput IL general characteristics OF the Ar
cen; the Indians head Il deficient In this point: the
Africans does not turn up Johu's does; have
Lsvtr see case where IL did, his chin il the for
nation CT African chin: the Artisans lover law
always pfCirudes; his the resemblance Of
an Africans eyt sor-s OF the Cibbeway Indians in
ny ofice two days ago and thcir hair wa the sarl
a. Johns; John has not the curly hair Of ID, Afri.
can. aud his head Is shaped like that Of the lldian;
II be- has any African blood ia him Il Is not than
two iVentieths does not think he has than SEQ
worth a African blood In him from the best Of NJ
judgment think there j. African blood ia h
than there Is in Mr. conway the Indian chief: have
years
Rev Mr.. Grinnsii, Of Washington city Mr. weua.
hfcnoiog st and several Others sworn but their
evidence was corrobora'ive q the preceding al main
taihrg that ne was almo purely Indian. admix-
tuFe 81 the white and Indian with possibility that
there might have beea small fractional part % the
African blood flowing IN his veins
About Three hours occupied IL sIsmury I'D and
NM ntinZ uTon The evidence Law. claims, &c both
sides after which the Com-ns oner adjourn. tn ease
tl eleven o'clock On Monday tomorrow The Court
- from few minutes ait,r 10 4 ", ems y. TIE
dec ion all likely he in favor q the plaintiffs but
utd'riand he money Ia already made " e. iarcls5s
the e.i-ndaL: