Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-03
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE AT BOSTON.

slave named Anhhony Burns arrested at Boston by
the United States Marshal Burns is claimed the pro-
perry Of Mr. CHARLES T. SuTrLE, of Alexandria, (va.)
who hired him Richmond from whence he escap-
ed in March last.
The fugitive was taken before E. G. LoRMG, United
States Commissioner, Thursday morning, and after
the examination of VIM Brent of Richmond, who testi
fed to having known him the slave of the claimant in
Richmond, the case postponed till Saturday morn
ing at the instance of Messrs. Dana, Ellis and Norris
who offered themselves counsel for the fugitive
These proceedings conducted with decorum, no
sign of any disorder being manifest.
On Friday the Abolitionists called meeting to be
held night in Faneuil Hail. but there was no unusual
excitement about the courthouse where Burns was
fned During the forenoon writ issued by Seth
Webb Esq. on an action of tort for the recovery of
$4,000 damages against Messrs. Charles F. Sutte and
William Brent, tor that the said Sute and Brent,
the oath day of May instant well knowing the said
Burns to be free citizen Of Massachusetts, conspred
together to have the said Burns arrested and imprisoned
slave Of said Suttle, and carried to Alexandria, Vr
gina," sc. Lewis Hayden, colored man, the
planant in the The writ served upon Messrs
Suite and Brent and they gave the required bail in the
sum of $4,000 each Subsequently Chief Justice Wells
issued writ of replevin against United States Marshal
FREEMAN, directing that officer to bring the body of An
thony Burns the fugitive, before the Court of Common
Pleas the It'll day of June next but the Marshal did
not obey the order. @...
At night the meeting took place in Faneuil Hail. which
was filled to OVERLOOKING GEORGE R. RUSSELL, of Rox-
bury chosen President; Samuel G. Howe, VIM. D.
Spooner, Francis Jackson, Timothy Gilbert W. Bird,
of Wapoe, Rev. Mr.. Grimes, Albert G. Browne, Of Sa
lem, Gershom B. Weston, of Duxbury, T. W. Higginson,
of Worcester, Charles NJ Ellis of Roxbury, Samuel
Wales, jr., Samuel Downer, jr appointed Vice Pre-
sidents; and William l. Bowditch and Robert Morris
Secretaries.
Judge Russell, on taking the chair, made brief ad-
dress after which DR.. Samuel g. Howe offered string
Of resolutions, which were unanimously adopted They
thau nf
all born free and equal denouncng the fugitive
slave law and declaring that the South has decreed
in the late passage Of the Nebraska bill that faith is
be kept with freedom so, in the of the living
God and on the part of the North, We declare that
henceforth and forever compromises should be made
with slavery" Highly infammatory speeches were made
by Francis W. Bird John L. Swift Wendell Phillips, and
Theodore Parker The meeting altogether of very
exciting character Before it had adjourned and whilst
Mr. Phillips was making second speech, man at the
lower end Of the hall moved adjournment for the
SON, as he stated that mob OF negroes in court
house square attempting TO rescue Burns. This move
ment abruptly terminated the meeting.
, There then general rush towards the court
house. which the mob began storm. The doors the
east side were first attacked but without avail. The
rioters then went to the sde threw stones through
windows and attempted batter down of the doors
with heavy BEAM Failing in this two men came for
ward with axes and deliberately cut hole through the
lower part of the door, and subsequently forced it OPEN
number Of persons rushed in, but they repulsed
by the marshal and his aids . .'...
officer, who resisting the entrance of assaants at
the shattered door, shot dead. He teamster,
in the employ of Mr. Peter Dunbar the custom-house
truckman One account says that the marshals officers
did not their firearms, and succeeded finally In ex-
peling the rioters from the doors with their clubs only
Another account states that these officers used clubs and
swords, and fired two shots in the entry which had the
effect of ntimdatng the rioters and causing them to
treat The abolition organ states that shots were
fred from the outside and ascrbes the death of Batche
der to the accidental discharge of pistol in the hands
of one of his own companions. ..... -.."
During this the judges Of the Supreme Court,
the Attorney General Of the Commonwealth, and the
Sheriff Of Suffolk in the building awaiting the re-
turn of the jury in q then trial.
The police succeeded in arrestng nine Of the rioters
viz: John J. Roberts, Albert G. Brown, Walter Pinney,
John Wesley Wesley Bishop, Thomas Jackson Henry
Howe, Martin Stowell and John Thompson. Roberts
is charged with breaking the lamp in front of the door,
and with acts of violence the door. The other ind
vduels were arrested general charge of disturbing
the peace .aa*. -.ss
The Mayor of the city having been notified of the
dition Of affairs, he of issued order Col Cow
din for two companies of artillery At II o'clock the
Boston Artillery, Capt Evans, and the Columbian Arti
ery Capt Glass; came to the aid Of the civil authorities
Their served to restore quiet and Court
soon deserted by the rioters. Capt. Evanss
mand stationed in the City Hall for the night and
Capt Casss company took quarters in the courthouse
At halfpast II o'clock the square deserted AT
O'Clock detachment Of United States troops arrived
Saturday morning the time to which the examina
ton had been adjourned company of United States
IoVps irom rort independence anu company o. ma
rines from the Navy Yard stationed in the court
house The Cadets and Boston Light Infantry occupied
the City Hall, and large body Of the Massachusetts,
militia 1.-THE volunteer companies were ordered to hold
themselves in readiness to preserve the peace.
As early o'clock several hundred persons had
gregated in Court square, the time the examination
commenced the crowd had increased two three thou
sand
At 10 o'clock the fugitive, well-guarded taken
into the courtroom before Commissioner LoRING. Ed
ward g. Parker and Seth J. Thomas appeared as coun-
sci for the claimant Charles Ellis and R. H. Dana, r.
appeared for the prisoner and the District Attorney
was present for the Government.
The counsel for the fugitive moved for postponement Of
the till Monday; which motion having been argued
at great length the Commissioner finally decided post
pone the case, as suggested.
Great excitement prevailed during the proceedings.
Several persons arrested the courthouse for
attempting to excite the crowd to acts Of violence Mr.
SMITH the Mayor of the city, attended by Mr. EvELErH
the Sheriff, addressed the mob from the steps of the
courthouse, warning them of the consequences of vo
laon Of the peace and informing them that the city
authorities were determined to exert every means to sus
tain the laws of the city and the country The Mayor
subsequently issued special proclamation calling upon
his generally to preserve the public peace
and sustain the laws.
The military continued in possession of the court
during Saturday night 1t was surrounded till late
hour by many hundreds of idle people, but demonstra
ton was made against the building The military also
continued under in the City Hail. near the court
house Mr. Suite having expressed willingness sell
the slave the amount he asked for him ISL 2O01 was
nearly all subscribed. F..
1t is noticeable that amongst the parties arrested and
of those who placed their lives liberty ia jeopardy
during this riot there is to be found the name OF
any of the individuals who were most consn;cuoua in