The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-11-03
From the Ottawa (Ill) Republican.
Improbable Infamy.
A KIDNAPPED NEGRO RETURNS WITH COM
POUND INTEREST.

We have several times before referred
to the case of the negro Berkley, who
last spring started from Ottawa for Pixies
Peak, in the employ of Mr.. Aaron Dan
ills, and was arrested at ST. Joseph, Mis-
souri,, there shockingly whipped for the
purpose of making him say that he was
slave, and afterwards sold to the high
est bidder. The accounts of the outrage
published at the time, were denied by the
Douglasite press in this and other States,
but these denials were fast falling before
the testimony Of witnesses who saw the
negro whipped, when the Ottawa Free
Trader, probably by the advice from
head quarters, came out with state
ment under the head of 9" A Canard,"
saying that the editor had made a dill
gent inquiry, and could not find that any
such negro had left Ottawa. Of course
the Chicago Times, State Register, and
other pro-slavery organs enlarged upon
this voucher for the non n-existenee of the
negro from Ottawa, and no doubt many
honest Democrats believed that the story
of the arrest and whipping was Repub-
lcan roorback. But the return of the
negro to this city on Monday evening
last, and the recital of the story from his
own lips, hoodwinked all in this vi
cinity who before thought there was some
truth in the denial of the facts, made by
the Free Trader, and several prominent
Douglasites. Some of the latter swore
terribly when they saw the negro back
again, and wished him among the rice
fields but the better disposed of them
were inclined to listen to his recital Of
the treatment he suffered at the hands of
the Missourans, and his subsequent es.
cape.
He says, that soon after his arrest BY
the Sheriff, at St. Joseph. he was tied up
and whipped in an unmerciful manner,
with the object of making him tell that
he was slave. This he persistentlv re-
fused to do, but stated TO his prosecutors
that he had been liberated by his master
in Virginia several years ago. DR.. Doy
was in the Jail at the same time, and he
says that if any doubt his story they can
ask DR.. Doy. He probably did not know
that boy had already published the facts.
While lying in Jail in ST. Joseph, he
employed an attorney to manage his case
for him. This attorney, by Berkley's
request, wrote to one or two persons in
Ottawa, and obtained from them the as
surance that Berkley had lived in this
vicinity SIX or seven years. But this,
the lawyer wrote, made no difference
By the laws of Missouri, he would have
TO be sold for his Jail fees, and that prob
ably he would sell for what he was worth
in southern market. This ended the
correspondence, and Berkley was left to
/ hio i'tS. AiS otalcs tidt ue WAS soon al
terwards sold TO the highest bidder, be :
ing struck off to Missouri farmer for
SlO45. The farmer soon became salts
fed that he was not safe property. and he
took him down to the ST. Louis slave
market, where he was sold to southern
trader, and put upon steamboat bound
for New Orleans, stoutly handcufred and
chained to another negro. When within
a few miles of Memphis, the two managed
10 slip their handouts, whereupon they
took leave of their keeper. jumped into
the Mississippi, swan ashore and started
towards the North star, Berkeley leading.
They travelled nights and hid themselves
IN the daytime, and in that name made
their way as far as Decatur, in this State,
where they thought il would be sale to
travel openly. On their way through
Tennessee and Kentucky. they lived on
potatoes, corn, DC, which they found in
the fields on their way, portion of the
time, being compelled to eat them raw
Somewhere below Decatur, they were
discovered, and four men gave them
chase with guns, whereupon they ran
into tbicket of bushes, and the men
, passed within few feet of where they
t lay, without discovering them. Some OF
the men were SO eager to catch two live
niggers." that they left their hats a,
home. They were undoubtedly good
5 Douglas men, who expected TO reap fal
reward for delivering the negroes back
j, to the slave drivers. The negroes came
all the way on foot until they reached
La Sale. where their wants were better
, provided for. The loss to the slave ira
der is something over $4,000 worth o
human muscle and blood, as il is valued
In southern market. and bis gain. ar
amount of sympathy of the leading