Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-05-21
Statement of the oberlin Prisoners now in
Jail,
CrYAHoGA COUNTY JAIL, May IL, 1851

To the People Of the HtEern ReserUs:
The undersigned, citizens of Lorain county,
now confined in this prison, under indictment for
alleged violation of the Fugitive Slave Act,
have reason to know that the history of their
incarceration is quite generally Inexperienced,
and that this misapprehension is greatly preju-
dicing their cause with the public.
1t is to state the facts pertaining to the i'm
prisonmcnt clearly and correctly, and to define
the present position of the imprisoned, that this
article is offered to your consideration.
To make the statement proposed ineligible
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 Marshal johnson visited Oberlin,
and notified the'indicted, who lived there, that
he had warrants for their arrest, and that he
should expect them to meet him in Cleveland
at 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 what
ever charges the law might bring against them,
by appearing in Court at the time appointed.
Being brought to the Bar, they declared them
selves ready and anxious for immediate trial.
The District Attorney, evidently taken by sur
prise at the unexpected promptness of the de-
fense asked delay. The defense earnestly pro.
tested against an adjournment of their cases
The Court, however, granted the motion of the
District Attorney but in consideration of the
fact that the defendants had made prompt ap.
pearance, and that they had been refused trial
discharged them on their personal recognizance
instead Of putting them under bail as the Pros.
ecutor had asked them to do. The cases we're
set for trial on the second Tuesday of March.
AT the approach Of that time the District At
torney asked for further continuance of the
cases to the fifth Of April The delay although
it put the defense to great inconvenience, was
conceded by its Counsel. When the appointed
time at length came, all the indicted who had
been arrested, except one gentleman who was
very i'll, presenta themselves at the bar of the
Court, nor did any Of them fail of daily attend.
ance during the Bushnell trial without the ex-
press permission of the District Attorney.
In the course Of the Bushnell trial it was
made clear to the defense that there was a de.
sire on the part Of the Court to secure the con-
viction, and determination on the part of the
District Attorney to bring about the humilia.
tion Of all the indicted. The proofs Of a pur-
pose to make Judicial ard personal war upon
them we're so plain, that the defendants could
not shut their eyes to them. They felt con-
strained therefore, to be on their guard and TO
be Walchlul against emergencies which might in.
volve them in lasting injury and reproach This
purpose, however, did not prevent their continu-
ing in full compliance with the rules of the
Court, and with the terms Of their recognizances,
which they had before rendered
Affairs being in this posture, the Government
evidently seeking opportunities for assault, and
the defense looking well to its means for parry
ing the assault, the Bushnell trial came to an
end. On the rendition Of the verdict, conver-
saton arose between counsel on the two sides
as TO which case was TO be tried next. It was
finally determined by the Government that
Langstons case shosld be called od, aud counsel
for the defense, which had previously said that
il was not ready to go'RD wth shat case, sIgni-
hed that II 9p4ld be reslS BY the time The jury