Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-03-29
The Case Of Alfred woodIy.-.slave stealing,

We learn that Alfred Woody, free of color from
the State of New York. who stood indicted Superior
Court Of BERTHE County in this State under Statute
making it penal to aid and assista slave in escaping
his masters service to another State
term of that Court and acquitted by the jury.
The offence is by our law, capital felony. It is q Sc
we're law, but rendered necessary by the systematic Efforts
but too often successful which to deprive us of
our lawful property. -f
This of Woody has in respects been remark
able one and well worthy Of notice. especially from
that section of the Union from which the assaults up
slavery and slave-owners. We will briefly advert to
some of the facts connected withit ...
When this man arraigned he entire stranger
to the people of BERTHE The charge against him
calculated to make for him friends especially that
y from which learn that many valuable slaves have
capped to the Northern States He alone without money
and utterly unable to employ counsel to defend him.
What then? Why, as is always done in North Carolina
such cases. the presiding Judge assigned counsel to defend
him. and to to it that he had fair and impartial trial.
The Hon. David Outlaw, p H. Winston, Jr, and H. b. !
Hardy Esqures, were the counsel.
Upon the trial it :ppeared that this Woody to
the Roanoke river a hand board of small vessel
that the slave disappeared from the service of his master
when the vessel went down the river and that at the town
of Plymouth the vessel searched and he found
concealed in the forccaste and the evidence exceed
ngly strong fix Woody The charge of thus conccaling
him, with u view to his escape Northern State. Though
ably defended by his counsel he found guilty and
fenced to behung for his offence.
But his counsel did not abandon him. The humanity of
our law allows appeal to the Supreme Court without
surety for COSTS where party unable to give it, and if
there has been any of tac in the trial below
trial is allowed
One of the counsel Mr.. Winston Inconvenience
and considerable expense himself. have to
believe followed the up ably argued in the Supreme
Court and, upon technical ground obtained trial
The again laid before jury, have already
stated at the late term of Berthe Superior Courta jury
composed Of some Of the most respectable planters of that
County, and the in the aggregate inform
3D. of fully four hundred slaves The result scqual
Doubtless the verdict of great y. The jury
may have had doubt upon material pontf they
had the prisoner entitled the benefit of it, and he
received it. We trust il will be in North Carolina,
in the of miserable free negro charged with
well calculated in these times excite the indgna
ton Of slave But think it than likely that
this mans neck saved from the halter by the very fact
tina, he poor ignorant negro Were OF those wor-
thies who stand at distance and prompt such men as
Woody to steal slaves to be placed upon his trial
though that North Carolina would be as
just would confidently say that they would prove
| SO merciful as in this
We said that this case we'll worthy of rotice from
that section of country from whence the bitteest de-
nunciatons of institutions and laws For instance,
they camor against law passed to out that provi-
sion constitution which fngtves from labor Jour
slaves shall be surrendered to their And of
the main points of attack that the law disaows trial
by jury in the State where the fugitive be arrested,
though gives him in the State to which he may be
remanded 1t is said alleged slave though free in fact,
would be able establish his freedom before court
and jury of Shareholders Never there greater mis-
take to call it by harsher than this. We can
speak for North Carolina of our knowledge The thing
has been done here again and again.
This case of Woody is itself evidence and strong
one what North Carolina Court aud jury would do in
all such Were it necessary could mention many
but will only for the present recently
occurring in County adjoining this negro was sez
ed and claimed a slave by white person, and placed in
Jail for safe keeping where he remained few hours only
aud discharged. The claimed his freedom
denced by decree made in of courts many years
before. But upon examination of the record decree APP
pearcd have been made Such being the it was In
sisted by the claimant that the negro slave and in
law was part the Of former deceased master,
through which the claimant derived title Now, what did
the do under these Upon proof that
such decree had been made and ordered to be entered it
the record then to be amended to speak the
truth The negro sued the party arrcstin him. and jury
gave him the substantial of $3.50 by way OF damages
We have spoken for North Carolina. We have not the
least doubt that the Justice and honor pre-
walls in every other Southern State.
Let compare, might contrast some of the racts
by with what has been done in of the North
States
How many fugtve-saves would be delivered to their
if they required to establish their right be-
fore Massachusetts, jury? We undertake to say-not one
jury trial the slave wanted there not that justice
may be done but that it may be defeated not because
they pretend that feeen will be dragged into
slavery prevent slaves from being restored to their
lawful owners. t' y
In Vermont and Massachusetts, the gtivesave law has
been virtually nulled by State laws. The last fugitive
slave delivered in Boston cost the general $780,
O it is said and the private of the owner were
more than the value Of the slave
Since that Massachusetts has passed her Personal
Liberty Bill" called, making it highly penal in any Of
her officers citizens to aid Southern in retaining
fugitive save and with further view deprviug him
of all egul assistance where he willing to for
it, subectng members of the bar who may appear in his
behalf heavy fines and penalties for doing and to
all she has expressly conferred jurors the pow
Judge for themselves of the constitutionay of any
law without regard the opinion of the court The
er of fugitive slave who there apprehends hi , may
find himself indicted sued false imprisonment be-
fore State He up defence that he has
ted under the law of the United States and under the
of United States Judge Commissioner but the
jury before which he is tried holding they certainly will
do the act of Congress be unconstitutional he is muct
ed in heavy damages and perhaps the penitentiary
Was there such monstrosty Jurisprudence this
This too, in educated, enlightened Massachusetts, in the
, year OF our Lord, 1856
Justice administered in North Carolina. Our
jures pronounce upon the as-hey the a0 from
Judges Our lawyers allowed to appear for whom
they please and subjected to pains and penalties for
doing Nay if one is poor to employ counsel wheh-
in civil or Grimm cases. the courts win assign counsel