, 1859-04-09

Trial OF tho Re.cucrn fn the U. S. Dis
zrtct Court.

The trial Of the rescuers Of the negro John,"
who was seized "ou shares by one Anderson
Jennings at oberlin. Ohio, in September. last,
and forcby released By certain citizens Of 0ber--
lin and Wellington, was commenced in the e.
S. District Court for the Northern District Of
Ohio, nj Cleveland on Tuesday last, The first
witness examined was John 6. 1}acon, Of Mason
County, Kentucky. Mr. Bacon seems to bc q
free and easy man with keen relish for his
joke. His examination WIS brief and racy. lie
testified that John had been lis slayc from ls47
10 1885, but added that he did not know who
owned him now. He had no intention Of pursu::
ing John, but he gave Jennings power Of at
torncy to capture him. lie {Dacon) was not at
home when John run away. Hc had left John
at home in charge Of IN lrishman named Peter
also left Peter in charge Of John. [Laughtcr.]
Did not now own any sIase-except John. Re-
newed 1aughter.l Jennings was to have one
half Of the proceeds Of John if he brought him
back.
The next witness was Jennings himself. lie
is described as tic type Of the professional
nigser-catchcr-heavy ind muscular, with u big
neck, vil!ainous low forehead, and pair Of
lungs adapted for terrifying niggcrs and general
plantation roaring. Jennings said that he saw
John Mt Wellington, and that he "had him
there" [Laughtcr.} His narrative Of the
events after he had him there" is thus report
cd in the Cleveland Herald:
Witness proceeded lie had the power Of IT.
torncy at tie time lie lad John ut Wellington;
attempted to tuke John to Columbus from Wads
- Il. I. .r1n
people gathering with guns. Did not like the
room he Lad John i'll; it WAS too largc and had
folding doors; got landlord to let them have
room nl' stairs and took John up there. Lowe,
Mitchell und Dayis were assisting witness and
went up with them. Don't know the defend
ant, Bushnell. Witness thought there were
laughter.] They fad shot guns and other arms.
Net John ABOUT g or o'clock at Wellington;
people commenced gathering in pretty soon, and
hung around till pretty near dark. The people
inquired for the men who had the boy; good
brought sheriff to arrest us; they did not say
much 10 us but talked to the negro; asked if he
was slave, and if lie wanted to 20 back; the
negro said he was slave and wanted to 70
back, and that lie was Bacon's slave. defend
nnt's counsc! excepted to such evidence unless
the defendant was in the room at the time.
The Court held that unless they did 50 show, the
testimony was not admissible The negro and
witness went out on platform, and the negro
was going to tell the crowd that he was gong
buck to Kentucky, but two or three rifles were
pointed up md scared the niia4er back into the
house without telling them what lie went out 10
do. Soon after that the mob broke in window,
having got up with ladders on to that platform.
Witness was holding the door Of the room br 4
rope, and held IN until lie was punchcd, and !.
llolc made through his hat; witness WAS stunned
ly the blow, the crowd came in, and took the
negro down stuirs witness looked out of the
window and saw them putting the ninYer into a
wagon that stood in front Of the lousc. Jolln
Was driven off towards Oberlin and the crowd
| scattered. We showed the people tue power of
attorney and oil the papers we Ind. Witness
the crowd should 60 to Columbus and lave an
investigation about the negro, but they said that
| was a |file too far toutA. The last lie saw Of
John lie was going pretty good speed. Laugh
ter, Witness can identify only one man, Wat
son, n yellow man, as being in the room ut Wei
| lington.
+! In addition to the ignominy Of catching mig
gers on shares, Jennings is responsible for one
other act Of total dcprayity. lie alleges that lie
procured boy named isdutxrtare 10 cntice
,Jo|ln uway with u job Of digging potatoes, to a
| place where Jennings Co. could seize llin, and
that he paid Shakespeare twenty dollars for the
service
Several other witnesses were examined. on the
first and second days Of the trial, but nothing
was elected in addition to the facts already be-
| fore the public Jennings admitted tIiat he
WAS armed 1T the time Of the rescue with pistols,
and that he brought handouts with linn from
Kentucky.