Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-22

oath the warrant founded, also taken it being
due to that person that he should be allowed to justify
himself for the course he has pursued In order to obtain
this warrant for the prisoners he had signed deposition
stating positively that the prisoners had committed
assault and battery Bill William Thomas with ps-
tolls, &C., with intent to kiln him. He says OATH
that he not present and knows nothing of the
action Whatever that he did not William Thomas
that day at all that certain Joseph Easterne had told
him " that man shot at the river bank and was
dying, and that it colored man that shot :"
that he Immediately consulted Mr. Collins, and after
finding out the of of the prisoners that he then
went to justice of the peace and told him that there
had been shot at the river bank, and he wanted
warrants that the justice wrote out information and
read 1t to him, and he sWore to it, TO the best Of his hoW
ledge and belief; that he warrant against
any body before, and it business to him, but
he did by the counse Of Collins that he did not know
the persons who attempted to arrest Bin officers at
that time that he cannot tell what he to before
Esquire Golf order to obtain the warrant hathe did not
the prisoners fire pistolsgot all his
Easterline and Seaman that his Interview with them
very brief done in minute - that he had belief
of what the officers Tor, his mind being wholly in
tent the single subject Of obtaining warrant at that
tme;" that he thousht man had been killed by shots.
and made further inquiry that he got the warrant and
delivered 1t to the sheriff. and told him he wanted him to
execute it. Nothing was done this warrant Some
two weeks after this after the witness had learned that
the fugitive not shot, and that the prisoners
officers and had made unsuccessful attempt to arrest
the fugitive, affidavit brought to him, ready writ
ten out by Squire Burroughs ION which the warrant was
issued Burroughs had made out the affidavit at request
OF Messrs Brown and jackson thatt intended when
the information drawn out that Kutz should
swear to it, but it nconyenent to find Kutz, the
Squire told him it did not make particle Of difference
whether he Kuz to it, and he signed and swore
to it, after hearing read that he cannot tell who
ployed Messrs Jackson and Brown but supposed it
some person in Philadelphia that he knew nothing Of
them until they introduced themselves to him in his store
that it into his mind to state to the mags
rate that tie persons claimed be marshals officers
making an arrest and, finally that 'he knew nothing
about any pistol firearms any knives and forks
any thing under hearing"
Comment such conduct is superfuous. 1t is enough
to say that it shows to the Court that while the and
intelligent portion Of the population Of Wkesbarre who
witnessed this transaction and the public prosecutor,
whose duty was to prosecute offences against the pub
lie peace have not proper to institute any proceed
ngs, philanthropc individuals association in
Philadelphia have yentured to take the people Of Luzene
county under their protection and have been SO fortunate
as to find witness willing to TO an information
of the truth fasehood of which, by his account
he utterly ignorant Imputing bad motive to the
witness for such rash and i'll advised conduct think
he has suffered his zeal to ourun his discretion and
pleased to that he is better informed and in his
last deposition he refused testify to that which he
has heard by report from Others and that he be-
lieves % that rumor is no testimony"
In order correct any false impressions which may
have been received with regard to this transaction
think it proper TO give brief history of the facts eli
cited from the testimony of and respectable
eyewnesses who have been examined and testify not to
rumor, but 10 what they saw anu hearu.
The three Deputies of the Marshal accompanied by two
gentlemen from Virginia. who well acquainted with
the fugitive to be arrested entered the diningroom of
the Phoenix hotel in the morning about o'clock, and
found the negro Bill or William Thomas in the
The agent of the took hold of the fugitive and
handed him to the officers, saying this is the boy
require you to take under the warrant" As the
officers proceeded to arrest him, telling him they were
United stasss pfRosrs violent struggle ensued the
landlord Of thsAete who sitting At his hrcakfast
got up and went round the table, and said Dit give up
L - =. Al 90 hso V.fufnI
The landlord attempted to get hold Of him. Bill made
pass at him. TO hit him in the face, but missed IL an'
struck him the shoulder The officers attempted y
secure him Of them seized him round the waist; h
thrown the floor; but, raising with them he OBJ
tanned possession of carving knife and attempted to sai
Mr. Settle who had to the assistance Of the ocers
This blow partially warded off by another person, sc
that Settle struck with the HANDLE instead OF the
point of the knife on his elbow and disabled from
dering further assistance The knife being taken from
him. the officers endcavored to secure the hands
with shackles or handcus but succeeded only in getting
them his right wrist when Bill struck Crozier, one OF
the deputies the head with the handouts, nctine
cut his temple, and stunning and disabling him fol-
time Bill again thrown down, the officers in vaiI
attempting to secure his hands with the handouts; Bill
up with them and seized table knife and wounded
slightly the hand of Jenkins, who held him around the
| waist
This knife was wrested from him, and likewise forl
which he had seized While Bill had possession OF the
carving knife and endeayorng to stab the officers
cried out to them "Why don't you shoot him
one of them answered, "We don't want dead negro,
Do not hurt him." One Of the witnesses said che fought
desperately and endeayored to kill them" He made his
way the door length with two Of the officers endeav
oring hold him. and finally released himself from them
and escaped and towards the river The officers ther
said they would try to fghen him, and fired off pistols
but did not point the pistols toward him. Bill waded in
to the river furnished him with large knife
The officers then dispatched messenger for the Sheriff
who refused to render any assistance.
Bills clothes were much torn, and considerable blooC
had been shed his face and clothes in the struggle
large crowd collected exhorted Bill not TO b.
taken alive, and he declared his intention to die or b.
drowned rather than be taken The officers after daily
ing time, being afraid to make further attempts t
arrest him. would assist them gave up the at
tempt and went away, saying the negro woudnot b,
taken alive and they did not want him Dead they would
pursue him further" After the departure Of the off
GERS, Bill said to two witnesses who inquired of him
he hurt that he not hurt but had some bruises
about the face" He afterwards taken away By
some person, wagon, and made his final escape.
We unable to perceive in this transaction an,
thing worthy Of blame in the conduct Of these officers
their unsuccessful endeayors to fulfil most dangerous
and disgusting duty except perhaps want of sufcien
courage and perseverance in the attempt to execute tn
writ careful examination Of the testimony sufficient
ly exhibits the reason why those who acquainted
with the facts Of the have been unwilling to prose
cute the officers for their unsuccessful attempt and ef
it to those who to their own language, knew no
thing about it under heaven"
In conclusion rs we find that the prisoners officers
of the United States in confinement for acts done u
pursuance of law of the United States and under pro
from Judge of the samo that they have not ex
the exgency Of the proofs under which they acted
that this prosecution has not been instituted is nov
acknowledged by the State of Pennsylvania but has is
origin in association living at distance and wholly
Ignorant Of the whole transaction which they have youn
teered to investigate that the information on which the
tha io fnnnHa