The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-13

by Jury of Lorain fanatics and abolition
lists was anything but quietiDg to the nerves
The nigger catching business at 05erlin went
along well enough so long as the kidnappersi
and the Federal Court had it all their own
way, but when Lorain county stepped ip toI
assert its right, and when counsel were EN-
ployed who consulted only the interests of
the indicted men. and not the official atmos
phere at Washington matters assumed a seri
Gus complexion and the taking off of John
was viewed, as it should be-to wit, naked
kidnapping.
OF conrse these Kentukians do not think
the nigger business pays if the end thereof is
the Penilentiary, and hehce escape from that
doom has been sought in penitence and almost
tears.
Of course, the Oberlin Rescuers no way
can control their own cases here, nor the case
of the kidnappers IN Lorain. If the Federal
District Attorney sees fit to enter nolte in
each of their cases. they cannot object, They
have constantly asked speedy trial, they
lave been imprisoned from sixty to ninety
days awaiting trial and now they are ready
for trial, but if District Attorney Belden SAYS
go home, you shall have no trial. your indict-
ments are noiled,' of course they must obey.
| All this shows the virtue of selfrespect.-
The State of Ohio had rights and Lorain
county was determined those rights should be
respected This has put an end to nigger-
catching in Northern Ohio. The experiment
never wonld have been tried by the residents
of this Federal District. and after the bitter
experience of those gentlemen from the
Southern District who volunteered in the
cause for 'one dollar per day and found we
fancy non residents will their profitable busi
ness at home. So far as the Slave States are
concerned, the business of negro catching is
a matter Of dollars and cents, and experience
teaches that at such distance from the Ken
lucky line as is the Western Reserve, the busi-
ness is not profitable.
The Sharp Practice of the Kidnappers and
.4ttormey Betden.
The Cleveland Herald of the 7th gives the
following true statement of this part of the
transaction. That paper says: .-.-s
Onr Democratic neighbors are making a
great deal of noise ahout the attempts on the
part of TIE Lorain kidnappers to surrender
themselves into the hands of Sheriff Burr in
discharge of their bail, SO that they might
avail themselves of the Habeas Corpus issued
by Judge Mclean AS is their wont, the
facts have been egregiouslv distorted. and we
propose to detail the affair just as it occur
| red. .#..
On SATURDAY morning. the kidnappers. Mar.
shal ohnson. and District ATTORNEY Belden
came 10 Elyria and saw Sheriff Burr, but the
bail were not there. Of course there could
| be no surrender to ANYBODY except on person
al application of the bail At that interview,
Sheriff Burr stated that he had an official sale
| that dav at Amherst which wonld occnpv the
whole day, hut he would he back at night -
In the afternoon the bail having arrived at
Elyria Marshal Johr son sent q man to Am
herst after the Sheriff, bnt Mr.. Bnrr was not
through his business, and sent word that he
conld not return until bis business was con
cluded. About DARK the Sheriff returned to
Elyria and Immediately sought the office of
his counsel to take advice as to bis duty, and
remained there until bed time Here let us
say that Sheriff Burr has never refused to obey
any writ from the Federal Court. The sur
render could not be made to the Sheriff but to
the judge of the Court or the Judge of Pro
bate. The Probate Judge, Doolitlle, wes 10
his Office until between nine and ten o'clock
Saturday night, but the kidnappers did not
come to him.
| On Sunday morning, Marshal johnson with
the kidnappers went to Judge Doolittle to
surrer DER but the Judge very properly, said
be did not do business. except of pressing ne
cessity, on Sunday, and that business was not
Of pressing necessity. Then it. as that the
Marshal District Attorney Beden, kdnappers
and bail had an interview with Mr.. Sheldon,
lawyer of Elyria, who had been consulted
by Sheriff Burr, and it was agreed that mat
ters should be deferred until Tuesday morn
ing; that all hands might celebrate the Fourth;
that on the evening of the Fourth the kid
| In Go md do
morning the surrender be made. Mr. Shell
don went home, he-hoarding with Judge
Dooltte-told the Judge what the agreement
was. Very early OF Monday Judge D. left
for Grafton to strike the early train for Cleve
land, as that train connected with the train TO
Painesville whittier by previous engagement,
the Judge was going, partly on business and
partly to meet friends Instead of leaving
Elyria on Sunday, as Mr.. Sheldon supposed
the kidnappers, Marshal johnson, and Mr.
Belden were going to do. it seems they all re-
manned. although in so quiet a manner as not
to be seen. On Monday morning the party
appeared at Judge Doolittleis house, asked a
small boy if the Judge was Mt home, who, not
being up when the Judge left, answered that
he believed he was at home Mrs. Dootte
however, soon appeared and told the party
that her husband had gone to Painesvie.
| During Mondav, an examination of the stat
ute convinced Mr.. Sheldon and others hat
the surrender conId not be made to Judge
> Doolittie, as that stafute only provides for
such act during the vacation of the Court
As the Court had merely adjourned until the
18th of July, the term continued, and it not
being in vacation snch surrender could
not he made 10 the Probate Judge. but must
be made to the Judge of the Court before
hon tbo oae D,,t
matter Of no moment so far as this case is
concerned for there was no further attempt
2 10 surrender TO Judge DooIittle as before his
etuin negotiations for settlement of all tbs
2 cases had commenced
On Monday. however. Marshal johnson lef
the writs of Habeas Corpus with Sheriff Burr
: who obeyed them with alacrity, coming imme
0iatelv TO Cleveland, and making return thai
the kiduappers were not in his custody, where
upon the writs we're dismissed and the Sheriff
r went home.
o This s the length and breadth of the buga
: no story harped upon by our Fugitive Slave
Il Law neighbers.
The Plain Dealer HoVIs and .Mournes
That remarka BILE paper of July 6 said:
l. We learn with astonishment that the United
u States District Attorney has nolled the indict
IS ments against the Oberlin Rescuers now il
jail, on condition that the Oberlinites will mol
lie the indictments against the Kentucky wit
q nesses who we're under arrest Oh trumpet
! up charge of kidnapping. This arrangement
! we understand has been made at the solicita
y tion of the four Kentucky gentlemen, who
;, while under reeognizance of the United State
7 Court to appear here and testify in these Res
. cue cases. we're indicted by an Oherin Lorail
: jury, and arrested while in the discharge o
v their duties on false charge of kidnapping