The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-05-28
Statement Of the Obe,li Prisoners Now In
/ Jail.
! CUYAHoGA COUNTY JAIL,
! May 18th, 1859.

der indictment for alleged violntion Of
the Fugitive Slave Act, have reason to
know that the history of their ipcarccra-
ton is quite generally Inexperienced,
and that this misapprehension is greatly
prcjadieing their cause with the public.
It's to state the incts pertaining 10 the
imprsenme mt clearly aud correctly, and
to define the present position of the i'm
prisoned, that this article is offered to .
your consideration.
To make the statement proposed intel |
ligibe and complete, the narration must
begin with the arrest which brought us
before the U. S. Court. At the rising
of the Grand Jury in December last, Mar. |
sha| johnson visited Oberlin, and mott |
fed the indicted, who lived there, that
he had warrants for their arrest, and that
he should expect to meet them in Cleve-
land At q given hour on the next day
The parties on whom the notice was
served proved their appreciation Of the
politeness Of the Marshal, in dispensing
with the usual forms of arrest, and their
disposition to give prompt answer to
Whatever charges the law might bring
against them, by appearing in Cour. at
the time appointed. Being brought to
the Bar. they declared themselves ready
aud anxious for immediate trial. The
District Attorney, evidently taken by sur
prise at the unexpected pvomptness of
the dcforce. asked delay. The defence
earnestly protested against an adjourn
- 81 Fhn
er, granted the motion of the District
Attorney; but, in consideration of the
fact that the defendants had made prompt
appearance, aud that they had been re-
fused trial, discharged them on their
personal recognizance, instead Of putting
them under bail as the Prosecutor had
asked them to DO. The eases wer. set
for trial on the second Tuesday of March
At the approach of tina, time the District
Attorney asked for further continuance
of the eases to the fifth Of April. The
delsy, although it put the defence to
great Inconvenience, was conceded by it's
Counsel. When the appointed time at
length came, all the indicted who had
been arrested, except one gentleman who
was very i'll, presented themselves at the
bar Of the Court, nor did any of them
fail of daily attendance during the Bush
nell trial without the express permission
of the District Attorney.
In the course Of the Bushnell trial i,
was made clear to the defence that there
was desire on the part of the Court to
secure the conviction, and a determine
ton on the part Of the District Attorney
10 bring about the humiliation of all the
indicted. The proofs of purpose to
make a Judicial and personal war upon
them were so plain, that the defendants
could not shut their eyes to them. They
felt constrained, therefore. to be on their
guard and to be watchful against emer.
gcncics which mis- ht involve them in last
in- injury and rcproach, This purpose,
however, did not prevent their contnu-
ing the full compliance with the rules of
the Court, aud with the terms of their
rccognizanccs, which they had before
rendered.
Affairs being in this posture, the Gov
eminent evidently seeding opportunities
FOR assault, and the defence looking we'll
to its mems for parrying the assault, the
Bushnell trial came to an end. Ga the
rendition Of the verdict, conversation
arose between counsel on the two sides
as to what case was to be tried next 1t
was finally determined by the Govern.
ment that Langston $ case should be call
cd on, and counsel for the defence, which
had previously said that it was not read
to 90 on with that case, sieniicd that i,
would be ready by the time the jury wa.
drawn What was the surprise of coun
sci at hearing the court declare that th.
same jury was to try all the " rescue ,
cases-all Of them, be i. noted, involving
the same material points. How ther
could jury just having risen from tn
consideration ofone of them, impartidH,
address itself to the consideration Of All
other? Against this remarkable orde
Of Court, the cousel fer tho defence mad
earnest protest, and finally declared tia
"ander such a ruling. the court might e
, on With the cases as fast as it pleased, til
defendants would not stullify themscve
By either Offering evidence or appearing
BY counsel" With this, the Dis,ric
Attorney moved that the defendants b
= ordered into custody. The Court rccGe
, The District Attorney is entitled t
., the order. Let the accused be called
The clerk then read the names Of tn
indicted, and those present were drecte
to put themselves under the control G
g the Marshal who cleared seats for then
a While this was going on, Mr. Ralp
h Plumb, one Of the indicted, whose CAS-
had prcvlous J been put over to the "
; vema"r term, went 30 Judge Spaldin
u aud asked If his rccegnizanre would 10
b. taken up 50 that he could cas-: III h
{. lot with lis no. imprisoned brethren -
=. The Judge replied aflirlnativey, al
moved the Court in Mr.. Plumbs beha
=. t. canoe! his reco-nizance, aud all W ii,
d - join those who had been put in clst'
/. dy. The motion vas granted. This o.
4 cnrrence called the attention Of couns
10 the rccoonizances of those who W,
- now in the Marshal's keeping, aud Jud.
Is Spa!ding arose and ssid--"Your hone
s will Of course diree. the Clerk to csnc
= the rccosnizanees Of al the gcntleme
!, who haze been pu. into custody.
would be improper that their recogni
ancos should st1nd while the yare in pli
< on.' Certainly" replied Judge vii
sou, ait viii be done Of course
The Court and some Of its Office
y seemed to realize, at once, that injusti.
d had becn done to the parties in custod
IF and that some means for escape FROM Il
A odium which would be incurred by III
order for imprisonment should be fount
Accordingly te Marshal soon came
the company in duress. and proposed th