Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-31

speakers. The public generally and all the friends
Of the Bible are respectfully invited to attend
singular trial has just been concluded at Pitts
burg, in which white and very white negro
formerly of this State figured, the latter the origi-
nal it is said, Of Mrs Stoves George Harris" IN
''Uncle Toms Cabin" It appears that several
years age, while working at his trade as brioklay-
err in Memphis, George Shaw made the Acquaintance
of a slave named ''Wasl," then in the employ of
Geo. RsgIand, of Alabama, to whom he had been
hired by his master, gentleman named Miles OE-
ems, and now citizen Of Tennessee. Ragland sub
sequenlly purchased wash of Ovens and the boy
being quite an excellent brickayer and an active in
telIigent young fellow he soon became one of the
mos, priced and valuable of Rsgands hands He
could both read and write, was an excellent work
man, a genius in his way and was, wiIhal, possess
ed Of a skin as white he purest blooded Caucss-
ian that ever existed But it appears that Wash
was q little too smart, for he rau away from his
master, and after many 'hair-b breadth escapes"
found his way to Pittsburg. reward of $500 was
offered for his apprehension and circulars describ
ing the fugitive we're scattered over the country.
Pursuit, for the time being, however, vain, and
''Wash, 4" or, as we must now call him Geo. w. Fer
ris for that was the name be assumed, settled down
quietly in Pitsburg, and was soon known as enc Of
the most industrious and respectable mechanics
within its limits. He passed there white man,
and, some twelve nom hs after his arrival in the
city, married handsome and respectable girl, by
whom he has had two children. ..
Shaw too, came to Pittsburg, and, though be had
not seen Ferris for years. he came in very strange
way TO recognise him. Mrs Stowe, in her key to
from Southern paper, in which a Shareholder of
Alabama offers $500 reward for the return of one
of his negroes, who had absconded. This man was
Rsglaud and Ferris the negro whose capture be
desired The description of the fugitive was min,
ute, and Shaw having read it, Identified Ferris the
moment he saw him, as the runaway. BE imuedi-
ately communicated the discovery to Ragland, but
it was deemed imprudent to attempt to arrest
the fugitive in that hot-bed Of abotionism -
Shaw, however, kept his eye upon "Wash, alias
George W Ferris, until in the latter part of 1857,
when Ferris went to Missouri in search of work
Shaw followed him, and while in Brunswick, in that
State had him arrested, and taken back to his mas
ter in Alabama, who paid Shaw the $500 he had Of
fered for Wssh's apprehension. Shaw returned to
Pittsburg and Mrs. Ferris. the wife Of Wash, had
him arrested upon charge Of abductiug, or kid
mapping her busbund. On the 18th inst his case
came up for trial in the Criminal Court Mrs Ferris
and a beautiful white haired child, the slaves
daughter, we're in court during the trial. which
tinued three days and Of course excited not only
the sympahes of the aboiouists for her, but their
feelings Of revenge against Shaw On the 18th the
jury returned verdict of guilty as charged in the
Indictment By the laws of Pennsylvania, kidnap
ping is peniteutisry Offense and we suppose Shaw
has been consigned TO that institution for simply
returning to Mr. Raglsnd his properly.
Since preparing he foregoing, We ind in the pub
lished proceedings of meeting of citizens Of Frank
lin county, Ala, the following facts in relation to
this case:
The Committee understand the following to be the
facts in reference TO the arrest aud imprisonmentm
the city OF Pitsburg, Of G Shaw formerly cit
izcu Of Tuscumbia, Franklin county, Ala. negro
boy, nsm.d Wash the property # Geo RaglaDd,
escaped from bis master about The year 1852, ami
went 10 Piusburg, Pa, where under the n4me OF
George Washington Fsrris, he remsiued some five or
six years. Geo W Shaw, having also removed TO
PItisburg, met this boy Wash, AID recognized him
as the slave whom he had formerly seen and known
in Tuscumbia as belonging to the said Raglaud, IN
formed EaEaud of the fact Of his living IN PiItsburg
In The year 1857, the said slave, Wash, removed
from Pittsburg 90 The Safe Of Missouri and Mr..
Rsglsnd having been advised ofthtt fact employed
Wm Julian, a citizen Of Tusoumbia aud ca d G.
W Shaw who still resided in Pitsburg to 90 TO
Missouri and capture him. They fund the said
slave Wash in BrUnsWlck, IN the State of Missouri,
where they arrested him aud brought him hack 10
his master 10 Tuscumbia The said negro acknowl-
edged when arresId, that he was he slave of the
said Rag'aud and on his return was recognized by
many OF he citizens of Tuscumbia 10 whom he had
heeu v, known before he made has escape to Pitts
burg. as the boy Wash who had previously escaped
from said Rsgltu