The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-01-04
a Queer Ntale Trial.

The arraiwnment of the Oberlin slave
rescuers at Cleveland was an unusual and
amusing scene for court room. A cores
pendent of the Boston Journal describes
it.
''The Mdr.hal went down in open day and
guise-teathers down and feeling, he said
somewhat meanly. He was quietly and kind
ly met-warrants served by a passing call,
and the whole business left with Prof Peek,
one of the United States criminals in yolunta
nv. custody for a state prison offence. Prof.
Peck. was to gather the other criminals and
appear before his honor Judge Wilson. next
day, at , p m-the Marshal supplying funds
to Prof Peck for railroad fare, and, sup
pose, for the hotel expenses. | met them at
the Bennett House all seemed in good
spirits; citizens of Oberin-men of 'charac
ter and standing'-werc with them, but no
marshal or other Oi,icer Even duputy
marshal Dayton, who had left OberIin for
good reasons, and who was boarding at this
house, failed to appear at the dinner table.
After dinner, these criminals and Il few
friends walked up to the United States court
room and reported themselves to his honor
the court. By the way, marshal johnson did
the pretty thing, and accompanied Mrs Prof
where she dinad in state.
THE roll was called three names were
quite wrong-but the falons were there and
stood up, saying, 1--WE suppose that means us,
and we are herer The district attorney
of the United States said that they might
avail themselves of the errors but no.
when the roll was called, and it was announ-
ced-"if there are any persons present
against whom it is known that indictments
are pending, bat upon whom no warrant has
been served please stand up and give your
names" And SO they did As the names
were read Judge Spaulding Of this city, at,
torney for the criminals, said to the court
they all plead mot guilty At the con-
clusion judge ;. arose ard addressed the
court in behalf ofhis numerous clients, 1t
was short and telling speech I'VE are
ready for trial. and demand it forthwith z
"Why, said The Z. :. attorney, "we are
not ready; c9nnot be for two weeks some
ofmy witnesses are in Kentucky or Tenn
essee!' Jugde Spaulding quietly remarked,
1T will be very hard for 50 many citizens OF
Ohio to lie in jail awaiting the pleasure of
some gentlemen Of Kentucky or Tennessee r
The court replied, lit viii not be necessary
for them to do that-they can give BAIL .
Judge S.replied, that remains to be proved"
The Z. 5. attorney was evidently in Fix.
"Why, said he, why this haste? ] do not
see the necessity fpressng this case You
will not be unreasonably persistent and
crowding T. We only ask for trial at once
-now--this very hour replied Judge s,
very cody.
THE court replied it was impossible to
proceed at once-that he would put the bail
at $500, half the usual amount II will
consult my clients, said Judge s., retir-
ing with the criminals to another room
without guard black and white Tie Z.
) marshal again paid his respects to Mrs
Professor Peck. LAWYERS and spectators
quietly In conversation; Judge and attor-
neys in conference at times. Send these
men tojail. Why there are not jails enough
on the Western Reserve to hold them" But
here they come-the criminals! No. sir, not
a dollar-not dime from one of them! Well
what is to be done? This was done They
all answered to their names and stepped
forward in a r1w--some with arms folded in
Others with eyes a:twinkle, and the corners
of their mouths drawn down-Professor
Peck making telling ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
each and all-.or themselves to come there
asain-on the second Monday of March
next in default of which they would ac-
knowledge themselves indebted to Uncle
Sam one thousand dollars And the court
The great criminals OF 0ber-
lin went their way-black, white and gray
and this ended the first lesson! And thus
ended the seige Of Oberin."