The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-11-04
The kidnapping OF Horace Bell
A drcat Outrage,

vile police officers, upon our most public
street, of Mr.. Horace Bell, Of Harrison
county, and the carrying him of BY force to
Kentucky.
1t will be remembered that Bells father
and brother were some time since charged
with enticing away from their owners some
negroes belonging to Meade county, Ken
lucky. No requsition was made upon the
Governor of Indiana for the Bells, but they
were found on the bank of the Ohio river by
some Kentuckians. where they we're seizad
! and carried over the river and placed in Jail
at Brandenburg. They wers examined by
the County Judge there, who demand the
enormous bail of $4,000 for their appear
ance, which they were unable to give, e,.and
were consequently committed to jail, where
they lay for some months.
Horace Bell, who ,s then in California,
hearing what had taken place, Immediately
started for home to see what could be done
to secure the release of his father and broth
er. On his arrival he procured the aid Of
one or two friends, went to Brandenburg,
and, while most Of the people ware out Of
the place, released them from jail, and they
returned with him to their home in Indiana.
This daring uct of young Bell greatly ex-
cited the BrandeHburg people, who, it is said,
offered reward of $500 for the arrest Of
Horace. ras.
Mr.. Bell was in this city last week, for
the double purpose of attending the Fir snl
meeting his sister, who lives in Louisville,
he being about to return to California. His
sister, and also his mother, cine over OIL
Saturday, and were doubtless watched and
followed by the fellows who did the deed OF
which we arc about to speak.
Mr.. Bell had taken his relatives to the
ferry, boat, and was on his return to the De-
Paw House for the purpose Of taking the
stage for CorydJn, when, on arriving near
the corner OF Hain and Bank streets he was
assaulted by gang OF five men from Louis
Vile, all armed to the teeth, whJ knocked off
Bells hat, took away his arms, and hurried
him off to the ferry boat, which, the instant
he was put on board, was put in motion, and
left for the Kentucky shore. This was be-
tween and o'clock, when the streets Weru
almost deserted, nearly all Cur citizens being
in attendance on the closing scenes of tho
Fair. A few, however, who got wind Of tho
outrage, followed the gang to the river, and
warned the officers OF the ferry-holt not to
leave the Indiana shore till the matter of
the arrest Of Mr.. Bell could be leg1lly inves-
tiyatei. The warning, however, was utter
ly diSregarded, for the Off :ers Of thu boat
appeared to be in as hot haste to leave with
their prey as the Louisville outlaws.
Watchman Carpenter (thc same who stood
by while anc ther gang OF louisville buIles
were beating Steward Sanford on election
day without attempting to interIere) is said
to have been on the wharf at tho time Bell
was hustled off, and mlde no protest what
ever against the Outrage. 1t is to b, hoped
the City Council will take his case in haod.
The Louisville off ;ers sai to be engaged
in this outrage are John Enlow, JJe Swim.
ncy, CrofoOt, Fdnz mt and ID .ering.
The excitement in thiS city on Saturday
night and Sunday was very great. Meet
ings were held at the wh rf and at the Court
House to consider the matter, at which re.
solutions wero adopted denouncing this in.
vusion upon the sovereignty OF Indiana.
We have no wish to add TO this excitement
or to deal in harsh epithets towards our Ke
tucky ueiglbor5. Still this is caso which
demands more lIiIn usual attenlion. The
men (or most oi them) who committed this
violation OF the comfy Of States, are mostly
sworn otfic RS Of Louisville, not mere private
citizens, upon whom little or no esponsibl;~
ty rests. Thy at least, should khow what
is due from State to State and from rity to
city. II id the authorities or citizens OF It,
tiin1 ever manifested dis Isi'i1n to shit
criminals cscIpiaI from Kentucky, the Q
might have been SOM shadow of excuse tr
this gross outrage. Bat there h4s baen 10
such disposition IN ,ni'eotai herr. We hat
ever tented our K antuchy neiybors al e
would have them treat us. But it scca
this state Of thil4s is not 70 lust. Kentucky
bdIies come to oar city on election day, and
beat aud maltreat our citizens, and Ken.
til ky officers, armed 10 The teeth, come und
'orcbIy carry off citizen ut MD day from
Our most public street.
W. hope that for tho future there will bo
no more conniving by our cilzens ut the ar
rest Of men in Indiana by louisville police
officers, ana the taking them out OF the
State without the warrant OF l,w. There IL
q legal way OF doing these things, and tho
strict letter of the law should BE- o5eyed.-
Kentucky owes it to Indiana D deliver up
those OF her citizens who have trampIed up
on our State sover, igrty. They have com.
mted high off.nce against the laws OF In
diana, and should not be pei united to escape
Speaking Of this high h1nded outrage up.
IN The laws fthe sovereign State OF Indiana,
he Louisville Democrat says:
Had these men even warrant from
magistrate, os required by the act of Con.
.ress Of February, 1893, with the authenti-
'ation OF the Executive Did they have
my authority, or any shadow of authority,
o seize upon this man more than any other
nan in Indiana I! We can see none. We
have heard none. Itwas a gross violation
1t law, and one which has been strongly
throughout our city. In order
o place the principle in light in which the
ceilings, the natural feelings, to great ex.
ent, of the citizens OF New Albany look up
IN 1t, we will suppose case: Thata mas
er having arrested his fugitive slave in In
LANA, should, while conveying him home,
'e himself arrested and thrown into iaiI, up.
m The charge of having kidnapped the slave,
hat having escaped and reached Kentucky,
10 should have been set upon by halEdoz.
N ruH1ans without requistion or warrant
rom Indiana, bound hand and foot, and
ragged from the presence of his sisters and
brown into an Indiana Jail ? We can i'm
glne burst of Indignation throughout our
lty, and ii it was asserted, in justification of
ne act, that the person whom he had claim
d as his slave, was not his slave, the justi.
cation would be repelled as begging the
uestion. 1t is not injury to Bell, that is
omplained Of. He may have deserved it
I is the insult to the laws of Indiana which
I~.1