Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-10-28
From the Boston Herald, Oct. rs
A Slave Case Ina Boston

About the first of April last, Mrs. McClenathaI
of New Orleans, with her children, nurse and SCI
wants, arrived here to spend the summer MI
McClenathan Northern lady, and is sste
of Mr. Francis Sheldon, of the fEm OF Philips
Sheldon Mrs McClenathan has resided at tn
house of her brother during her visit to the NORTH
Colonel McClenathan arrived here last week.
A short time since, Hayden, Morris, Sewall, an
some colored men, together with leading abolitonist
learned that Colonel McClenathan's family was d
Boston, and that they had with them one or NOR
slaves This fact spread abroad, and they resolveI
that Ann, one OF the servants, should be rescued
from slavery at the hazard of their lives 4H1
council of safety was convened night after nIgh0
and lofty speeches made, and terrible resolve
passed and recorded on paper. Thus matters we4D
on until yesterday when the venerable Judge Mdt
calf was applied to by certain leading abotlonfts
and free soilers, for habeas corpus writ. They
stated to the Justice that in Phipps Place, at the
North End, in the house of one Sheldon, fugitive
slave was held and detained against her will.
Judge Metcalf was persuaded to grant a capas.
The document Immediately placed in the hands
of VIM p. Baker, of the deputy sherifs of Suf.
folk, who called to his aid Capt. Gaius w. Allen,
of the Centre Watch. The officers, armed with
the high authority of the Supreme Court of Mas
sachusetts, started for Phipps Place. Arriving at
the residence of Mr. Sheldon they found the family
all out. The officers waited at convenient dis
lance for about an hour, when the family returned.
MIR. Baker then proceeded with the capias to the
at first was disposed to resist and Ann, the slave
was about to run for her life but when they were
informed of the process by which she was to be
arrested, and that she could be taken at once be-
fore the court the terror of the somewhat
lessened. The little children of Col McClenathan
chung to their coored nurse with infant fondness;
two of them had been nursed by her, and third
was at her breast when the law officers took her
from them and hurried her into the presence of
Judge Metcaf She taken in carriage to the
court house about o'clock, accompanied by her
master and the two officers. Several colored
and some aboltionists in attendance at the
court house, when the parties arrived in Court
Square.
The slave Ann was taken directly in the private
room of the Judges of the Supreme Court. Judge
Metcalf proceeded at once with the hearing. The
abo,onists present exerted their influence to make
the woman declare that she was detained here
against her will, but this she declined TO do. Her
master stated that the slave was free to go-that
she informed when she North that she
would cease to be his slave and that nothing had
been done to restrain her freedom.
Judge Metcalf then took Ann into the next room,
where be conversed with her and became satisfied,
that although slave, she was detained here only
by devotion to the family of Colonel McClenathan.
After conversng with Ann, Judge Metcalf stated
that there was no evidence that the woman was de-
tanned against her WILL and ordered that all further
proceedings be dismissed After the hearing was
finished, Colonel McClenathan and his slave, return
ed in a carriage to his lodgings in Phipps Place.