Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-08
THE PHILADELPHIA RIOT CASE.

The colorod men who were present at the eman-
cipation of Jane johnson and her children in
Philadelphia, had their trial for riot and assault
and battery, before Judge Kelly, on the 10Th and
30th ult. Colonel Wheeler was the chief witness
against them, and was very decided in his testi-
mony that the woman was taken off forcibly and
against her will. On the second day of her trial,
however, much to the Colonel's surprise, Jane
herself appearedin Court, and testified to precise
ly the opposite state Of facts, declaring that it was
her wish and purpose to be free, and that she left
the American Minister of her own will and ac-
cord.
Judge Kelley and the off GERS Of the State Court
seem to have behaved nobly on the occasion-af-
fording Jane the needful protection against the
Federal officers who were ready to seize her in the
Court room. lie assured the U. S. officers that
the laws of Pennsylvania were dom inant in that
Court, and that an effort to trample upon them
would be at their peril. lie charged the jury that
Jane johnson was a free woman by the laws OF
Pennsylvania, and her testimony as worthy OF
credit rs that Of the American Minister. The
jury found a verdict of not guilty in the cases Of
all the men a~rraigned on the charge of riot, and a
verdict of guilty against two of their number for
assault and battery.
The New York Tribune gives the following ac
count of the excitement produced by the appear
anoe of Jane in the Court room:
"Quite a thrilling scene took place in Judge
Kelly's Court to-day during the trial OF the
Wheeler case. Yesterday the counsel for the
Commonwealth had it all their own way, and theli
testimony went far to show that the woman JANE
was forced away against her will-that OF Colone
Wheeler was especially full and circumstantial, tt
- - T. 4 .1,ona &c fha ma the Onl,
person competent to testify fully to the question o
voluutariness the Colonel could afford to pc partic
ularly strong but, presto in the midst OF pro
ceedings this forenoon Jane johnson appeared II
Court. She cam in escorted by an oihcer ana &c
companled by Mrs Mott, Mrs. Mckim, Miss Pugl
and Mrs. Plumley. She was put on the stand, an'
her testimony utterly and entirely destroyed tina
of Col. Wheeler and his witnesses. Her evidence
was clear and just TO the point, reiterating IN tn
most satisfactory manner all she had SAID In he
affidavit at New York.
BUTT was a bold and perilous move on the par
of her friends, and the deepestapprehensionswer
felt for the result. The U. S. Marshal was ther
with his warrant and au extra force to execute II
The officers Of the Court and other State oihcer
were there to protect the witness and yindlrat
the laws Of the State. Vandyke, the U. S. Distric
Attorney, swore he would take her. The Stat
officers swore he should not, and for q while
seemed that nothing could avert a bloody scene. i
was expected that the conflict would take place q
the door when she should leave tho room, SO tina
when she and her friends went out, and for som
time after, the most intense excitement pervade
tho Court room.
She was however allowed to enter the earring
that waited for her without disturbance. She wa
accompanied by Mr.. McKim, Secretary of tn
uti-S~iavery Society, Lucretia Mott and Georg
Corson. one of our most manly and intrepid polio
officers. The carriage was followed by anothe
filled with Off ers as a guard. and thus escorte
she was taken back in safety to the house fror
= = xshtch aha had haan hrauyht Hor title 10 frnadoI
under the laws of the State will hardly again b
brought into question.
fa Great credit is due to VIM. B. Mann, acting A
-torney General, for the manner in which he Ia
behaved in this case. lie has done much to viz
dictate the honor of the State and the sanctity
the Court of which he is an officer. Judge Kell,
too. has behaved with great dignity and impartia
ity."