The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-19
A Slave Case In Boston.

From the Boston Herald, Oct. Is.
About the first of April last Mrs. McClenathan of New
Orleans with her children and servants arrived
here to spend the summer. Mrs. McCenathan was
Northern lady, and is sister of Mr. Francis Sheldon of
the firm Of Phillips Sheldon. Mrs. McCenathan has
sided at the house of her brother during her visit to the
North. Colonel McClenathan arrived here last week.
short time since, Hayden, Morris, Sewall and
colored together with leading ab0tonsts, learned
that Colonel McCenathan's family in Boston, and
that they had with them one or more slaves This
fact spread abroad and they resolved that Ann, of
the servants, should be rescued from slavery at the
hazard Of their lives The council of safety convened
night after night and lofty speeches were made and ter
ble resolves passed and recorded paper Thus mat
tiers went until yesterday when the venerable Judge
Ietcaf applied to by certain leading abolitionsts
and free soers for habeas corpus writ They stated
to the Justice that in Phpps place at the North End in
the house of Sheldon fugitive slave held and
detained against her will.
Judge Metcalf was persuaded to grant capias. The
document was immediately placed IN the hands of VIM
p Baker of the deputy shers of Suffolk, who called
to his aid Captain Gaius W. Allen of the Centre Watch
The officers armed with the high authority of the Su
Arriving at the residence of Mr. Sheldon they found the
family all out The officers waited at convenient dis
Mr. Baker then proceeded with the capas to the house.
and stated his business. Colonel MCenathan at first
disposed to resist and Ann the slave about to run for
her life but VIZ they informed of the process by
which she to be arrested and that she could be taken
at before the court the terror of the
somewhat lesened The little children of Colonel MClen-
athan chung their colored with infant fondness
two Of them had been nursed by her. and third at
her breast when the law officers took her from them and
hurried her into the presence of Judge Metca She
take in carriage to the court house about four o'clock
accompanied by her master and the two officers Several
coored men and some abolitionists in attendance
at the house when the parties arrived in Court
square
The slave Ann was taken directly to the private room of
the Judges Of the Supreme Court Judge Metcalf pro-
ceeded with the hearing The aboioniss present
exerted their influence to make the declare that
she detained here against her will, but this she
declined do. Her master stated that the slave
free to go-that she informed when she North
that she would cease 10 be his slave and that nothing
had been done to restrain her freedom.
Judge Netcaf then took Ann into the next where
he conversed with her and became satisfied that although
slave she detained here only by devotion to the
family of Colonel M'Clenathan. After conversing with
Ann Judge Metcaf stated that there evidence that
the detained against her will, and ordered
that all further proceedings be dismissed. After the
hearing finished Colonel MCenathan and his slave
returned in carriage TO his lodgings in Phpps place.