The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-22
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
BALTIMORE, January II, 1852.

BALTIMORE, January II, 1852
To the Editor of the National Era.
remarked, at the conclusion of my second
letter respecting this protracted and peculiarly
interesting trial, that | expected the decision
of the Justice would be given in time for your
last weeks edition. But it resulted quite other
wise. The evidence was not closed till Tues
day evening and the decision was not an
nounced until Thursday.
The decision in this case will surprise nobody
cOnversant with our laws and policy when
| announce that it was the dcqtittal of Me-
Creary of the charge of kidnapping, or rather
his discharge-the investigation not pretending
to extend to the question of guilt or innocence,
but merely to ascertain whether there was suf-
ficient evidence to warrant his committal for
trial before the Criminal Court This, at least,
was the ostensible object of the counsel for the
prosecution, an additional and more important
one being the ascertainment of whether there
was sufficient evidence to sustain petition for
the freedom of Rachel Parker, which was in
contemplation, and which has since been filed
in one of our civil courts with a good prospect
of success with anything approximating fair
trial
The desperation of the defence in this case
was strikingly evinced on Tuesday by an at
tempt to get in the alleged declaration of
the poor girl that she was the slave of the
claimant-made where, and under what cir
cumstances, according to the profer, does the
reader SUPPOSE Why, in Campbelrs slave
pen, to be sure, and to the semblance of degen-
Grated manhood who giories in the Office of
foreman of the establishment! After list
ening to u long argument, pro and con, Justice
Pennington ruled the testimony out, on the
ground mark itD that this was criminal
proceeding, not affecting the civil question Of
the ownership of the girl; and that inasmuch
as he could not, under Maryland law, receive
the declarations of colored person against a
white person, he could not consistently receive
those in his favor--the tendency of either being
destructive of the very letter and spirit of our
laws touching the relation of the two races
And 80 Mr.. Deputy Soul-driyer was not per-
United to serve his master in this instance
But the most novel as well as deyilish feature
| Of this cage was added in the testimony of one
Of nfdcfeaft s.so,44.t,,, x 49,, 90, q. 49,.
10 he witpass stand after it was discovered
,~s =. 80 ..s> - r.. w, Sow, - y ,oo,l,,
that he "got the Information from the deceased
man. Joseph c. Miller. himself who was to
share the spoils Of the reward offered by
! Schoolfeld! His story was well told and
safely, now that poor Miller is out of the way !
But it bore absurdities not to say villany, upon
its very face; as a report of his testimony would
show, if you had room for it. Be it. however
false or true, it does not absolve McCreary
from his guilt. 1t only adds two aecomplces
to the plOt-the witness himself, as well as
Miller, according to his story,) being pdrt,cepS
crininis. No more does it prove the girl a
slave, as you will see
The second jury of inquest as the first
brought in verdict of suicide" after post
mortem examination of Miller's body So ended
that chapter of this most curious as well as
lamentable and appalling case.
McCreary has been held for assault and
battery, and false Imprisonment of Rachel Par
ker The preliminary hearing will be had on
Thursday next. But it, too will end in pro-
slavery smoke. Not so, if these kidnapping
gentry get under Pennsy lvania law, let us hope
and trust 1t is high time stop was put to
McCreary's career, as well as that Of Merritt
the accomplice above noticed J. E.S