Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-12-02
HOW JOHN MITCHELL ESCAPED.


rebel of l848,) went to Van Dieman's Land
with the express mission to rescue some one or
more of the Irish State prisoners. Nothing
could have been easier than to escape, if they
could have thought Of doing so clandestinely,
and without regard to their promise; but in or
der to discharge themselves of that obligation
they felt it necessary to formally withdraw their
parole before the proper authority, and present
themselves to be taken into custody. The pa
role is the effect that they would not escape
from the colony so long as they held 'ticket
to leave" which gave them species of liberty
within certain designated police district; but
this ''lieket of leave" is thing which may at
any time be taken away by the convict authori-
ties or resigned by the prisoners.
Now, while Mr.. Smyth was in Van Dieman's
Land, and before any movement whatever was
made by any of the prisoners, the local govern
merit, by means of some of their eaves-drop-
ping detectives, had learned hisreal views, and
Mr.. Smyth was actually arrested held in custo-
dy for three days, and most ANONYMOUSLY a.
bused under a warrant directed against John
Mitchell Mr.. Smyth, in short was taken for
Mr.. Mitchell, under the false and insolent as
sumption that MrMtchell was absconding,
whilst he all the time living quietly at his
cottage in Boutwell,, and was uIJer parole Of
honor not to abscond. This was a gross QUA
rage of Mr.. Smyth, and an outrage hardly less
gross on Mr.. Mitchell. He now a: length re-
solved to avail himself of Mr. Smytl's offers Of
assistance, and leave the island. not clandestine-
ly but openly. Accordingly he wrote and dis
patched the following note to the Lieutenant
Governor, Sir'Wm. Denison.
boutwell,, June s, 1858.
SIR hereby resign the comparative liber-
ty' called ticket of leave" and revoke my pa
role of honor. l shall forthwith present myself
before the police magistrate of Boutwell, at his
police office, show him this letter, and offer my
self to be taken into custody. l am, sir, your
obedieat servant JOHN MITCHELL.
The next day, the 9th June Mr. Mitchell and
Mr.. Smyth rode in together to the township OF
Boutwell,, went to the police Office door, dis
mounted, and walked in. They found the mag
istrate IN his room. The police clerk was with
him; constable was in the adjoining room, and
another constable was as usual on guard at the
door. The police barrack and watchhouse stand
opposite Arrived in the magistrates room,
Mr.. Mitchell handed him an opened copy of the
note and requested him to read it. The mag
istrate cast his eye over it moment, and then
looked up to Mr.. Mitchell, who deliberately de.
y desired him to observe the purpore of that
note, and took the trouble of twice explaining
to him that the parole was at an end, and that
he had come to be taken into custody. And
the official seemed still either bewildered or
frightened, the two gentlemen put on then hats
Mr.. Mitchell wished the Magistrate a good
morning, and they left the office. Imedately
when they turned their backs, the magistrate
made loud uprOar and he and some of the
constables rushed out calling OH them to stop,
them. The constable on guard, however, had
his hands occupied in holding two horses, other
inhabitants of the town looked on laughing,
and well pleased; and, in short the two fugitives
mounted their horses and rode off. They found
no necessity to use, or even exhibit arms, though
both were well armed. After they left Both
well, however, the true difficulty commenced
Mr.. Smythe changed horses and coats with Mr.
Mitchell, and then they parted and rode differ
ent ways through the forest. Boutwell, is in the
central police district of the island and between
it and the sea extended several police stations,
to all of which intelligence was Instantly con-
veyed by mounted constables. Mr.. Mitchell re-
manned six weeks after that day in the island,
without being able to get on board ship,
though one was Immediately placed at bis SER
vice by patriotic ship owner of Sydney. AT
ter many hundred miles riding, and several dis
guises he at length got off under an assumed
name, British vessel, which, at Tahiti, was
fortunately overtaken by the American bark Ju-
liza Ann, bearing his wife and family, under the
escort, of Mr.. Smyth to San Frncisco. At Ia
hiti Mr.. Mitchell was transhipped and now
stands free on American soil