Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-28

a traveller, the negroes released the witness and he
hurried down to the lower deck and saw William
son h~urryiug the woman of, and other colored
persons with the boys, who were struggling to get
away went up to Williamson and asked him
what he was going to do with tAe woman; he ans
wored that his name was Passmore Williamson;
that no could he found at Seventh and Arch-sts.,
and that he would be responsible for any legal
claim he (witncss) might have on the slaves; by
this time the colored persons with Mr.. Williamson
had got the servants of the wharf, and turning
down the first street above the wharf (Front-st., J
hurried them into n carriage which was standing
about n square below Walnut-st., in a large open
space with large warehouses in it CDock.st) }; after
the negroes had got off the boat,i MIR. Williamson
walked behind the crowd and said something in n
whisper to a large burly policeman who was stand
ing near.
The witness spoke to the policeman, asking him
to observe the people who were committing the
outrage, but the policeman refused to have any
thing to 90 with the matter, as "he was not a slave
catcher"
Other combating testimony was given, after
which Mr.. Vandyko moved, LIST, that the rcspon-
dent DO held in bonds for contempt in making a
false return to the Court; and ID, That the rcspon-
dent be held in $1,000 to answer a charge of will
full perjury.
Mr.. Gilpin asked whether the Court would now
hear the respondent on the question Of contempt
lie was instructed by his client to say that eyi
dence could be offered which would put a differ
ent complexion on the case.
Judge Kane said he would either hear counsel
ON the question as it now stands, or he would hear
evidence for respondent.
Mr.. Hopper said the motion of the District At
torncy had taken himself and friends by surprise,
and he would ask time for consideration.
Judge Kane understood that the respondent
was not willing to take the stand and swear that
he had further evidence to offer. If the respon-
dont would make oath that he had such evidence
in prospect, the Court would consider the applica.
ton for Il continuance.
Mr.. Passmore Williamson was then affirmed,
and testified in substance as follows; After the
colored people left Dock-st. i'll the carriage / saw
no more of them; | do not know where they are
have had no control over them, nor have | had any
hand III their escape; my whole connection with
the affair was this: | had heard that these three
persons were in the city, and | felt anxious to in
form them Of their rights; for this purpose | went
to BloodgU0d's Hotel, where | saw u yellow boy; ]
asked him about the matter and he told me where
the party was.
When | went upon the upper deck of the boat
| saw that man (~pointing to Mr.. Whceler); | APP.
preached the colored woman and asked her if she
knew her r::ghts-that by law she was free; Mr.
w. asked me what | wanted; | told him my CT
rand; he (Mr. W. kept interfering, and said she
knew her rights and he did not want any interior
ence with his affairs; Mr.. W. reminded her Of her
children at home, and asked her if she wanted tc
leave them; she replied that she did not, but that
sho wanted to be free; Mr.. Wheeler insisted that
the woman did not want to 90; there was an ex
element, and the children cried; ! saw them takcr
away; the object was secured of enabling them t
act in accordance with their rights.
Question by Mr.. Naudyke-was it your obj'c
! to take them from Mr.. Wheeler?
Ans.-It was, if they desired it.
} r,ney- avnpninol W., Still n ,,1nrO1 man frs
Informed me Of the matter; he laid upon my dcsI
Z u note containing the facts; | told him to go to til
wharf and attend to it, that ! was going out o
town:I afterward altered my mind and went to til,
: boat;I was there before VIM. Still don't know'wh
engaged the carriage; | don't know who had hol,
! of Mr.. Wheeler; | told Mr.. w. l would be respon
sible to him for any damage his rights might sus
tain.
Question by Mr.. Yandyke-Did you say hi
rights" or his illegal rights p,
Answer--I do not recollect which ] said; no MAJ
has rights that are not legal rights; | told Still t.
get the names if he could, and if they went t
New York we would telegraph there; he said ther
was nothing in the way of their remaining here
= they wished; | told him to hurry down to the whar
and see that their wishes were complied with; IN
first idea was to get out a writ of habeas corpu
here, but rs there was no Judge in town L though
: it best to telegraph; | was afraid that as the boa
i was starting We would not have time to %accomplis
anything; still said nothing to interfere; when
went down to the boat | saw him talking to Nj
Wheeler; he is clerk at the Anti-Slavery Office i
u North Fifth-st.; Still was the only person On boar
| know; l saw him this morning; we had a cOnve
sation respecting this case; we conversed as to tn
y safety Of the party; he said they were safe, an
} that they would not return under any circumstai
> ces; he did not tell me whore they were; | am Sc
~ rotary Of the Acting Committee of the old Penn
sylvania Anti Slavery Society; Mr.. Still did nj
tell me at what time the party returned; | do nj
know who got into the carriage saw it dri'
20 off.
Mr.. Vandyke commended that the respondent
testimony was no testimony at all. His statemel
was not sufficient to contradict the positive ey
= dcnce of disintcrested witnesses. 1t was apparel
= that these slaves were within the control of til
respondent. The latter, the District Attorney col
tended, had disposed of this property, and he coul
: reach ii it if he felt disposed.
The respondent was the ringleader in robhir
the owner of his property. lie then leaves tow
~ and this morning early he has a conference wi
his companion in crime.
4 Mr.. Nandyke went on to argue that the retui
i to the Writ was not only an evasion but absolu
u falsehood, and that the parties were under the co
troll Of tho respondent. The District AttornC
compared the respondent to q pickpockct wi
steals a purse and hands the plumber to a conle
a crate. lie urged in conclusion that the rcspo
y dent had hot purged himself of contempt, al
. that he was liable for it and for perjury.
Tho respondents counsel, aftor consultation, d
ternined to leave the matter to the Court for d
1T cision without argument.
Judge Kane said the case was so grave, and
consequences might be SO very grave to the I
spondent, who might even pass into the conditi,
le Of prisoner, that he was DESTROYS, before passin
upon the two motions, to have time for rcllcctio
le In tho mean time hail might be taken in So, 200 f
&c Il further hearing on the second motion, on Il
&c charge of perjury, and the motion for contem
Sc would so over.
lie would also say at the risk of its being co
sidered extrajudicial, that if it is really in Il
a. power Of the defendant to produce the bodies
the three porsons,it would seem to him 1.-THE Judg
better for him to do so. Judge Kane said in concl
sion, that he would hold Mr.. Williamson in s., on
for a further hearing at the next Term Of the cou
on this day week.
Bail was entered. The Court room was dense
crowded with spectators.
From the n. Y. Evening Post.
u