Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-14

CURIOUS SLAVE CASE.

! AN interesting tllal was opened yesterday AFTER
noon at Justice Aliens Court in Nine.st Robert
Bartlett, ncgrotrader, No. Sc Oliver.st., accused
Thomas Matthews, q well-known and highly re-
spoctcd citizen, of having given his slave girl
Fanny Watkins forged free papers for herself and
her sister Susan.
Bartlett informed US that he purchased Fanny
(Who is girl Of sixteen years Of agc) from the man
O'Bennis who is at present in prison awaiting
trial for the crime Of murder. 1t is stated that
size is nearly white. Bartlett said to us: "Sho is
the best looking girl in St Louis. | have been
offered 81 200 again and again for her, but would
not let her go for that"
Mr.. Matthews pleaded not guilty. J. L. Giles
pie, Esq, appeared for the defense.
The first witness called was John ". Frakes
one of the Police officers who arrested him. lie
said that at about3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, he
saw Fanny going down Main-st lie accosted her
and asked her where she was going? "I'o see a
gentlemen" she said. lie questioned her further,
and at length, although unwillingly on her part
ascertained that she was going to Mr.. Matthews's
store, which is situated Main-st. between Mar
ket and Walnut. lie advised her not to go, aud
that Mr.. Matthews would "get her into q scrape"
! yet. "Iow?' she asked. "Why," said the Po-
licomen, "Pve got wind of that man. he'll try to
get you to run off and if you try that you will get
n good whipping and be sold down South" She
answered that there was no fear of that and left
him. lie and "star" called Simmer, then went
down to the Police Office, and after sitting there
about three-iourths of an hour, returned towards
where they had met her before They met her
again going in the same direction. Frakes said
he thought he would watch her; turned down an
alleys and entering adi Joining yard, placed him
self in position from which he could see every one
and every thing in Mr.. MatthGws's store. Shin
mer, the contrary, followed them and stood near
the store door so rs to see everything that passed
within. The girl Fanny, and her sister or compan-
ion, Erakes affirmed entered the store, and after
some conversation with Mr.. Matthews, he saw that
gentleman write on sheet of paper and give it to
Fanny. lie gave card, also, to one Uf the girls ;
he couldn't swear to which of them. The girls
! left; he ran round and met them called for Shin
mor's assistance and proceeded to search Fanny
She made some resistance, he said, but he finally
got the paper out Of her hand, 1t was crumpled
up, just as she had held it i'll her hand. This is
copy Of it.
Know ye that Jacob S. Knight of St. Louis
State Of Missouri in consideration Of the kind and
humane feeling, and the further consideration of
! valuable services rendered me by Fanny and Su
san Watkins, girls Of color and slaves, have here
by emancipated aud set said girls free for life
THE said Fanny and Susan Watkins (now
slayes) are from this date forever made free from
all further serytude rs slaves from me, my heirs,
executors, administrators and assigncCs forever,
andhcnccorth to be regarded ly each and every per
son or persons homsocvcr.
1855. JACOB McNiGHT."
'Witness: CALEB JOHNSTON.
This paper, as persons acquainted with Mr.. Mat
thewS's hand declare, bears no resemblance what
ever to his style Of ponmanship.
| On cross examination the witness acted very
rudely. lie standing within yard Of Mr.
Gillespie, yet he repeatedly, and whenever strong
question was asked, exclaimed: "Sr?" and pre-
tended not to hear it, although he appeared to have
no difficulty in hearing Justice Allen, who spoke
less distinctly, in lower tone Of voice, and from
four times the distance.
l., lol ALI L. p,
days before, to keep watch on Mr.. Matthews;
whom he suspected to be an Abolitionst. Before
the girl Fanny went down to the store, he and his
fellow ''star," Simmer searched her in Bartlctts
Office, and found no papers on her. When she
came out on the contrary, the alleged forged pass
produced in Court, was found on her.
Bartlett told us that the girl Fanny had frequent
\ ly said to him that Mr.. Matthews was trying to
induce her to runaway "At first" he said, 81
didn't pay any attention to her; | wouldn't listen
to hers but she came day after day and said the
same thing; and so | suspected him at last" lie
represented to us that Fanny was searched before
she left his Office, and that nothing was found on
2 her. lie said that he believed that this was not
the first time Mr.. Matthews had been 'playing the
same game )" he believed he had given free papers
to two slaves of his, Sam and Matt who had
escaped within the last six wceks-Matt only ten
days ago.
The examination Of this witness closed the ses-
sion Of yesterday afternoon. Mr. Matthews was
asked if he could give bail in the sum of $1,000.
Two gentlemen instantly offered themsclycs-Dan-
iel Williamson, Esq, was accepted.
Mr.. Matthews and his security are well known
and universally esteemed citizens, Mr. Matthews
has been extensively engaged in business IN st.
Louis for upward Of Is years.
Thus far no evidence has been produced to Grim
mate the gentlemen accused. If the gIrl conspr-
; ed to cntrap Mr.. Matthows-supposing him to be
= guilty of the charge-what motive was it that in
duced her to resist Frakes when he asked her for
! the alleged forged pass? If Erakcs searched the
girl, he alleges, before she went out Of Bart
letts office, what induced him to advise her not to
90 to the store when he met her in the street?
5 Again, how could Frakcs Swear to the identity
, of the paper taken liom her, when he must have
lost sight of her in coming from the rear Of The
store to arrest her. after he says he saw Mr., Mat
thcws give paper to her. lie acknowledged that
, he did not search the girl Susan; how therefore
$ did he know that she had not passed the forged
c pass to Fanny
S These points alone will prevent verdict being
\ rendered against Mr., Matthews by that wise max.
i'm of the law which says that very doubtful
circumstance shall DC construed in iJYvr the person