Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-02-21
ANoTHER FiUGfTIvE SLAVE CASE.

REscrE BY 4 Bust5S n os.-A colcred mannam-
ed Frederick Wilkins,h waller at Trit's cornhill
Coffee Hpuse. in Boston, was arrested in thai city
on Saturday "a The charge Of being fugitive SLAVE
Of john De Fsse. Of Norfolk, Va.
The accused vas Immediately taken before
the Commissioner for examination, in the u,
s. Circuit Court Room He is about 20
wears Of age, and described in certificate Of
ownership, as being Of a complexion between
mulattol and black, and as quite an intelli-
cent pefson. The news Of the arrest spread
RAPIDLY. and the Court room was speedily
sled 81 1 large crowd ST rather excited spec
tators The Examination, however, went of
ouietly. Seth j. Thomas appeared for the
Claimant. aud Messrs Small, Elias Grey,
eoriuy. and others, for the defence.
From the documents offered BY the claim
ant 4 appeared that the accused was the
nronertv Of John De Free, Purser IN the y
Navy Of Virginia, and that he escaped IN
Nav. 1850 The deposition was 70 We e.
feet that the claimant had seen the prisoner
in Boston aud conversed with him, Wnen tne
prisoner acknowledged that he had escaped
from Norfolk. The counsel for the defence
asked for postponement in order to prepare
testimony This;was granted, and Tuesday
next, al 10 A. NJ, was assigned for the ex,
animation.
The deputy Marshal then ordered tho
roomlto be cleared of spectators, which was
gradually done The prisoner remained IN
the custody Of dezen men, as, by q law of
the State, the Jail cannot be used TO impris-
on fugitive slaves.
His counsel wishing to consult with him.
they were readily admitted to the room to
the number Of halfa dozen They remained
| about ala hour, and in the meantime large
| crowd Of negroes gathered upon the outside,
| blocking up the entrance to the court room !
! and as the door was opened to let the last
LAWYER leave the room, the mob from With.
out suddenly rushed in, seized, and knocked
down the officers in keeping, and filled tho
court room, The prisoner himself was frigh-
/ tened At their dempniac appearance, and ted,
withIa cry Of murder, to the farther end Of
the room.
He was, however secured by the mob, who
had speedily sileneed Incorporation Of the
few officers in the room, and taken in tri,
umph down the stairs, and into the street.
The officers did not attempt to follow, and
with shouts of triumph the mob hurried of
with the fugitive, and were last seen in the
vicinity Of Belknnp street, where negroes
chiefly congregate.
While the mob was in the court room, the
sword of the Marshal, hanging in the sheath
over his desk, was drawn by one of them and
floutished over the heads of the officers
1t was afterwards found in the street The
mob showed no weapons, though number
of the negroes boastcd of having revoiverslu
their possession. Onenegro, In bis flight
dropped his knife,
There we're several white persons in thu
mob, but they did not appear to act in the
rescue The rescue, ofNcourse, caused great
excitement throughout the city, as one-of tlie
most daring outrages upon law and order
ever enacted II is thought impossible to
re-aFrest the fugitive, as his friends have nc
doubt hurried him of ere this, to the Cana
dian frontio-. II. s.. MarsnaI Deyens Is ao'
sent at Washington.