Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-12-13
Miss Della Webster's Experience in
Kentucky,

Miss Della A Webster--a teacher from
Vermont, who, it will be remembered, was
senterced to the Kentucky PcniteDtiary for
two years from LaXngton,a few years since
on the charge of aiding slaves to escape,
and was pardoned out by the Governor at
the end of six wecks-writes long letter,
which is published in the n. Y. Independent,
1t purpor,s to give her experiences in Ken
tucky since she returned to the State tie
second time, few months after receiving
the Gubernatoria pardon. She states that
she bought large farm in Trilnble county
on the river, opposite Madison, and settled
down upon it; but, that, from being aus
pected of still enticing slaves to escape,
she was ordered to leave the State, and
when she refused to do so, was arrested,
put in Jail. and treated with gre0t cruelty.
Subsequently. she escaped to Indiana, but
was pursued there. We copy her own
version OF the remainder o.! the story:
My pursuers had among them man who.
from certain reasons of his own, was my
personal enemy. By his agency, immed-
atev after this, through his intrgues three
old indictments, which the Commonwealth
Attorney had stricken from the docket ten
years ago, by order of The Court, were re-
docketaG, and warrants issued under them
for my arrest. Knowing that this might
appear an incredible thing in our country,
hold in my hDnds perfect documentary
evidence of the fact, which | am able at
any time to exhibit. The Governor Of Ken
tucky, on the strength OF these indictments
sent to the Governor Of Indiana, demand
ing me us fugitive from Justice. With
out any inquiry as to the merits OF the
case, the Governor delivered me up,
The Indianians, indignant at such an
outrage upon a pcaceabIc citizen, hid mo
from my pursucrs. Sometimes they secret
ed me in the city and sometimes in the
country--in hay-niow, in the woods, under
brush heaps, in the rye fields, in clcits of
rocks--sometjmes in one place and some,
times in another, until | WAS too feeble to
be longer moved about.
While ] lay PROSTATE with sickness,after
some twelve days soeroh the officers got
track of me, took me eff from the bed. nut
me in an open buggy and drove me some
fifteen miles under n scorching JUL sun,
and after dark made daring attempt to
smrocle me pcross the river, Here acain
thew we're defeated, and took me secretly
to Madison. where they confined me in iail
:, await the arrival oc the Kcnturkv off.
CersI
The vicilant Jndiani,rs determined !
shonId have the benefit of a ,h,bpas cornus.'
onJ n lnrrr troon or volrntoor. Stationed
,hemselves around the iail TO prevent NV
boing kiAn3pped nv the Erntuckians, and
,bcre I law IN close i,il twenty d,ys be-
fore 7 was pbla to be taken oul for tri,l,
The evening pri,r 70 fine trial, too. apoile,
rcnrisi,ion arrived damondiny mo u,pD an.
o,her ,cr wear old Indictment
IN tho oyoninr of tba DIST If July, 1874
hot, warrants b,yi,r b,,n trioJ wns dis.
rhorood from cns,olv bv III, decision IF
J,Jr. WoI;or. of Madi:op ind
Ag,in roile5 ,bo.e .,nvehc,5in, Ken
trckio,s retrrn 20 nlurder nv rroniso., &,
u,do, rho mise of lo,y nv housa is robbod
oe its entire contonts NV farming utensils
are seized. nv grain, hay, etc., are taken
owov co,tle and other stock driven of, ard
7 am den iycd Of nv entire personal pro-