The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-02
Ate mpt to Arrest Fugitive Slaves In Ohio

From the Sandusky Register
Our city throw into intense excitement last
evening, by an attempt to arrest two negro men, two
negro and several children board the steamer
Arrow the Of her departure for Detroit Just
before the boat left the dock the and her children
were forcby dragged shore and taken directly to the
once OF folet Mayor BY an Individual claiming
presume deceived by his title into the belief that his
powers were extensive with those OF the United States
Marshal, or one OF his deputies.
The Mayors office instantly filed ly a crowd OF
anxious aud excited spectators among whom
than twenty blacks. A number OF both blacks and
whites had clubs in their hands, and much confusion
prevail, d
r. \. Sloane, Esq, employed by the colored per-
sops OF the city counsel for the alleged fugves After
waiting nearly bali an hour for movement be made
by the claimant as provided under the Fugitive Slave
law, Mr.. Sloane inquired If Mr. Rice in the room.
After little delay Mr. II. forward and in reply to
inquiry from Mr. Sloane to whether the and
children in his custody he said they were not Mr.
s. then inquired IL the in the of any
United States officer Commissioner within the room
No 1eply was made Mr.. . then demanded that the
warrants or wris by authority OF which the alleged ug
uves were detained, should be produced To this de-
mand Mr. replied that there none; whereupon Mr.
Sloane dsmanded to be informed If there any
or evidences under which the woman and her children
were detained To this demand. also there reply
Mr. Sloane then TUNED TO the colored people in the
and nmated that there appeared to be nothing which
required their detention Immediately the entire
bage rushed to the door, and while crowdng out,
claiming to be the of the negroes who had been
standing Mr. Sloane daring the entire proceeding,
said to him. Here are the papers, own the negreesI
hold you individually responsible for their escape" At
once, and will hold you too, responsible, for you might
have stopped them.'
The above is statem mt Of the facts, have de-
rived them from several citizens present during the whole
transaction and presume it Is substantially correct
If the mode Of proceeding the part the claimant
and of Mr. Marshal Rice, certainly singular one
not approxmatng to the requirements OF the fug
tive slave law 1t will be perceived that Mr. Sloanes in
t.lTogatories gave the claimant opportunity to pro-
duce the testimony sustaining his claim and the legal
authority for the detention Of the negroes neither OF
which done. Besides the seizure was not mads by
the proper officer Qhe United States Marshal Deputy
Marshal) whose official act would Of ITSELF have been
sufficient authority without any exhibition Of their pa
pe1s In this far could be acertane1 at the
time Of those persons seeking de'an the negroes
had any authority to do Nor they brought be-
orea United States Commissioner for hearing forth
with as provided for by law
1t Is proper to add that, in opinion the course
pursued by Mr. Sloane the counsel for the negroes nii
Gated no desire to violate the law its provisions but
that IL the individuals thus informally detained had
been riested by the authorities and arragned before
competent tribunal both parties would have had fair
hearing.