The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-04-28

we were lapofing to suppress any thing
of this character.
The resolutions we're submitted to the
meeting by one of our citizens and were
adopted without dissent.
To THE GrTIzEss OF LAWRENCE =
The undersigned your committee, to
whom was referred The matter for inves-
pertaining to the colored woman
who was charged last night with being q
fugitive slave, beg leave respectfully to
report -
That a colored woman, aged about
twenty two years, made her appearance
in lawrence several days ago, and on
the evening of the 9th inst. applied to
Mr.. W1LLIs for passage over the river.
She was disguised, and claimed that she
wanted to 60 to Iowa. Mr.. w. told her
she could not find the way, and would
not consent she should leave that night.
She said she was free woman from Ken
lucky, but had lost her papers evideneing
the fact. She was kept over night, and
in the morning went to Mrs. L1TcH-
FIELDS and made arrangements to remain
for few days.
On Saturday night last, while she was
at the. spring for water, three persons
came upon her, and claimed she was a
fugitive from slavery. She was allowed
to go to Mrs. Litchfeld's, and from
thence to Mr.. Willis where she again
made reservations that she was free wo-
man. Mr. W., when he learned the
facts, inquired whether they had author
ity under the fugitive slave law to arrest
her. They replied they had not, nor did
not want any. iethen inquired if they
had any authority from her owner. They
said they had not but as she had no free
papers it was evident she was a slave
and that they would take her into Mis-
souri, and find her master, as they thought
they knew who he was. Mr.. w. said
she should never leave his house under
such circumstances and, closing the
door, said no person should enter alive
| to carry her away against her consent
without authority from her owner, or by
legal process.
One of the party then gave directions
to bring outa crowd of the "boys" anG
take her at all events. One ofthem sai6
to another, sstake nay horse and ride hin
to hell, let him die under you, but bring
the boys
Doct. Wood kindly profered his ser
vices as mediator between the parties, ,and
proposed to take the woman into hi:
charge, and keep her for tacenty days
then if the claimants were not able te
bring evidence of her being slave be
would pay one dollar a day for the whole
time she should remain with him. Thi,
proposition was readily accepted by al
parties, and the woman was removed tc
the Doctors, for safe keeping, and the
citizens, who had gathered in large mum
bers, quietly dispersed.
On reflection itappeared that the t,cen
ty days carried the case to election day
it further began to be surmised that tht
whole movement was a pretext, got VI
by pro-slayery persons for the purpose 0
embroiling the citizens of Lawrence il
a difficulty, with view of inviting II
Missourians to commit depredations OIL
Eour persons and property and that elec
ton day, the .3oth of March instant, wa.
the time selected for the outrage.
1t was then proposed to reduce th'
time for the detention of the woman t.
ten days, Doct. Wood consenting to th'
tsame. He learned soon after that dissat
Iisfaction existed on the part OF some t
the latter arrangement, and for the pur
tpose of avoiding censure, refused longe
to be connected with the transaction, ant
returned the subject of the controyers,
to Mr.. Willis.
The latter gentleman, In the meal
ltine, had learned the whole history Q
the affair, with the numerous discrepan
cies in the statement of the woman, whicl
made it appear that she was an impostel
land tool in the hands of Shareholder
lfor an evil design that, in fact, she wa
Operating in conjunction with those VIII
came with the pretence of arrestiRg heI
Numberless incidents confirmed the evi
Idenee, and chain of circumstances va
finally established in bis mind which lei
mot a particle of doubt of the ,correctnes
of his conclusions. This conviction in
duced Mr. w. torefase toreceise the NO
man from Doct. Wood but he advise
her to go with those who desired to TAX
Iher away, which she finally did, withou
Ishowing any emotion whatever, save re
marking with song Jroid that she "woul
rather go to hell than with them men.
Several of the citizens had been called il
Ito see that those in pursuit Of the pre-
tended fugitive had herin possession, AM
that,she was actually carried away.
Soon after this a gang of pro-slaFer
men and their sympathizers, to4he mum
Der probably, oftwenty-five, came up oI
horseback, but finally dispersed withoti
committing Hny act of violence.
The woman demeaned herself durin.
Ithe whole transaction with the itmos
eooiness, aud showed no. excitement o
loss of self-possession during any stag
iof the proceedings, but appeared an au
tomaton acting well her part
Your committee have listened to
large number of facts pertaining to th
transactions and given every portion 0
the same full consideration, and hay,
unanimously come to the conclusion tba
ithe woman, was, in truth, an imposter
and was sent here to practice her arts OF
the credulous that the whole schems
was eoncected In Missouri, and designeS
IS prstext for sn invasion Of cur bgs
rights.