The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-02-26
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN BOSTON.

ARREST OF A FUGITIVE SLAVE AND
HIS RESCUE BY A MOB.
About noon at Boston on Saturday. Depu.
" Matshal Riley, aad assistants, arrested a.
The Corn Hill Coffee house, an alleged fusi
tive slave, one Frederick Wilkins, OF Sbad.
rack, a negro wafer, on n warrant issued by
the U. s. Comm. sonet, &. /. Curtis, on
compliant thai the accused was the property
Of John DeBtee, Putser in the U. 5. Navy.
Of Virginia. He was taken with no opposi.
ton, and carried Immediately to the U. s.
Court room. The Traveller gives The annex
ed particulars:
The news Of the arrest spread rapidly, and
the Court room was speedily filed by large
crowd OF rather excited spectators. The
examination, however, went of quietly. 5.
J. Thomas appeared for the claimant and
Messrs. Small, Grey and Cofing, and others,
for the defence.
The counsel COR The defendant, desired a
pos poneneni, upon the ground that time
would be wanted 20 get together evidence,
and prepare ior defence. The commission
or said he was disposed TO grant this. 10
the meantime Cor the information Of de(en
dan,'s counsel, the documents upon which the
warrsnt was issued were read by 3. j. Tho
mas E.q., counsel for claimant. They con-
sisted Of various dsposltions taken before the
u. s. Judge at No.fok, to the effect that
Shadrsck was the true and lawful slave Of
Juhn DeBree. and that he escap. on the 3rd
Of MAY, 1850. Oiher documents were put
in To show how DeBree came possessed Of
the alleged fugitive one deposition was TO
the effect thar the dcponen, had seen Shad
rack IN Norfolk as he slave Of DrBree, and
aftersard, 10 Boston, where Shsdrack told
him that he had escaped from D-Btee. other
dispositions were to he effect that they had
seen Shadrack 10 Norfolk as he slave Of De.
Bfec.
Al the conclusion of the reading Of the
documents the commissioner postponed The
further coasider alton Of the case to Tuesday
next a, 10. A. NJ.
The deputy Marshall then ordered the room
to be cleared h,ch vas gradually done. The
prisoner remained 10 the custody Of | . men
as by law Of tie State the J,iI cannot be used
to lmpti.on fugitive slaves.
HIS counsel wishing to consul, with him,
they we're readily admitted to the room 10
the number Of a half dozen. They remain.
ed about an hour, and in the meantime a large
crowd Of negroes gathered upon the outside,
blocking up the entrance 20 the court. room,
, aud, Il, the door vas opened to let the first
lawyer leave the room, the mob from with.
; out suddenly rushed IN, seized, and knocked
down the officers N keeping, aud filed the
, court room. The prisoner himself sss ftIgh.
enrd at Their dcmo0lac appearances aud fled,
, "iih cry 4 nutjer, 70 the iaFiher end oil
tie 10 m.
+: He was however secured by Inc mob, who
had speedily sl.eoced the opposition Of the
few officers n The Dom and taken IN triumph
J down he stairs, and lulo the street. The Of
( iceS did not attempt TO follow, and with
|. shouts Of triumph the mob hurried on with
D the fugitive, aud were last seen in the vlcin
ny of Beknap street, where negroes congre
+ gate.
. While the mob was 10 the court room, the
z sword Of The marshall, banging IN the sheatt
over his desk, was drawn By one Of them ant
. llourished over the heads Of the officers. |
} was afterwards found in the street. The mol
:. showed no weapons, though number Of tn,
e negroes boosted of having revovers in the
6 possession. One negro, in his hlg ht, droppet
his knife.
Is There were several white persons 10 tn,
. mob but they did not appear to act IN the res
,. cue. The rescue Of course, caused great ex
u ci'cmcn, all over the city, os one Of the mos
o. daring ou'fages upon law and order ever en-
. acted. II IS though, impossible TO rc.arres
'e the fugitive, az his friends have no doubt hur
! RED him of, ere this, 10 the Canadian iron
o her o. s. Marshall Devant is absent i
'e Washington.
10 The prisoner is Of dark copper complex
OF ION, abou, 5 feet 8 inches, Of rather stou
., build. He has been employed as a waite
I. for abou, three months at what is known a
n. the Corphill Coffee House, KEEP, by Mr.. Taft
o. At the time Of the excitement relative TO CraI
It, and his wife, the prisoner left the city an
ID went eastward, bu, afterwards returned. II