The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-11-14
MisrRllauRuua.
From the Eagefsld Advertiser.
A Landlord turned Letter Writer.

Mr.. J. C. Janney, the former superb land.
lord of Columbia Hotel, has recently taken
to the grey goosequill, and promises to become
no unworthy scribe. He wrote an article
some weeks ago on railroads, and here we find
a letter, in the last Southern Patriot, giving All
account of late interesting trial in Richland
district. We copy the same this week, and re.
fer the reader to 1t as something of more than
ordinary interest.
Columbia, S. c., Oct -, 1854.
Mr.. Eaitor,-Having nothing to do, and
much inclined TO be idle, owing to indisposi-
ton, trust it may not be ainiss to you or your
kind readers, to give, as near as possible,
statement of the case which excited most in
terest at the late Court, Judge Whitner, the
distinguished jurist, presiding.
Some fourteen years ago, MIR. Darby, OF
Chester district, purchased girl called Lucy,
who was carried to that neghborhood by
man named Thompson, said to have been seen
in Washington, D. c., as late as 1851, practic-
ing law. The girl had the looks of an Indian,
but was sold to him as negro. She ranawav
repeatedly, telling her paymates she was an
Indian. Some three or four years ago, she was
lodged in Jail in Columbia as a runaway, and
advertised. Her owner came for her and was
required to show his bill Of sale, which was not
considered altogether satisfactory. Several cit
izens we're impressed by the girls appearance,
and advised the jailor not to give her up, as she
evidently was an Indian. He applied to Gov.
Means for advice, and the Governor directed
him to stand suit, and let the case he decided
by an appeal to evidence. Gov. Manning also,
upon coming into office, expressed an interest
in the trial, as one involving important rights
to the girl.
After long delays by the party claiming her,
to procure evidence, the case was tried at the
late term. Some three yeans since, an old
Cherokee CHIEF yrstrru 1zOIullBTa; upon ncaTi'S
that an Indian girl was in jail, he Sald t0ilt i"uF
teen years ago. while his tribe was on their way
from North Carolina to Arkansas, al Indian
girl about four years old was stolen from his
party; that great distress was caused t" her
parents; that she was the Child OF has SISTERS
daughter, and that her name WAS Lut,se; that
he came to Columbia win the nope OF seeing
Lut-se; and that as soon aS he laid eyes on iIs'r
his heart was rejoced to SEE the face "i h> SIS
ter's daughter; that this girl is Lut-s", a"h sac
is as much like her mother as her mothers Sis
ter's children are like her mothers sister.
The chiefs name is Inaluskie. The old man
removed eight years ago from Arkansas, and
now lives in North Carolina. He was Cap
tain under Gen. Jackson at the battle OF the
Horse Shoe Bend, where he commanded one
hundred and thirty warriors, and fought with
much distinction. Commissions were read
from several chiefs of tribes now in North Car
olina, stating that girl named Lut-se was sto
len from one of their party about fourteen years
ago. A commission was read OF the examlna-
ton of Mrs. Carter, the wife of man VINO
purchased the girl from Thompson and sold
her TO Darby. In this she stated that, learning
from her children that the girl said she was In
dian, she called her up and questioned ner
about it, when she said "No," she was not In
dian, but her mother was negro. This was OF
fered as evidence, and, strange to say, admit
ted. But it.had the opposite effect of what
was intended. As it was clear that among her
playmates the girl told the truth, and to her
master or mistress size evidently had been
taught to say otherwise. Evidence was brought
forward that she had, for fourteen years. been
in Chester in possession of Darby, working as
a negro, and so considered, although called
"Darby's Indian" The most striking lestlmo
nv adduced in the case, was that by our dis
tinguished, talented and scientific townsman,
Dr.. r. d. Gibbes. This is not only mine, but
the opinion of others. He understands the
anatomy of our races as well as | know my
multiplication table. As proof of ny. declar,
alton, he was put upon the stand and called
upon to explain the chronological distinction of
races. He was asked to point cut the charac.
teristics OF the Indian and Negro, which he did
very minutely and fully, aud in manner t"
bring conviction to the whole assembled crowd.
Heexhibited cast of an Indian skull-of an
aboriginal-said to be from one in the Acade,
nv of Scieuce in Philadelphia, from mound
iu Ohio. He explained all its characteristics,
and then called up the old Chief and lnterpre-
ter and showed the identity with their heads.
He then compared it and their heads with that
of Lut-se, and established them all as OF the
same type.
He then handled negro skull, and demon
strated clearly the peculiarities, and showed by
comparison the marked difference between
them. He explained the prominent differences
in the anatomical structure of different parts OF
the body, and gave an exceedingly interesting
account oi Tue utsIihcuoh iu VIC non W "
Caucasian, Indian and Negro race. He stated
very curious fact, as resulting from microsco-
pical observation; that in the muatto cross the
hair of one or the other parent was present,
and sometimes hairs of both; but never mon.
grel hair; that no amalgamated hair existed;
that as often the muatto had dsstraight hair as
kinky. He stated the microscope revealed that
the hair of the white race was, when trans.
yerseIy divided, oyal, that of the Indian c;reu-