Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-09-07
From the MY. Evening post.]
Tho "h,oI,r GI,, T,,

Jane JohnSon's appearance IN Court-Her
Iesi'mony - Discontinue Of The Hood-
hounds-Her egrcss from Court.
PnlLADELrnn. Aug. 30, 1855.
To-day the exciting case of Wheeler and
the Commonwealth agt. Ballard, Moore and
other cOlored men, was continued. You will
remember that when il was called on Monday,
not single witness for the prosecution was
present Mr.. Wheeler was not to be seen
the rumor was circulated tina. he had gone to
Nicaragua, and his name had even been pub
lished among the passengers on II steamer
there. This ruse for weakening the defence
had partial effect on the popular interest in
the case. But yesterday the witnesses were
among theln tho wnoping minister, the great
berelt. This was intended, suppose, partly
for theatrical effect.
During the day rumurs were circulated
that two warrants had been issued, on
Wheeler's oath, for the arrest of Jane John
son-one for her as his fugitive slave, and the
sccond-(oh shame on the pcttilugging min
lister !)-ior having committed the larceny of
part of her wearing apparel, n trick first in
vented by some southern qui bier for the ben
eft Of the conscience Of the Governor of Nr-
glnia. But whether all the rumors were true
or not, certain it is that all day yesterday and
ivrrrd slave hounds kept about tie / :.
" .r-h'i' Office ilr dirty business iuc $50
oud witues, called for the defence WIS jan"
Johnson The name was followed by Il breath
less silence and n buzz of incredulity. But
this had hardly begun when u movement was
| observed among group of ladies' md Jane
johnson came forward. accompanied by Mrs
Lucretiu Mott, Mrs. Retecca Plumley, Mrs
Mokim aud Miss Sarah +. Pugh, four of tie
most respectable ladies' Of our city She as
ccndcd the witness box amid the deepest sem
satiOn of an immense audience. Some min
utcs elapsed before order and silence were
sufficiently restored to proceed. The freed
woman stood confronted with her late master
Her testimony was simply and naturally
delivered.
Jane is fine specimen of the best class of
Virginia housemaids, with certain lddy-like
air, propricty Of language and timdity Of
manner that progresses the audience in her
! favor She spoke what was evidently the
truth, tearing to tatters all the ingcniOusly
devised lies of the prosecution as to her " for
cbl, ABDUCTION Poor Wheeler For the
first time piticd that unfortunate man. lie
had taken prominent position inside Of the
clerk 3 desk, where every eve could read hi,
shame. When Jane first appeared, he
laughed immediately and nerv0uslv then
became deadly pale, and a, the testimony
went on, red and pale by turns At last, he
could bear 1t no longer, but picked up his hat
aud disappeared
At the conclusion of her testimony. Jane
retired from the courtroom. She was accom-
panied to the carriage by officer George Cor
son, who had her under charge under sub
pOena from the court, Mr.. McKim and Mr..
! Lucretia Mott The way to the carriage wa.
lined by a strong body Of policeman, placed
there by order OF Dist. Attorney Mann and
Judge Kelley. Strong apprchensons were
entertained Of an attack by the United
States Marshal and his deputy Shareholders
Ii seems to be true that United States Attor-
ney Nandykc was prepared with warrant
Tor her arrest, hut his courage paled before
the stern determination Of District Attorney
Mann and Judge Kelley to vindicate the dig
nifty OF the courts Of Pennsylvania If an at
tack had been made by Kane's bloodhounds
1t would have been received by one hundred
as true hearts and manly breasts as exist in
the Old Keystone State. But the Marshal
ana ms men, who thought it great sport to
shoot at m Thomas in the waters OF the
ousquehanna, went quietly back to their
dens when they found themselves face to
face with the freemen Of Pennsylvania.
In conclusion, gentlemen, | congratulate
you Oh the fact that one Court in Pennsvl-
vania has indicated the honor of her Laws,
and telicitate myself that onco more feel
IL throb ofpride in being citizen of the State
/ OF Franklin South Carolina law or Kane
law has loot its power in the limits OF old
Pennsylvania. In fact as well rs theory, it
is demonstrated, that if a slave once touches
Pennsylvania sJil by consent of the master.
| the chains fall from him, and he stands re-
deemed, regencra.ei and discnthralleJ by the
genius Of her free institutions Let all slave
holders take notice l.. I.