Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-11-03
Kidnapping.

1
going on between freedom and Slavery.
between free labor and slave labor, and
toe evidence is not wanting to clearly
establish the proposition that it Is no
sham. no trick Of politicians to de-
ceivc the unwsry. or to gain the ends
IT their political aspirations. The fact
can no longer be questioned that the
friends Of Slavery and of slave labor
intend 10 use every means in their
power. lawful and unlawful. TO secure
and perpetuate their pet institution
As one grand means of doing this. they
have their Fugitive Slave Law. which
enables them to capture. not only
their absconded slaves but to seize and
hurry into hopeless Slavery. innocent,
unoffending freemen.
\ few days ago colored man. liv-
ing at Nj. Gilsad. Ohio. was decoyed
20 Columbus under the pretense that
he was to be employed in saloon in
that city. Upon his arrival. he
was seized by an armed body
Of men, and after desperate fight he
was knocked down and put in irons
and brought to Cincinnati. There
was an attempt made by the Sheriff OF
Green County. while the train stopped
At Xenia. to take the prisoner out oil
the hands Of the kidnappers. with
writ of habeas corpus. but the officer
and prisoner were locked up in the sa-
loon OF the car so that he could not
get 10 them. Mr.. James Elliott.a lead
ing lawyer OF Cincinnati, who was at
tending court at Xcnia. undertook to
defend the prisoner and got on the
train and went with them to Cincin-
natl. There the prisoner and the slave
were hurried into a carriage. and by
the way OF back streets and alleys
driven to the United States Custom
House. The manner in which the
trial was conducted we give as we find
it in the Daily Gazette
The negro was hurried up stairs and
back to the Marshaps Office. Here a
couple OF men met the negro. and ap-
pearci delighted 20 see him, and shak-
ing hands with him. He did not re.
turn their recognition. and when the,
asked him If he knew them. he shook
his head. They then hurried him IN
10 Commissioner Newhalls office. Mr.
Elliott here spoke to the prisoner; tolc
him that he was lawyer, and wonlC
undertake his defense. The prisoner
was DESTROYS TO obtain his services
said his wife owned property at Mt
Gilead, Morrow county, and woul'
compensate him, if he would under
take the defense. He said he was
freeman. and could prove it by wit
nesses at Mt. Giead; that he had bee
induced to come down from Mt. Gilea'
to Columbus. by man who promise'
TO give him work, and that there h
WAS seized.
Before Mr.. Elliott had time to com
plete his conversation with the priso
ner. or examine the writ. Commits
sioner Newhall called up a witnes
and the Hon. Geo. f. Pugh took sea
ut the table as counsel for the claim
ant. Mr.. Elliott here interposed an
stated to the Court that the prisont
desired him to appear as counsel. an
he asked for postponement OF II
case until witnesses could be brougf
from Morrow county to establish h
freedom.
The Court replied that they wou
examine the witnesses present hrs
and consider that question aftcrwar
Mr.. Elliott insisted that the tri
should not he copmenced until Il
prisoner had had time 10 produce h
witnesses.
The Court decided to proceed.
Henry z. Samuels testified that
resided AZ Barbarsville, Cabell count
Virginia. that he was an Attorney
Law, that he had known the prison
for many years. that he was the sla
of Solomon Thornburg of Virgin
now dead. That Mr.. Thornburg di'
in December. 1854. and that abo
that time the negro escaped from Vi
giria.
When Newhall had finished his e
animation of this witness. Mr.. Ellie
desired to cross-examine the witne'
hut Mr.. Newhall would not permit
Mr. Elliott insisted on his right
cross-examine. stating that this rig
had never been denied in any Court.
The Court said they would not perm
il now. aud did not want TO be int
rupted.
James L. Thornburg was called, a
swore that he was the son of Sam,
Thornbu-g. deceased; that he knew
negro; that he was his fathers sla'
and now belonged to his sister, NJ
Griffin, and that he escaped from
The last day of December. 1854; IL
his name was recorded in their fam
bible as lobe or John Tyler.
Mr.. Elliott asked t. be permitted
cross-examine this witness, but
Court refused.
The Court here hauled ont of
poke, some papers. which he s.
were dispositions taken in Virgin
and that these papers. together W
the testimony presented. made out
case. and that the marshal was ord
ell TO deliver him over TO the claima