Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-07
Recess taken until = O'Clock.



lived at Oberlin about 25 years when this occur
renee took place Saw Jennings twice at the |
village on the same day Of this occurrence, once |
on the ste Ps Of Wacks tavern, and once on the |
road to Wellington,as was returning from Pitts. |
field. Told Mr. Peck Mr. Plumb and Mr Fitch |
that had seen John Saw John in a carriage
about three miles from Oberlin, with Davis ard |
two others, was on the steps Of Fitch's store |
when Bushnell came out. Bushnell spoke first |
and wanted to know il they had got hun. One !
of them said they had. He then said "what had |
best be done" One of them told him to "go |
out aud get them ready" lie (BnshnelD went |
off and the others went into the store. Saw
about 200 gathered in a crowd. Expected to |
jind a crowd at Oberlin on my return, as il iR |
the principle not to let negro be taken away
without going after them to bring them back |
Il was agreed between Anson Lyman and me, !
who was with me, that we should keep the mater |
still until the next day, as John was a poor |
lOusey pup, and we didn't care If he had gone"
Saw good many guns ia the crowd
ArtemGs S. Hdibert Sieora Lived at
obern last September. Have lived there
about two years Was at OberIin part of the
day upon which this occurrence took place
The crowd gathered about 2 clock to the mum
Der OF about 800. Saw Bushnell talking about
going TO Wellington with Sir. Wall Mr.. Bush
nell said he knew where he could get gun TO
take. Went down street aud was invited togo
to Wellington, which did. Wall and Bushnell
overlook aud passed me on the way 20 Wei
lington Mr. H. Whitney was with me. Drove
TO Wellington in about three quarters Of an
hour Found a crowd al about 800 at yelling
ton Bushnell said they had better get out a
warrant to arrest some fellows that had fugi.
tive slave, lie was cool and collected. Did
not see him have any arms. The crowd talk
81. .b 81, ,,rt
Some went into the house Saw Anson Ly-
man, Wilson Evart. Mr.. LiLcoln, Mr.. Windsor,
Mr.. Scott, and MIR. Leary, go into the hotel at
| Wellington where the negro was. Was looking
on and saw good many men 90 in. Some
came out upon the upper porch and said il more
men would 90 up they could get tho negro out
Did not hear Bushnell say anything. CTo the
question as TO what was said to tho crowd by
those who bad been in the house and examined
the papers, Mr.. BAcEUs objected on the ground
that whatever might have been thus said, was
to influence the company that wgs then pres
ent and that Bushnell could not be held res
I pOnsible for the acts which the crowd might
have done in consequence Of any statements
which may have been thus made, until it was
| proved that he was there. This had not been
| proved, and such testimony was not competent
IN the case. Objections overrued by the Court
and testimony taken under excepuone). Some
of the crowd thought the papers which the men
had with them were good and some did not
A. Mr. Paiten thought them to be good. 1t
was about an hour until the boy was brough,
down During this time discussion relative
to the boy and the papers was carried on -
Some said --"Let Us 60 up and bring him
down." others i'd "he must come OUT
Should think there were between 200 and 900
pieces of arms in the crowd including guns,
pistols, DC. Saw one large bowie knife. The
crowd at Oberlin, before starting, said that they
must 20 to Wellington as the men would prob
ably stop there TO take the cars When the negro
was brought out by the crowd. Bushnell
WAS Bltling in a wagon near the hotel
Was ON the ground myself The negro was put
into the wagon in which Bushnell was. lie
was put in by the crowd, rather roughly. Think
Bushnell had the rens aud drove off toward
Oberlin, Before the negro was put in Bushnell
said that buggy was the one which was going
to carry the niggeT Off Did not see how he
was brought down The wagon was eight or
ten rods from the house. There may have been
twenty Of tue crowd so in and may have been
more ....
Cross examined, Am painter by trade, eigh-
teen years old. Have been at Oberlin three
years Heard that there had been fugitive
taken by some SoutherneTs. This was about
l o'clock. Anson Lyman was one Of the first
who spoke of IT, There was a crowd nearly all
over town. In the largest crowd | saw there
were perhaps 800 persons, There were some
rcvolvers in the crowd, had one, which did
not do much execution, as it was broken
Bushnell first proposed to get horse and bug
Rv TO 20 to Wellington Wall didn't want to
90 without gun. Bushnell thought he knew
where he could got one At Wellington saw
John at the garret window Mr. Everett and
Sir. Wall thought Mr., Lowe had better come
down and show hia papeIs. Some thought II
best TO "take him any way" One man said,
Lets bring the nigger out" Have not talked
with the officers ia regard to what | would
swear to upon the stand Did net 90 up to the
window myself at the hotel The ladder was
put up 10 the porch or to the window, Saw
several go up the lCdder Mr.. Wood and MT.
Marks were among them.
Morris A Wood, stcOrR.--Resided at Ober-
lin last September, Was present at the will.
age on the day Of this rescne. The crowd as
I semblod about two O'Clock. Did not see Bush
nell in the crowd. Went to Wellington about
three o'clock, Mr.. Marks and Mr.. Wack went
with me- There were probably 500 or GOO AZ
Wellington, Saw Bushnell there. Saw him
in the buggy near w WadswOrth's Tavern. Think
did not see him until saw him in the buggy
Saw him then going toward the house. Did
not hear him say anything. There were no
guns in the crowd, Saw q gun snapped -
Heard one man say "atand back, or I'll shOJt."
and heard threats OF shooting A eolored man
snapped . gun at a white man who was near.
Some said they would tear the house down,
others that they would not leave any bricks
standing, would take the roof of, DC When
the boy came out on the balcony the Southern
srs camo out with him. They stepped back
away from John aud told the crowd TO ask him
iflhey wished, about goinq,back / asked John
T Il he wanted 10 20, and he aald he supposed be
would have TO 20, IS they had the paper to
take him | think IL was the large milan (gen-
nings) who asked the crowd 10 question the boy.
Some in the crowd said that they could not DO
anything there shout taking the Sputheners
without fret going TO Elyria. Was there when
the boy was taken down. Was in tie house
, myself but not In the room whore ti,a negro
was. Some one put his head out the widow
and told tho crowd 10 ''come up aud not be
sdch d.----d eowards." Some said they would
be up there. Some went up the ladder upon
the porch, and into the hall from thebalcony
While here heard the cry that they had got
him, Could not tell whether he walked or WIS
carried, He was put into the buggy and Mr..
Bushnell drove him away. Never have seen
John since [In answer TO the question as TO
whether anything was said about "higher law"
In the crowd the witness said nothing exc pt
that they talked OF going TO ElyTa for some
papers.Q
CrOsS sTamined,-Ar Marks and myself got
tho second ladder which was put up against
the balcony, and mounted il with oiheTs A
man at the top threatened 10 shoot il ] went
up, but did nOt stop The boy john was told
- snv,r and "a ,.ndlI ~. 'c.naLt 10 .ru,s