The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-11-13
ali5rrllnnruuG Nr1uz.
The Case of P;,sSmOre WIlliamsoh---
His Release from Prison.
MNC aE NM SSo

On SATURDAY. morning PaSsmore Williamson
appeared in the U. District Court in pha-
d.iphia accompanied by Messrs. Meredith,
Gilpin, and Hopper his counse, and offered n
petition, in which he expressed his "iii,msneS
to purge himself of the contempt IN the Wheeler
slave case for which he was imprisoned III July
last Judge Kane received the petition, granted
the PRAYER. and required williamson to affirm
to what he had to say in reply to tho !nterroga:
tories of the Conrt. Certain nterroSatores
were then propounded TO him BY Mr. nAncyke
the District Attorney, to which he iepied;
II did uot,seek to obey the writ hy producing
the persons therein mentioned before the Court
because | had not at the time Of the service OF
the writ. the power over the custody or control
ofthem. and therefore, it was impossible Tor me
to do so I.irst heard of tho writ Of habeaS
.orpus on Friday, July 20, between l and :
o'clock, A. NJ, on my return from harrisburg
After breakfast, about Q O'Clock went rom my
house to Mr. Hopper's office, when and where
the return was prepared.
"At 10 o'clock rs came into court comman-
ded by the writ, | sought to obey the, writ by
answering it truly the parties not Icing IN my
possession or control, it was impossible for me
to obey the writ by producing them; Since the
service of the writ have not had the custody
possession or power over them nor have L
known there they were except from common
rumo or the newspaper reports in regard TO
their public appearance in the city Or else
where"
Some discussion arose between the District
Attorney and Tie counsel Of Mr.. Williamson
Mr.. Wand, Ike contendcd that the reply OF
the defendant WAS cvasive and contradictory.
The Judge said the difficulty, he thought, could
be easily overcome by amending the answer,
and at the suggestion of the court it was amen
ded in the following manner:
Il did not seek to obey the writ by produ-
cling the persons in the writ mentioned before
this court did not seek because | verify be-
lieved that it was entirely impossible for me to
produce the said persons agreeabiy to the com
nand ofthe court"
This answer was then accepted by the cosrt
and ordered filed.
Judge Kane then remarked that the District
Attorney has been invited to aid the court III
this case, but thpt he would bear in mind that
his relation to Mr.. Wheeler was now suSpcn-
ded. This was only an inquiry as TO what III
jury had been done the process in the court.
Mr.. Vandyke said lie was aware Of the posi-
ton he occupied.
Judge Kane then said.-'The contempt Is
now regarded as purged and the party is
released from custody. He is nov reinstated
to the position he occupied before the contempt
was committed. MIR. Williamson is now before
me on the return to the writ
Mr. Vardy Ike then arose and addressed the
court, stating that a nolle rosehad been entered
in the case in the court, but that he had on
behalfof Mr.. Wheeler. entcreda suit for DANA
ges in the u S. Circuit Court. Judge Kane
ihereupon discharged Williamson from custody
He was Immediately surrounded and heartily
congratulated by his friends He is said to
look exceedingly well.