The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29
The Boston Military and United States
Marines on Guard.
The owner of The slave Arrested and
Held TO Ball.
EXAMINATION. OF BURNS.
Determination Of the Mayor to Preserve
the Peace.
Arrest and Arrangement Of the Rioters,
&C., DC, &c.
from the Boston Journal, Nav 27.l

From the Boston Journal, May q.
No unusual excitement was perceptible about the
Court House during the day yesterday, and the flu
gitive, Burns, remained under guard. During the
forenoon, writ was issued by Seth Webb, Esq, on
an action of tort for the recovery Of $l0,0 900 da
images against Messrs. Charles +. Suttle and Will
liam Brent, "for, that the said Tutte and Brent
the Gath day of May instant, well knowing the said
Burns TO be free citizen OF Massachusetts,, con.
spired together to have the said Burns arrested
and imprisoned . slave of said Sutte, and car
ried to Alexandria Va.,n &C., DC. Lewis Hay
den, colored man, was the complainant IN the
case.
The writ was served upon Messrs. Suttle and
Brent, and they gave the required bail in the sum
Of 81, 900 each.
eplevin against U. s. Marshal Freeman, directing
hat officer to bring the body of Anthony Burns, the
hgtve, before the Court of Common Pleas, on the
th day of June next, but the Marshal did not obey
he order.
Soon after Burns arrival here as it now appears
he wrote letter to his brother in Alexandria, who
is also slave of Mr.. Snttes stating that he was at
work with Coffin Pitts, in Brattle street. cleaning
old clothes. This letter he dated in Boston,, but
sent it to Canada, where it was postmarked and
sent according to the superscrption to Burns bro
Their in Alexandria.
AS is the custom at the South when letters are re-
ceived directed to slaves they delivered to the
owner Of such slaves who opens them and examines
their contents. This appears to have been the case
with Burns letter; and by his own hand his place
of retreat was discovered by his master.
An excited meeting was held in Faneui Hall last
night TO take measures to prevent the return OF the
fugitive. The meeting was terminated very abruptly
by report that an attempt then making to res
cue the fugitive
On the abrupt termination of the meeting in Fan
euil Hail. the excited crowd rushed for Court square
pell nell, shouting RESCUE him!' "Rescue him"
&c. Entering upon the eastern avenue, in the
space Of q minute or two several hundred people
had collected. The officers in the building closed
the doors, when some dozen people, some of whom
were colored, rushed up the steps, and commenced
pounding on the doors. pistol was fired by some
one in the crowd. pistol was shortly fred on the
westerly side Of the Court House, when the crowd
rushed round the building. Here some two thousand
people collected in very brief space Of time. Seve
raj pistols were fired in the streets,
The crowd immediatciy commenced assault
upon the south door, on the west side with axes
some twelve feet long, 4ch was at once launched
upon the stout oak door. The battering ram was
manned by dozen or fourteen men, white and
colored who plunged it against the door until it
was stove in Meantime, several brickbats had been
thrown at the windows and the glass ratified in all
directions. The leaders, or those who appeared to
-" Rescue him ~ /" Bring him OUT" Bring him
out !" Where is he ~ &C.. &c. The Court House
bell rung an alarm at halfpast nine o'clock.
When the doors were opened, two or three per-
sons rushed into the entry, but the officers in the
building, who were mustered in full force on the
stairs, gave the valorous rioters reception
fith clubs and swords, that they quickly retreated
Do the streets Two shots were discharged in the
tntSy, which appeared to intimidate the rioters
omewha and they retreated to the opposite side of
e street. At this time large deputation of police
Drom the Centre watchhouse arrived upon the
ground and in few moments arrested several per-
cons and took them to the watchhouse. Stones
were occasionally thrown at the windows, and
shouts continued to be made, but the firm stand Of
the officers stationed within the building, with the
support they received from the police, prevented
any further demonstration.
The saddest part of this outrage on the part of the
mob rests in the fact that human life has been sacr
feed.
At the time the mob beat down the westerly door
of the Court House, several men; employed as
United States officers, were in the passage way,
using their endeavors to prevent the ngress OF the
crowd, and among the number was Mr.. James Batch
elder truckman, in the employ of Col. Peter Dun
bar who almost at the instant Of the forcing Of the
charge) in the abdomen. Mr.. Batchelder uttered
the exclamation, " I'm stabbed and falling back
wards into the of Waterman Isaac Jones' expired
almost Immediately. The unfortunate man resided in
Chariestown, where he leaves wife and one or two
children to mourn his untimely death.
At the time of forcing the door, and just as the
fatal shot was fired, one Of the rioters, who was
standing on the upper step exclaimed to the crowd
"You towards! will you desert us now?" At this
moment the exclamation Of Mr.. Batchelder, I'm
stabbedo heard and the rioters retreated to the
opposite side of the street.
In the meantime white man rushed into the
crowd and distributed several meat axes, with the
blades enyeloped in the original brown papers Two
or three OF these axes were subsequently picked up
shortly after the death of Mr. Batche lder, Coroner
Smith took charge of the body, and viii hold an in
quest to-day.
After the arrests had been made, the crowd. al
though excited, remained quiet, but new element
was introduced by the arrival of military compa-
ny. The Boston Artillery, Capt. Evans, were in
the streets for their usual drill. When they march
ed up Court street the mob at once supposed them
to be the U. S. Marines, come to preserve order,
and they were at once sasted with Kisses, groans,
and other marks of derison. Capt Evans seeing
an excited crowd, and not knowing anything of the
disturbance, Immediately marched his command
down the west side of the Court House, and halted
in the square, the crowd giving way. When the
cause Of the appearance of the company was ex
planned, the crowd gave them three cheers, and the
company departed.
BY order of the Mayor, the Boston Artillery and
the Columbian Artillery were ordered out, and
about midnight they took quarters in the City Hall
where they remained during the night waiting fur
TIER orders.
large force of officers were detailed for duty
during the night outside the Court House. and
throughout the whole evening and night an addi-
tional strong force was inside, fully armed and pre-
pared for any emergency.
such arrangements have been made by the U. 8.
1srshal and by the Chief OF Police Taylor together
b the orders of the Mayor, that any and all at
pts at res :uing the fugitive or creating evil
'osed mob, will be met with the most certain and
e examination of the fugitive now in custody
u be resumed at nine O'Clock this morning, and
nc who are knowing to the facts doubt that JUS
I ,e will be administered and the laws Of the coun
{ duly executed.
The following persons were arrested for taking
We part in the riot, or for specific acts Of VIC
loEce or misconduct.
Albert G. Browne, Jr., law student at Cam
bulge.
John J. Roberts (white), Of Harrison avenue. for
cXtiagushing 9ne of the gaslights at the easterly
entrance OF the Court House.
Walter Fnney, colored; John Wesley, colored
Wesley Bishop, colored; Thomas jackson, colored
Henry Howe, white; Martin Stowell, white O
Nor ester.
John Thompson, white, one Of the above parties
We foremost in the attack on the Westerly door
end tls Chief Of Police, who was instantly on tht
sspa., sprang through the crowd, and setting thu
t..r hurried him 10 the Centre watchhouse, fol
tlt ~ a large crowd. All the persons arrested
Nc.H placed in the lockups In the Centre watch
| 10, nd the morang men Of the north, BDylston
Fnd Ire divisions of the city police were promptly