The Yazoo Democrat., 1852-06-16
The Recent slave case at COIum.
bfa Pennsylvania.

James Nj. Buchanan and Ohio Scott, Esqrs.,
the two Commissioners appointed by Governor
Lowe to proceed to Pennsylvania and investi-
gate all the facts in relation to the shooting of
VIM Stansberry, the fugitive slave at Columbia
by officer A. Ridgley of this city, having com
plcted the duties assigned them, returned to this
city, on Saturday evening. We presume they
will report all the facts obtained to Gov. Lowe,
ina few days. The Columbia Spy states that a
number of witnesses were examined by them
(assisted by A. Herr Smith, Esq, of Lancaster,
at the office of j. w. Fisher Esq, in the pres
ence of John L. Thompson, Esq, the District
Attorney of the county. Several persons,
whose testimony was taken soon after the affair
occurred, were cross examined but nothingnew,
it is alleged, was elected The following testi-
mony Of deputy marshall Lyme, and the cross
examination of deputy Snyder, contain some
important facts :-Baltimore Sun
HENRY LYME, Sworn-I am a Deputy Marshal,
and went with Messrs. Snyder and Ridgely to
make the arrest of the fugitive, Geo. Stansbery.
l remained behind about one hundred yards
when they went to make the arrest. | did not
hear the pistol fire. Ridgely and Snyder return
ed to me- When they were about twenty yards
f.om me Ridgely threw up his hands and said,
' My God, have shot him." This was imme-
diate after it occurred. He said while In the
struggle he when to draw out his g Billy" (mean-
ing his mace) and in mistake got the pistol.
He said he went to strike him with it. and it
went of. He then showed me his finger-it
was chewed up outrageous asked him how
that happenel. He said, . the id niger had
it in his mouth We went together up into
the road, and Rdgely said, 9. will go and give
myself up"
SOLOMON SNYDER-At the time Ridgely and
approached Stansbury, Ridgely had nothing in
his hand / was about or 10 feet from Ridge
ly when | arrested Stansbury. The first express
sion | made use of was George Stansbury, /
have United States warrant for you" He re-
piled :. let me so, let me so" and made jump
and got or feet from me- At the moment
that Ridgely seized him, Stansbury got the thick
part Of his hand IN his mouth and bit him. Af-
ter Ridgely had seized him be broke loose from
us five time. As soon as he got Ridgely by the
hand Ridgely let go--he broke loose from us IN
spite of all we could do. l DO not think lie gqJ
more than or ) feet from Us at any time. /
did not produce any papers-he gave US no
chance to do so. l did not see a colored man
standing ON the tract of the railroad. l saw a
man whom thought was white man, but have
since heard is colored. There was a yellow man
present, freckled in the face. | saw six or seven
negroes, if | recollect Alright, standing on
the railroad tract, who think were attracted
t1a Il.
of the negroes interfered. l had my back to
them all the time. l do pot recollect that told
Ridgely to fall him" | made an effort to throw
him; and may have told Ridgely to throw him;
but do not recollect saying so. | do not racol-
lect sayingto Ridgely don't shoot him" Mr..
Ridgely put his mace in his pocket previously TO
the arrest so that he might use it if it should be-
come necessary. After Stansbury had been shot
we returned to the centre of the town. After
we had got about 100 yards we met Mr.. Lyme
we were not molested on our return.
Re Examined by Mr. Scott-The negro was
very strong, active man. have but one hand.
The arrest was made at ono end of an alley, form
ed by piles of boards on each side. The alley is
about Il feet wide, and the negro struggled the
whole length of the alley, towards hole in the
fence at the other end. Ridgely's finger was
badly bitten by the negro. From view of all
the circumstances, and the expressions of Ridge
ly, | firmly believe that he shot him accidently
and unintentionally. During the last struggle
and at the time Ridgely pulled out the pistol,
Stansbury had Ridgely's finger in his mouth.
In the course of the examination, United
States Commissioner McAllister, of Harrisburg,
offered various documents in evidence, such as
the power of attorney given by me only of Stans-
bury TO Ridgely; the evidence of title toand es-
cape Of Stansbury. the warrant to arrest him.
with the return marked thereon, &c, &c"
THE RANDOLPH NEGRoEs.-A writer in the
Baltimore Patriot, who is travelling in Ohio