The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-16
A STAR CHAMBER IN NEW ORLEANS.

The Southern papers reveGa Constantly phe-
nomena of Slavery which ARD worse than the
ordinary subjects of condemnation selected by
the friends of humanity irons among It's dark
details For example, take tn following from
the New Orleans True Delta c1October 20, in
rather an obscure Parkof the ,per:
g FtendiSh O1trdge.-A wo IAN named Fan
ny Smith was yesterday arres ID on a charge
of burning with hot irons, and 4herwise cruelty
ill-treating, two slave boys whr a she owns, and
who lived with her in a ho-se on st. Louis
street 1t is said that Fanny's Establishment is a
brothel of the grossest stamp, nd that her be-
haviour toward her slaves is sc most fiendish
that can possibly be imagii ID. 1t is to be
hoped that such fendiShness " d not be permit
ted to pass UNPUBLISHED. 1t +. little strange
that afhdavits in relation to cl irges similar to
that made against Fanny are Generally hidden
from the reporters in the Ref .rder's Office Of
the Second District. Fanny ha1 recently return
ed from California with goodll stores of wealth,
but surely her wealth cannot p rchase IMMUNITY
for so foul an offence"
Observe, the paragraph stat 5 that it is "a lit
tie strange only little - lis not passing
strange" or monstrous. SO Z legal details of
the Internal barbarities prae~iced toward the
slave, in that quarter at least seldom see the
light! What Star Chamber OF gnquisition Hall
could be worse? No other p, Aer but the True
Delta noticed this circumstance on the goth, but
the next day the Pcaytae hat the following re-
speeding 1t:
" Charge of Cruelty to .Slares Fanny Smith.
alias Mrs. Hinckley, who KEEP house in ST.
Louis street, between Burgun and Rampant
streets, was charged on Wednea lay last with tor
turing her slaves. 1t seems tn I on "Wednesday
morning, one of the policeRt Of the Second
District was walking down it. Louis street,
when he was startled by the 81 tden appearance
of negro woman, who rushed out Of an allev-
way perfectly naked, with thu, exception of a
piece Of blanket tied round hci waist. Her back
was bleeding in several places, and, on question
ing her, she told the pOlicen' IN that she had
fled to escape the cruel treatme It other mistress
who had stripped her and was. eating her when
she broke from her and ran in; , the street The
policemen took her to the qua 1-house, and. on
examining her, her body was iund to be cover
ed with Jumps and scars, the Effects of former
whippings. She also stated tlat her mistress
was in the habit of beating all her slaves in the
most cruel manner, and mentSIned couple of
slave BOYS, whom she was con inuallv torturing
by burning with red-hot irons nd sticking forks
and other pointed instruments intE them. ION
hearing these statements, Liekt. Monde immc-
diately made an affidavit, got q It warrant, and
had the woman arrested. WENl brought to the
police office, the accused ir;fignautly denied
these allegations, and producC-S a boy who she
said was one of those she was fccused of tortur-
ing, and upon whom no marks. could be found
The slave woman first arreStetB however, reite-
rated her statement, and said Eat the boys were
kept locked up in the back rd, and no one
permitted to see them. An oB-er dispatch
ed to her house, and soon retiI ned with the two
boys who did not appear to Ef:tmore than seven
or eight years of age. On st1 lping them, they
were found to be marked in a lumber of places
with the scars of fresh and ol( burns, and pune
tured wounds were found in 'ifierent parts of
their bodies. The accused WI ordered to give
security in the sum of 81 ,00' for her appear
ance for examination, which she Immediately
gave. The slave boys and gi were sent to the
Parish Prison
Be it remembered, that lave cannot give
evidence against a white pers' u. The arrest, we
may safely affirm, is all that II ever be heard
of this circumstance.-NetD J yk> TribuRe.