Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-11-07

The CASE OF PASSWORDS WILLTAMsoN.--H
Release from PrisJn.--On Saturday morning Pass
more Williamson appeared IN the United State
Dictrct Court in Philadelphia, accompanied Ly
Messrs. Meredith, GiIpin and Hopper, his counsel
and Offered petition, IN which he expressed hi.
willingness to purge Himself of the contempt ii
the Wheeler slave case, for which he was impris
oned il July last. Judge Kane received the pc,
ttion. granted the prayer and required Williamson
to affirm to what he had to say i'll reply to the i'll
tenogatores or the court. Certain interrogatore,
were then propounded to him by Mr.. Vandyke the
District attorney, to which he replied.
al did not seek to obey the writ by producing
the persons therein mentioned before the court,be
cause had not, at The time Of the service of tn.
writ, the power over, the custody or control o
them, and therefore il was impossible for me &c
do So. first heard OF the writ of habeaS corpu!
on Friday, July 90, betw cen one and two O'CLOCK
A. NJ, on my return from Harrisburg. After break
fast, about O'Clock, went from my house to Mr.
Hopper'S Office when and where the return was
prepared.
cat 10 O'Clock | came into court as commanded
by the wit. | sou yht to obey the writby answer
ing truly; the parties not being in my possession
or contIOl, it was impossible for me TO oUey the
writ by producing them. Since the service of the
VIII uiNS HUI tue CllSlOuyB pOSSe>lOH Oh
power over them; nor have known wheIe they
were except from common rumor or the newspaper
reports in regard 10 their public appearance in the
city or elsewhere
Some discussion arose between the District At
torney and the counsel of Mr.. Williamson. Mr..
Vandlk Ike comtented that the reply of the defendant
was evas've and contradictory. The Judge said
the difficulty. he thought, could be easily over
come by amending the answer, and at the sugges-
liun of the court it was amended in the following
manner:
al did not seek to obey the writ by producing
the persons in the writ mentioned before this court.
did not 50 seek because verify believed that il
was entirely impossible for me to produce the Snil
persons agreeabIy 10 the command OF the court"
This answer was then accepted by the court
and ordered filed.
Judge Kane then remarked that the District At
tOrney las been invited to aid the court in this
case, but that he would bear i'll mind that his rea
ton 10 Mr.. Wheeler was suspended. This
was only an inquiry as to what injury had been
done The process of the court.
Mr.. Vandyke said he was aware of the position
he occupied.
Judge Kane then Subtitle contempt is now
regarded as pnrsed, aus, thu party is released from
custody. He is now reinStItrd 10 the position he
occupied before the contempt was cummitteI.-
NIr. Williamson is now before ME on the return to
the wrll."
Mr.. vlndyke then arose and addressed the
court, stating that nOile pros. had been entered
in The case in this court, but that he had, on be-
half of Mr.. Wheeler. entered u suit for damages
in the U. S. Circuit Court. Judge Kane thereupon
discharged Williamson from custody. He was i'm
mediately surrounded and heartily congratulated
by his friends. lie is SAID TO look exceedlngly
we'll.