The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-01
The Wheeler Slave Case.
EVIDENCE OF JANE JoHNs0N-ExCiTEMENT AROUND
TIL uOusE.
from the Phadeiphia Bulletin, Aug. 30.1


The trial Of the colored stin, Ballard and others
charged with riot and assault and battery continued
this morning before Judge Kelley in the Court ofQuarer
Sessions. The Commonwealth Is represented by VIM B.
Mann Deputy District Attorney assisted by David Web
bons Esq appears for Vim. Still and VIM Birney and
WIN. $. Fierce Esq, Cor the other defendants.
Captain Heath was the first witness examined this
morning. His testimony was as follows
was in command Of the steamboat Washington on the
18th July, 1866 the boat laid with her head up the
river talking before the boat started the after
named with Mr.. Field and Captain MYRTLE heard
boy cry ''murder went to the gang plank and
crowd coming OFF, | asked what was the NATTER the
crowd said little boy had run away from his mother
and then Jim Martin showing lifting OF
these t sOs
back all he could; suppose there were twenty whites
anu blacks in the crowd. lIhe captain here identified
Martin and raid he il employed in Mr. Gatz ners Office
The affair occurred two three minutes before the boat
started.
Cross-examincd-I have known James Martin for some
two three years have always known him 20 be OF
peaceable dposiiiop and straight forward upright man
was thirty forty feet from the boys when the boys
first cried did understand the cry to be murder did
not Mr. Toinlinson until after the affair over
then eaw him the boat the gang plank saw
disturbance no weapons nor riong on the wharf there
was shouting by the crowd at the time that heard
John Aydeott, sworn-I am pilot Of the Washington:
first saw the hurricane deck Of the steamboat
white and two colored talking to the slaves:
the man persuaded the coored go ashore and
told her II she did she would be free the two colored
men also persuaded her TO 60 ashore left to ring the
five minute bell; when back the colored men VIM
GUSTS aud James Martin had each boy under their
arms, taking them ashore; saw them the upper
deck about twenty feet from the after part Of Che boa
there was considerable OF crowd fifteen
~ persons 81 produced excitement understood the
boys to hanoo murder; they went TO the stairway fol-
lowed by the crowd the woman sat quiet while being
persuaded TO 30.
Cioss-examned--I heard williamson ask her (Janc
II she wanted ,e be free she told him she was not free;
that was all hoard her say the pilot house prevented
my seeing them inter they started from the seat
no weapons heard the cry Of murder from the boys
Tie discussion between the parties lasted about i've mi
nutes Co! Wheeler sat quietly, spoke moderately and
in an ordinary tone e voice; these Martin and Gus
US are porters on The wharf did not sec GUSTS any
body else seize Co.. Wheeler about five six fec,
from the parties at the time they went around the pilot
house; did not Col Wheeler cndeavor to stop the
by force he asked her IL she did not want TO see
her children IN Virginia, and she said she did
remember stating 10 Mr.. Pierce that she could 10
asore after abe came back from New York and be free
She wished 10 be Isaiah Moore and Martin are peace
able A. far as SNOW; Gusts altogether peace
abb alpui he wharf don't know much about Brad
dock; heard no threats.
Retyamisafon-Iersons might have taken hold Of
Colonel Wheeler without my seeing f. aon', know that
the eoofed msn about the whatvcs usually carry wca.
fons.
Vim. Edwards. svorn--I was the wharf when this
occurred: saw two boys the hands OF two catDrri
men, coming oG the dip; crowd followed, mostly Of
eoorei persons; they passed the wharf and Then
along 10 Dock sres can't recognize any OF the men;
there COED del Of confusion and excitement; the
owd was about twcive or fifteen in number.
eross-exsuns nj saw no Gshtiag weapons and
heard no threats; police officers about; was
about Eve or ten fee. from the crowd.
Joseph Mike swcrn--I was at Walnut street the
boat On The occasion: Arst the crewd-shc boys
-creau ming Al children III when fightcnedcoming down
The gangway from the lvemenade deck saw black
man ca rrying a boy, a ccforcd woman following after;
he had fan and an umn ella 10 her hand they rushed
sshore suddenly followed them ashore they did not
- Oh tho regular passenger gangway, bat through the
ieight passage way followed them aud saw number
# eoofsd men hnrryinr away Nth the woman; ten
io7en colord the cr,wd they were all shov
ng together Irecngnize custs he was showing on saw
pr hiuA a aso Martin On the boat.
fros Termination heard no thrcats; the crowd
NJ he'd of a. If they wanted to get away; was not
hr nppsr deck; made arrests; saw nothing 20 call
~ my nfesisrencc.
Jarnrs N<lnsyrc, sworn-Iives in Second, below Dock
rove hack on tie 18th Of July 1885, my carriage that
ferncop stood NJ the corner ef Front ID pos streets