Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-12-07
Miss Della webster's Experiences
In kentucky.

In Kentucky.
Miss Della A. Web,ter--a teacher
from Vermont. who. u viii be nmem.
bercd. was sentenced to the Kentacky
Penitentiary for two years from Lex
ington. few years since. on the charge
Of aiding slaves 10 escape, and was
pardoned out by the Governor at the
end of six weeks--writes n long letter,
which is published in the New York
Independent. II purporIs to give her
experiences in Kentucky since she
returned TO the State the second lime.
few months after receiving The Gu
berna,orIal pardon. She states h
bought large farm in Trimble county.
on the river. opposite Madison, settled
down upon II; but that, from being
suspected.of still eniiceing slaves to es-
cape. she was ordered 10 leave the
State. and when she refused 10 do so.
was arrested, put in jail, and treated
with great cruelty. subsequently.
she escaped TO indiana. but WAS pur-
sued. there. We copy her own version
Of the remainder of the story:
My persuers had arpong them a
man who. from certain easons of his
own, was my personal enemy. BY
his agency, Immediately after this.
through his intngues three old indie
menls. which the Commonwealth Al.
iorney had stricken hom the docket
ten years ago. by order of The Court.
were re-docketed, and arnnts issued
under them for my arrest. knowing
that this might appear an incredible
thing IN our country, l hold in my
hands perfect documentary evidence Of
the fact. which l am able at any time
TO exibit. The Governor OF Kentucky,
on the strength of these indictments.
sent TO the Governor Of Indiana. de-
handing me rs u fugitive from justice.
Without any inquiry as 90 the merits
Of the case. the Governor deliseded
me up.
The Indianians. indignant at such an
outrage upon peaceablc citizen. bid
me frora my pursuers. Sometimes
they secreted me in the city and some
times in the country-in a hay NOV.
in the woods. under brush heaps, in
the rye fields, in clefts Of rocks--some-
time in one place and sometimes in
another, until wss too feeble TO be
longer moved about.
While / 'ay PROSTATE. with sickness
after some twelve days search, the OIL
GERS got track OF me. took me of from
the bed. put me in an open buggy
and drove me some fifteen miles under
scorching July sun. and after dark
made daring attempt TO smuggle
me across the river. Here again they
we re defeated, ard took me secretly
to Madison. where they confined me
in Jail, to await the arrival Of the Ken
4
lucky officers.
The vigilant Ind anians determined
should have the benefit Of a "habeas
corpus" and a large troop of volun-
teers stationed themselves around the
Jail to prevent my being kidnapped by
the Kentuckians, and there | lay in
close Jail twenty days before was
able 10 be taken out for trial. The
evening prior to the trial, another
requisition arrived demanding me
upon another ten year old indictment.
On the evening of the 2lst of July,
1854, both warrants having been tried
l was discharged from custody by the
decision of Judge Walker. Of Madison.
Ind. .l.n
Again foiled, those slaveholding
Kentuckians return to plumber my
premises; and under the guise Of law
my house is robbed Of it's entire con-
tents, my farming utensils are seized.
my grain, hay. &c.. are taken away,
my cattle and other stock driven of.
and am deprived Of my entire per-
sonal property, even 10 my wardrobe.
Nothing Whatever is left upon the
place save the growing crops, the
property seized amounting TO 80. 900.
Al the next Circuit Court their writ
of attachment is dismissed, and It be.
comes the duty of the officer TO return
the property TO my possession. In
stead Of this, he secretly sells what
had not before been destroyed. and
the shareholders pocket the money.
Are they satisfied now No.
While on visit to my aged mother in
Vermont, they take advantage oil my
absence, steal and sell my crops,
pocket the money; and when re-
turn 10 make payment Of $4,000 on
my place, lol l have nothinii with
which TO make tam bereft of my
last dollar. the payment due. and ]
penniless. -.
This last Spring, to prevent my
sending on tenants TO take care oil the
place. they broke open and demolish.
ed six OF my dwelling houses, and
burned the seventh. l.ts.
My close confinement in the iouI
different prisons amounts to 1913 days,
and the loss of property to Si1.o5o.
You have here but the outlines ol
my prosecutions, and are at liberty To
make such use Of them as your supe-
rior judgment shall dictate
Respectfully and truly yours.
DELLA A. WEBSTER.