New-York daily tribune., 1855-08-28
JUDGE KANE AND rASSMORE VII
LIAMSOY
.orr..ponaenee ofThs \. I. rribaHe.

l.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 26, 1855.
The report which was published in yesterday
mornings papers of this city and ! believe also
in THE TRIBUNE, Of the action of Judge Kane on
an application made on behalf of PassmOre VIII
hanson BY bis family physician for change Of
apartments is calculated, think, to make an
erroneous impression, and needs some explanation
1t would seem from this report that Mr.. William
son had acknowledged the jurisdiction OF Judge
Kane, and was appealing to him for mercy This
seeming is entirely without warrant in the facts
In the fret place the physician in making the
application acted altogether without the knowl-
edge or consent Of Mr. williamson or his counsel;
and in the next place the application, as | have
understood-thoueh on this point would nor 6e
positive-was not made, or at least made directly,
TO Judge Kane and it was not expected that an
answer would be received TO it from the Bench.
Occasion was taken, however, TO have the Doctors
certificate read before the Court and the oppor-
tunity was embraced by the Judge to give reply
to il calculated to satisfy certain class OF people
that any hardshps which Mr. Williamson was en-
during from tie rigors of his confinement were due
70 his own peryerssness, and he might be re-
leased at sny time that be should choose to make
tie proper application to the Marshal
This looks all very we'll and with superficial
peope NAV serve to put the character of the Judge
for clenencJ in the light in which be would desire
il should appear; but the statement OF few facts,
not impernnent, will, l apprehend, present the
matter in different aspect.
The relations public ard personal, existing be-
tween Marshal Wynkoop and Passmore William
son are not dissimilar 10 those which now exist be-
tween Mr.. Williamson and Judge Kane. IL was
under a warrant put in the hands OF Marshal
W,bkoop that thst dastardy onslaught was made
two years ago in Wilkesbarre on the person OF
the black man William Thomas sn outrage which
excited general horror in this country and IN
Europe The parties who perpetrated 1t were
Mr. Wypkoop, a brother of tie Marshal, and two
other persons all three United States Deputy Mar
shsls A criminal suit was instituted against these
parties for assault and battery with intent To XIII
and also a civil suit by William Thomas himself
for damages On Mr.. Williamson deyol7ed the
main responsibility Of conducting the prosecution:
Questions involved in these cases came by appeal
and otherwise before the Supreme Court of the
State and also before the United States District
Court. In this way Mr.. Williamson was placed in
a position of sntagonism to Judge Kane and at the
same time was brought into direct AID hostile col
lision with Marshal Wynkoop. it is understood
that from that time till the day Judge kane's de-
csitn placed him in his power, Mr.. Wynkoop has
entertained toward Mr.. " williamson feelings OF
strong personal hatred.
of which be could not be ignorant, to require OF
Mr Williamson, as the condition precedent OF his
having the favor of change in his apartments, that
be should personally ask it OF the Marshal, was to
impose upon him humiliation which TO man OF
bis spirit would be far more revolving than an un-
limited confinement in the narrowest and most
Ioisome cell
But Mr.. Williamson asks no faYors OF any body
He never has in this case asked any, except in
one instance When the Marshal first took him
into custody after the decision, he desired to be
allowed 10 pass through the Recorders Office, that
he might give some directions concerning paper
which he had left there; but this the Marshal re-
fused aiterward, it is true when they took their
seats in the carriage, he profiered to his prisoner
all the courtesies and amelioratens his case might
REQUIRE but Mr.. Williamson interrupted him,
saving peIemptorily that ne asked no iavors, aud
this is the ground which Mr.. w. still maintains.
He makes no complaints; he asks no fayors.
When he found his health was suffering from the
dampneAs of the cell in which he was confined, he
stated the fact to the Prison Inspectors who, 1t is
but proper to say, are willing to extend to him
every needed Kindness, and his cell was changed
for drier one on TIE side of the prison exposed
10 the sun. There he is content to remain u1tI
his rights as u man and citizen are indicated,
until he can return to the enjoyment OF hie's
blessings without feeling behOlden for the PRIV
lege to the favor ofeny man. PInIADELPHos.