The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-04-14
The Eugifixe Stare case.


Tiae Fugitive slave case.
About two weeks iince Daniel Webster,
negro, was capturd as an alleged fugi-
tive slave, at Harrisburg, and carried off
to Philadelphia for trial before Commits
sloner Longstreth, (ason Of Morris Long
streth, whilom Canal Commissioner and
Democratic candidatefor Governor against
Wm. +. Johnston} tie only U. S. Com
missioner in the State who would issue
the mandate for his arrest The trial oc-
cupied IS consecutive hours, and was
listened to with deep interest by large
number of the citizens and ladies of Phil
adelphia We give the ioliowing extracts
from the reports of the tial
From. tie PAaadelpAia Zee. Bulletin, april ).
The doings of yesterday afternoon and
last evening, in the case Of the alleged
fugitive slave, Daniel Webster, or Danger
field, will be found repolted on our first
page. This morning theatair is the sub
ject of general discussion, aud much feel
ing is evinced. The mos intense ankle
ty is felt as to the result, and the hearing
this afternoon, which will probably be Il
nal, will be attended with no little excite
ment. The United States authorities have
sworn in fifty special deputy Marshals,
who will be designated BY a badge which
is to be provided They will be in at
tendance at the Court House at the time
of the hearing, and if the ale ged fugitive
is remanded we presume that it will be
the province of these men to execute the
mandate of the Commissioner. There
will also be strong force oi the city po-
lice on duty to preserve the peace; bat
they will not, of course, interfere in the
matter except to preserve the peace Of the
city.
| The confusion which took place yester-
day morning, was much oft owing to bad
management. In the first place, the hear
ing was arranged to be held at the pri-
vate office of the Commissioner, an apart
ment of about Il by Is feet indimensions.
This room was densely packed before the
arrival of the prisoner or the counsel en-
gagged upon either side, and it was mani
lfostly impossible to proceed With the ex-
animation under such circumstances. The
Commissioners then despatched a messen-
GER to secure the use of the United States
Grand Jury room, in the basement of the
i Hall of the Philosophical Socidy, at Fifth
and Chestnut streets, and thisrequest be-
ing granted, an adjournment tp that place
was ordered. The room was not IN readl-
ness for the admission of the parties and
the public, and before it couldbe cleared
an immense concourse Of people had col
lected il and about the building. When
the prisoner was brought to thedoor from
the private office of the Commissioner
there was good deal of pulling and tus
selling, which some persons say was an at
tempt at rescue, and the man was very
unceremoniously hustled in doors. To
add to the confusion, he could not be tax
en- direct to the room where thd hearing
was to take place, and the shifting hin
from place to place was attended With dis
order,
Finally the Commissioners, the prisoner
the counsel, and large number of citi
zens were fixed in the room aud eyerythin:
was in readiness to proceed with the ex
animation, when a new trouble arose
Some of the city authorities stare tina
United States District Attorney James G
Yandyke came to the door Of the Crane
Jury room, and said to the officers out
side that the hearing should not progres
at all In that room, and ordered it cleared
At all events, Marshal Yost did enter tn
room and ordered it cleared Of all person
who were not directly concerned with tn
case. He was followed by District At
torney Vandyke, who called out that tn
room should be cleared. Some of the ot,
police followed Messrs. Yostand Vandyke
but no person was removed from the room
by force; the feeling among the andienc
in the matter being so decided as to b
unnlistakeable. The counsel for the prls
oner protested against the right of an.
power to remove the public from Copr
of Justice which every law Of the lane