Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-07-05
lcorrespondence of the New York Evening Post.
Conviction of Man for Harboring his Own Child.
MAsu1soroN. Nav 81.

WAsnISoroN, May "a.
| have alluded once or twice to the
hard case of Manuel Mason, a colored
man, In Washington. The case has just
been opened afresh to me by responsible
parties, and l have gathered the follow
ing facts. which are so startling, that
venture to send them 10 you, at the risk
of tiring your readers with the case
Let me premise by saying the facts can
be proven in any decent court.
Said Manuel Mason and his wife were
slaves OF white woman, living< ew
miles out of the city. A few yeaDago.
Manuel was taken sick with inhammatory
rheumatism, and was givenup by the doc
tors as incurable Under these crmn-
stances the mistress offered to sell him
for $500. Nobody would touch him for
the price. Finally she offered 10 give
the cripple his freedom for $500, he to
pay her in ins,allments. He accepted
the offer, and paid off the entire sum In
due course of time. He partially recov-
cred his health, and hired the time of his
wife at SO much a year. that she might
keep house for him at Washington
They raised large number of children at
their own expense, bu, Invaria bly, at the
age of ten years the mistress took away
each child, and sold it off or appropriated
It to her own use.
AT last only one child was left" little
Ben" He was, like ali youngest children,
favorite-the baby-the comfort of the
old man and woman.
In September last one of our new pol
ice approached the dwelling of Manuel
Mason, in search of little Ben, for the
lost child must be taken TO minister 10 the
voracIous appetite of the monster Slavery
Benjamin was missing, however. The
father never had him in his power or pos
session a moment, yet he was suddenly
arrested for harboring a slaver The
law dates 1907 under which he was taken.
and tn eliteral penalty is i" one hundred
pounds of tobacco per hour for harbor-
ing a slave. You will perceive that the
father was simply guilty of not fint ling
his runaway boy. The officer told Ma
son TO hunt up his boy. and upon his
neglecting TO do this be was thrown into
lall. Although no evidence was offered
against him, yet the Justice would not
lei Mason out Oh any bail less than ST.
| 500, which was furnished by a kind-heart-
Cu OiliLSii VI tAIC dlotA iCt- ~ JNAy 4NtN''
iy brought In a verdict of guilty, though
with no more evidence of guilt Than Is 10
be found IN this letter.
Mason was remanded tojail, where for
days he lay without a bed, and all the
lime with scant clothing. He lay IN jail
forty-nine days before Judge Crawford
would deign to sentence him. The SEN
tence was to pay fine of Sl66,66; being
81 ,66 Tor every hour the slave was har-
bored--one- half of said amount 10 go TO
the owners, and the other half to the
United States. quote from the Judges
sentence as reported IN The National Intel
iIgencer. Mason was also sentenced TO
remain in Jail until the whole was paid
The District Attorney was at last prevail
ed upon to consent upon ample security
that the money will be paid at the end of
three months, to let the poor negro so,
and he is at liberty once more.
In the meantime petition is circulating.
asking the President TO remit the fine
but without shadow of hope of success.
If any one in the North wishes to help
Mason and freedom, the Era Office Will
receive and apply such money.