Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-11-23
[FrOm the San Francisco Herald, Oct. H.

capped from Van Dieman's Land. arrived
here on Wednesday and is now lodging
at Jones's Hotel. No words of ours can
express the delight with which we wei
come this gallant and sterling patriot to
the shores Of California Since Robert
Emmett offered up his pure life on the scat
fold in vindication of his country's rights
no such man as John Mitchell has ever
flung himself into the breach in defense OF
Irish Independence.
The circumstances ofthe case are briefly
these
Mr.. P. ]. Smyth, of New York. (him
self rebel of 1913, went to Van Die
mans Land with the express mission to
rescue some one or more of the Irish State
prisoners. Nothing could have been ca
sier than to escape, ii they could have
thought of doing so clandestinely, and
without regard to their promise but, in
order to discharge themselves of that OBJ
legation, they felt it necessary to formally
proper authority, and present theselyes
to be taken into custody. The parole is
to the effect that they would not escape
from the colony so long as they held a
I" ticket of leave" which gave them a
species of liberty within certain designa-
ted police district; but this "ticket of
leave" is thing which may at any time
be taken away by the convict authorities
or resigned by the prisoner.
Now, while Mr.. Smyth was in Van
Dieman's Land, and before any movement
whatever was made by any of the prison
ers, the local government, by means of
some, their caves dropping detectives, had
learned his real views, and Mr.. Smyth
was actually arrested, held in custody for
three days and most ANONYMOUSLY abused,
under a warrant was directed against John
Mitchell. Mr.. Smyth. in short, was Ia
ken for Mitchell, under the false and in
solent ASSUMPTION that Mr.. Mitchell was alb
sconding, whilst he was all the time liv-
ing quietly at his coattage in Boutwell, land
was under parole of honor not to abscond.
This was gross outrage on Mr.. Smith,
and an outrage on Mitchell. He now. at
length, resolved ito avail himself of MIR.
Smyth's offers of assistance, and leave
the island, not clandestinely, but openly.
Accordingly he wrote and despatched the
following note to the Lieut.. Governor,
Sir VIM. Denison:
boutwell,. June 8 1858.
uSISOJ bhO WIN
liberty" called g ticket of leave" and re-
turn my parole of honor. [ shall forthwith
present myself before the police magistrate
of Boutwell,, at the police office, show him
this letter, and otter myself to be taken
into custody. am, sir, your obedient ser
want, JOHN MITCHELL.
The next cay, the 9th June, Mr. Mitch
ell, and Mr.. Smyth rode in together in the
township of Boutwell,, went to the police
office door, dismounted, and walked in
They found the magistrate in his ROOM
The police clerk was with him !; a consta-
BILE was in the adjoining room. and anoth-
er constable was as usual on guard at the
door. The police barrack and watchouse
stand opposite.
Arrived il the magistrates room, Mr..
Mitchell handed him an open copy of the
above note, and requested him to read 1t
The magistrate cast his eye over it mo-
ment, and then looked up to Mr.. Mitchell,
who deliberately desired him to observe
the purport of that note, and took the
trouble of twice explaining him that the
parole was at an end, and that he had
came to be taken into custody. AS the
official seemed still either bewildered or
frightened, the two gentlemen put on their
hats {: Mr.. Mitchell wished the magistrate
good morning, and they left the office.
Immediately when they turned their backs,
the magistrate made loud uproar, and
he and some of the constables rushed out,
calling ON them to stop. The con-
stable on guard, however his hands &C.
cupied in holding two horses the other
! inhabitants OF the town looked on laugh
ing, and we'll pleased; and, in short, the
| fugitives mounted their horses and rode
off. They found no necessity to use, or
even to exhibit arms, though both were
we'll armed.
After they left Boutwell,. however, the
true difficulty commenced. Mr.. Smyth
changed horses and coats with Mr.. Mitch
ell. and then they parted and rode differ
ent ways through the forrest. Boutwell,
is the central police district OF the island,
and between it and the sea extended sew
eraI lines of police stations. to all of which
intelligence was instantly conveyed by
mounted express constables. Mr.. Mitch
ell remained six weeks after that day in
the island, without being able to get on
board ship though one was Immediately
placed his service by patriotic ship
! owner OF sydney. After many hundred
miles riding. and in several DISCUSSES, he
at length got off under an assumed name
in British vessel, which at Tahita, was
fortunately overtaken by the American
barque Julia Ann, bearing his wife and
family, under Mr.. Smyth's escort to San
Francisco. AT Tahita Mr.. Mitchell was
transhipped and now stands free on Anne
rican soil.
Cor HIM AT LAsr.-Connecticut has a
summary way of her own of disposing OF
public nuisances. At the late fair in SIAM