Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-07-13
Gbe 4alIg spp.
MONDAY. JULY Is, 1887.

FORTg-FIvE YEARS IN BonDAeE.-A venera
Die and intelligent native African has recently
arrived at New York, from Savannah, Ga, where
be was known as Demock Charlton, and served
more than lotty years as the slave Of various par
ness while he claims to have been British sub
jeet and entitled to British protection. His
story Is quite romantic. When child he was
brought sway from Africa in Spanish SLAYER
but the vessel was captured by an English war
brig and the prize and her cargo taken TO Eng
land His African name was fallen, but he was
ehrstened John Bull, and sent on board the
British brig Peacock a cabin boy. AT TINS
time the war was in progress between Great
Britain and the United States, and on the cap
-ture of the Peacock by the little American
schooner Hornet. John Bull fell to the care Of
Lieut.. William Henry Harrison, who had him
taken to Savannah, from whence it was Harri.
sons intention to take him to Washington,
where he supposed the boy would follow the for
tunes OF the prisoners Of war Judge Charlton
Of Savannah, with whom the boy was left, sub
seqaentiy informed Harrison that John Bull was
dead, and Harrison never interested himself fur
Their in the matter. Judge Charlton, however,
altered the boys name to Demock Charlton, and
sold him. Demock proved to be very intelligent
and capable, and, buying his time, he became
boss stevedore.
During theIforty-fve years he was in bondage,
he was owned by several different parties, and all
the time was laying up money to purchase his
own freedom. Three or fous times over he par
rally pald TOT himself, W0en MS owners WOQlQ
sell him and retain his hard-eorned money. He
always insisted that he was British subject, en-
titled TO his freedom, and being considered rath
er unsafe property, he was often sold. Last
year, however, he fell into the hands of man
named Garman, who was willing that he should
become free, and Demock purchased himself tor
$3.50, and took the first boat for the North, leav
ing in. Savannah and vicinity a slave wife child
rem, and grand children. Demock is now en-.
deayoIing to obtain from the British authorities
at New York recognition that he is British
subject, with view of prosecuting his oppress-
ors.--BostoR Journal
The case Of this'Demock Charlton, in being
kidnapped and reduced to slavery, though free
man, is undoubtedly that Of hundreds, il not of
thousands, Of Others, in the slave States. This,
and the Successive plundering of him, by his diff.
ferent masters, of the money he had earned to
secure his freedom, gives us good specimen of
the morality Of the first classes of socety-for Of
such are the shareholders = in the Southern
States, This Judge Charlton, who stole poor
Demick and lied to Harrison about him, was
lesding Democratic politician of Savannah, a
Judge Of the Courts, and at one time Mayor Of
the city. TWAS, we believe, under his Mayoral-
'ty, and under his lead, that the donation from
New York for the benefit of the sufferers by the
great FIRE at Savannah, was returned to the dom
Ors, because it was accompanied with condition
that it should be distributed to all sufferers
alike, '0ithOta regard to color. We think that
Demock is on wild goose chase. However
good his cause may be, what can he expect to
gain where such men as T. W. P. Charlton are
Judges of the Courts, and where it is laid down
as an axiom, that negroes have no rights that
white man is bound to respect"i