Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-05-13
ReHcue Trials.

The four Wellington defendants, to wit,
Messrs. MandeYile, Niles, Williams and
Cumming, who were induced to withdraw
their plea of not guilty and substitute that
of noG contendere, wished it distinctly un-
derstood by the public that they did not en-
ter plea Of guilty But as the majority
of readers do not understand Latin, and as
none Of them can see but a shade of differ
ence beLwixt tweedledum and tweedledee,
these defendants might just as we'll have
said guilty as to have said noli contendere.
awe will not contend"--in answer to an in
dictment, is like the reply of man, we
know of, made 10 the charge of being a
knave; says he, ''thats mere matter Of
opinion" Thus we see the news was sent
over the wires through the country, that
the Wellington men pleaded guilty, &C.
The Democratic journals are highly elated
at the triumph, and the hopes of nigger-
catching Democrats are exubcrant.
Tho trial of Langston will probably close
tomorrow, (Tuesday.) Mr.. Griswold clos
ed the opening argument for Che defence on
Saturday afternoon. He occupied about
three hours in his entire argument. The
point which Mr. Griswold particularly treat
ed upon was the testimony connecting the
defendant with the escape of John. Mr.. G.
handled the case very happily; discarding
all cxtrahcous matters he applied himself tc
the facts in the case and showed conclusive
ly that if Langston could be pronounced
guilty, so could each one in the crowd at
Wellington, whether there for the purpose
Of rescue, or merely an idle spectator
Mr.. Griswold made very strong point ir
comparing the testimony against Langstor
with the testimony of one of the govern
mcnt witnesses, named Wood, against him
self; and showed clearly that the testimony
against Wood, merely stripped of tho wit
ness own assertion that he was not there tc
aid in the rescue, made much stronger
case against Wood than did the testimony
make against Langston. Mr.. Griswold's ar
gument was candid and lawyerlike, and re
ceived close attention from the jury and the
auditory. .-,.g.0
Mr.. Backus follows for tho defence, anG
the closing argument for the government
will be made by Judge Bliss.
Il
Apropos to this case is the recent STAN
pede Of slaves from Tennessee. The Detroi
Adpertiser Of Saturday, the 7th inst, say
that seventy slaves arrived lately in Canadi
by one underground train from Tennessee
This is the largest escape ever recorded
But week before, company Of twelve ar
rived and arc now ut Maiden. -5 t m
! About the same time another COMPANY
of seven, and still another Of FIVE landed il
Canada making, in all, ninety4four passen
gers. by the underground railroad; the Yalu
of which freight is $4,000 If this be 81
surely the Underground track was never do
ing better business. We should suppos
the pious Jennings, and his worthy coadju
tor Mitchell, would find it a paying busiDes
to 90 over to Canada and employ youn;
Judas 10 decoy some of these niggers acros
the river. We presume there are any mum
Der of Deputy Marshals in Michigan, who
for two dollars day and expenses, woul
Jump attho chance ofa job. According t
Judge Taney's decision in tho Wisconsi
case, the same old warrant issued by Con
missioner Chittendeu at Columbus, woul
do perfectly wellin Michigan, for Stat
Court has no power under that decision, {
inquire into the regularity Of any proees
thai ,purports to be- issued by Federal o
fcer. - WeOe. Herald m - ct -#4a ID