Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-12-19

THE KIDNAPPED NEGRO RESTORED TO
FREEDOM.

-
We have already given full accounts of the kid
mapping of two negroes ut Geneva, N. u, the es-
cape of one of them at Carlisle station, and the
subsequent sale of the other, named John L. Hite,
in Kentucky. We have now only to detail the
additional statements connected with the escape
of the latter from bondage, and his return TO this
city, on Saturday afternoon, in charge of Judge
Calvin Walker, who brought on the requisition
from the Governor of New York, accompanied by
Mr.. Robert Lay, of Geneva, for whom the boy
llite had worked, and who could therefore readily
identity him.
The history in brief is thus: On tho cars up
from Cleveland, Napoleon Bonaparte Van Iuyl,
the kidnapper of the negroes, fell in company with
three Kentuckians, Barton w. Jenkins. of Port
Royal, Henry county, aud Henry Giltner and
George w. Metcalf. Of Carroll county, to whom he
represented the boys rs runaway slaves, and solic-
tied their aid in getting them back to Tennessee,
from which State Van Tuyl asserted they had
escaped. The three gentlemen named, placing
implicit reliance in the story OF the kidnapper,
who gave his name as Paul Lensington, rendered
him such assistance as was in their power, and
when the boy Daniel Prue, who. it seems. had
overheard a part of the false tale Of Van Tuyl, at
tempted to get off the cars at Carlisle, Mr.. Jenkins
made an effort to keep him ON, and not succeed.
ing, subsequently went back with Van Tuyl in
search OF him, and was afterwards arrested at
Franklin on charge of Kidnapping, but discharged
for want of evidence. The other gentlemen nam
ed proceeded on their way to CarroIlton with llite,
and placed him in Jail, to await the arrival of the
supposed owner, 1t is hardly necessary to say
that the kentuckians were completely imposed
upon by Van Tuyl, and So far as they took any
part in the matter, did so entirely ignorant of the
fact that the boy was other than an escaped slave.
Van Iuyl or Lensingtop, as he was known to
the kentuckians, came on a Gay or two alter, and
made q sale Of the boy to Jenkins for $500, alleg-
ing in the bill which has been shown US, that he
was "l9 years Of age, of copper color; that be
was the true and lawful owner of said boy, and
that he WAS a slave for liio,' which be signed
Paul Lensington." The bill of sale was made
out for $3.50, but $500 only was paid, the balance
being voluntarily deducted by Van Tuyl for the
trouble of the purchaser in aiding him TO secure
his property" Subsequently the negro was
sold to Lorenzo Graves, Esq, by Mr., jenkins, for
$3.50, who took him to Warsaw, KY, but after.
wards sent him to Louisville 10 be confined until
he should require his services elsewhere. This
brings the history of the case down to the arrival
of Mr.. Walker with the requisition from the Gov.
ernor of New York.
On the arrival of the two New York officers al
Warsaw, they had no difficulty in ending Nr.
Graves, and on explaining to him their business
and exhibiting the evidence in their possession
that the negro was free, that gentleman, with a
disregard to self interest, which does his head and
heart the greatest honor, replied, II am satisfied
he is a free negro, and that he has been kidnap-
ped. | am a Kentuckian and a stakeholder, but
| would as soon poison my mother as to purchase
a negro | knew to be free. | pledge you my hon,
or that the boy shall be placed in your hands, and
safely conveyed to a free State" Like an houora-
bic man, he kept bis word in every particular.
Mr. Graves Immediately had horses saddled for
the party, and proceeded to the residence of Mr..
Jenkins, who had made the sale TO Mr.. Graves,
and that gentleman was as much astonished as
had been Mr.. Graves, that he had been so foully
imposed upon by the rascal Van Tuyl, and i'm
| m CIintcly rofunlaA 10 M Ero tho r,Dp,nt If
the purchase money, putting to his private loss
account the $500 paid to Van Tuyl, merely re.
%minding the officers if any portion of the amount
could be obtained from "Mr. Lensington," that it
should be forwarded. Matters being salts
factorily arranged thus far, the whole party
started for Louisville, where IIite was still
in confinement, and Mr.. Graves not only
opened the prison doors Of the captive, with his
own hands, and delivered him to Mr.. Walker
but he accompanied the gentlemen with the
boy to this city, gave the latter money to spend
on The way,a and on his arrival here, bought several
acceptable presents to send to the boys mother
at Geneva. In reply to Mr.. Walker, as he was
about leaving for home on the mail boat Saturday
noon, who thanked him for the trouble he had tax
en- in the matter, and for his honorable conduct
throughout, Mr.. Graves said, 81 promised that
you should have the boy on free territory, unmo.
Tested, aud have kept my word. | was satisfied
a foul wrong had been committed, and | have done
what ] could to right it. l only hope the laws Of
New York will be equally prompt in furnishing the
guilty party.
Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Lay staid throughout Sat.
urday afternoon and yesterday at the Spencer
House, and will leave for Geneva this morning
with IIite, who, it is unnecessary to say, is overioy.
ed at his escape from slavery. In his transfer to
different, parties he had not told them he was a free
negro, for fear he might be sold farther South. and
his escape thereby entirely cut off but we are sat.
isied that had he informed Mr.. Graves of the fact
he would have found in him an honorable friend.