The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-02
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Another Siape Case-Omrdgeous Interference
Particulars of the Case

LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
mother Slaps Case-Omrdgeous Interference
Particulars Of the Case
New YORK, May %, 1853.
10 the Editor of the National Era.
You will have noticed, in telegraphic des-
patches and other shapes, the usual number
of contradictory statements of the progress of
the last and the most infamous, in some of its
phases, of all the slave cases that have
ever found their way into the courts of this
city The history of it is this:
Lewis Tappan received some days ago, q
Geographic despatch from our ever watchful
friend, DR.. Brisbane of Cincinnati, stating that
a colored girl aged about ten years, named
Jane Trainer, the child Of one Charles w.
Trainer, Of Mobile, Alabama, had been taken
from that city by woman named Rose Cooper,
ALIAS Rose Porter, and brought on to this city
under pretence of going to California, far away
from home and friends. The despatch, speak
ing by authority of the distracted father,
through DR.. Brisbane, further authorized legal
proceedings for the recovery of the child Mr.
Tappan, prompted by his wel-known benevo-
ence, and stimulated by his characteristic zeal,
at once procured the legal aid of Hon Erastus
D. Culver as counsel An application for the
writ of hdbe0s corpus was promptly made by
Jacob R. Gibbs, an intelligent and highly use
ful colored man of this city, as the child's next
friend. 1t was granted by Judge Duer, of the
Superior Court; and in pursuance thereof the
child was sought in the retreat of Rose Porter,
at a notorious house in Mercer street, (since
proven to be fitting receptacle for one who
has been confessed to be prostitute,) and pro-
IN, hor fn
whom bench warrant had also been issued
These proceedings were initiated on the 9th
instant. On the It'll, a return to the writ of
habeas corpus was made, and tho case was put
upon what has proved tortuous winding
way,D and, by slow and tedious stages, it has
progressed ever since, not being settled yet.
The return denied Of course, the entire of
the allegations of the writ. 1t goes on to spe-
city, in denials that the child is not imprisoned
or deprived Of her liberty; and asserts that
she was born slave in Mobile; that her
mother was the slave of Cooper and that the
daughter continued with the respondent, rs
her slave, until she removed to Cincinnati,
where The child became free, mark the admis-
siong and from whence she brought her to
this city, as alleged by the complainant. 1t
further states, that the child came to New
York of her own free will and liberty that
she is not aware of any person ever having
been married to the childs mother so as to
give that person the right legitmately, to
claim the custody of the child.
On the other hand it was contended that
the father, who is free mao, has the right to
the custody of the child, and that he has been
illegally and unjustly deprived thereof. And
who would doubt this, in view of the confess
sion of freedom made and in the absence of
apprentices indentures, or other legal evil
dence, not pretended to exist, showing TO the
contrary, as required by the laws Of the most
pOslsvery of the slaveholding States within
your correspondents knowledge of the gene
rally prevalent laws covering the case at issue.
And yet this barefaced claim to unnatural,
as well as unauthorized, custody pretendedy
based On the volition Of an ignorant, slavery
schOOled child like this is kept alive, from day
to day, and gravely entertained by n learned
Judge and a lawyer claiming responsibility in
the profession, and in public lie, have been
found in the person of talented Irishman Of
the name of Brady, to defend so monstrous a
position and not only so, but to browbeat
and hector over his unhallowed job in a way
and to an extent which leads one to wonder
what kind of pay there could have been prom
nm in the harness during such drive in the
chariot of distorted and prosituted law! A
specimen OF this gentleman's bravado has been
offered IN reply he dared to make to re-
mark of Judge Duer, that the child was free
to go with her father when she pleased or,
rather, to Mr.. Culver's suggestion, that Mr..
Tappan would take her then, as authorized by
the father in open court" that he had better
Try that once :" and also his gratuitous inso-
lence towards Mr.. Tappan, when, with the
sanction Of the court, he was selected to take
down Trainers testimony, in Directing to him
as mot trustworthy or relablcn-which, BY
The way, was pretty clear indication Of q
Consciousness of his own unftness for doing
justice measuring others with his own self
condemned standard, as he evidently was doing
at the moment
This case was delayed for several days, by a
transaction unparalleled in the darkest phases
OF perverted Jurisprudence, for vilIanous and
uru'ai interference. Trainer was missing from
tne city, with total mystery az to his where.
NV u'., until telegraphic despatch from Dun
Laen e.ea'ed the mOnstrous fact that he had
de. Ut. ua'ten from the city by gang Of row.
inc , III threats Of personal violence Hav-
unaas .'uined to the city, he has again been put
thaoo ,f.'"onai peril; Uy the tnIeh6 vi
oo Scoundrels, that he failed to make his
appearance appearance, yesterday, for the reason (timidly
.Su'eyed to the COURT just stated. A mon
'uTuAy startling state Of things, isn't it,
10 give your readers some idea Of the svs.
ematIc manner in which this apropoc bodv
guard Of Rose Porter have united their forces
against Justice and mercy, they were on hand
The trial, with the greatest promptitudc and
regularity, day after day; and myself over
neard the inquiry pass from lip to lip" Have
you your pistols ready, Colonel ?" or Captain,
as the Gaze might be!
a, he deeply interesting struggle presented in
,uS extraordinary case between law and JUS
;uce' pleading the claims of parental yearn.
n'gs IN the one hand, and oil despotism and
s.iany on the other, pleading the cause Of crime
"u iniamy has promise of termination
VI Saturday. With confidence in the present
' vel .ned and trusty custody Of Freedoms
s aua humanity's interests, let US await the re-
'pI, as patiently us we can which result !
v aan not forget To send you 10 due time for
your next issue.
r., ~ me mean time, ns a sort Of episode to this
asedy, Counsellor Brady most cloquently and
>'Hij mosely urges the claim Of this sweet