Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-10-18
From the ohillicotho Gazette.

Another Internal OutruHc---hidnuppers
Again in our Midst---A Free Man stolen.
There was p1epretrated in our city las night
"wednesday another outrage, more Infamous in
its features than the stealing of Lewis Early,
which is still fresh in the minds of our readers
About O'Clock a creature named Mike Har-
ley, in company with stranger, went to Thomp-
sons livery stable and hired an express wagon,
as they said, to 90 to Portsmouth
1t appears they, with some two or three con-
iederates, then drove to the house of a colored
man named Oliver Anderson, in the lower part
of the city, knocked at the door and demanded
admission Anderson had gone 20 bed, and be-
fore getting up demanded what they wanted
iThey answered that he had new sett Of chairs
tn the house which he had stolen. He replied
that he had not stolen them, that he had bought
hhem, and could prove where he got the money
Sc had paid for them.
They then demanded with curses that he
hould open the door said they were going to
have the chairs, and if he didn't give them up
pcaceably they would take them by force.
He told them then to wait until he could dress,
and he would open the door. He did so, when
three or four men rushed in, seized him. and at
tempted to handcuff him. He resisted with all
his power, but after being severely beaten, was
overcome and hustled into the wagon His
wife, when they entered the house, screamed for
help, but one of the ruflians struck her blow,
and said if she didn't keep quiet they would kill
her
After getting Anderson in the wagon, one of
the men re.enered the house and demanded An
derson's child, boy about two years old, but
his wife seized it in her arms and escaped out
the back door. ... ...
She then commenced screaming for help, but
being some distance from any other house, and
frightened almost out of her senses, it was some
time before she could reach her nearest neigh
bors and give coherent account of what had
happened. The kidnappers had then escaped
with their victim.
1t seems strange that even then general
alarm was not raised and pursuit made But
nothing was d ne, and ere this there is but little
doubt that Oliver Anderson is upon slave soil,
doomed inevitably to life ofbondage. Amber
son had been a resident of this city four or five
years, and was a quiet, iQoifensve and indus
trious man. That he was free man there is
but little doubt; but whether he was or not, his
being kidnapped in this manner is a most dam.
nable outrage Ifany man claimed him as his
slave, and could legally establish his claim, why
did he not take him IN daylight, go before a U
5. Commissioner, and prove his claiml
We believe tiat this is called free country,
and that annually we meet together and rejoice
over the blessings ofHberty and the great pro-
gress we are making in all the elements of a
high civilization And yet such affairs as this
are happening almost every day somewhere in
our country, and cause only day or two's talk
and are forgotten.
And we have in our midst political party
that is aboring with all its power to perpetuate
and extend an institution that demands for its
support such acts as this we have Just related
The emissaries of that institution--the tools
of that party-aTe spread all over our Union,
watching and hunting for victims They are
prowng in our midst here in Chllicothe, and
within the last six months our county has fur
nished them two victims. Shall these things
continue!
The Commercial states that it has ascertain
ed that Deputy U. s. Marshal Geo. W. Baker
aud policeman named Michael Harley were
the parties who abducted Anderson. They
took him to Portsmouth, and thence to Ken.
tucky. They assert that Anderson was fugi-
tive slave, and that they were merely return
ing him to his master The people of Chilli
cOthe held public meeting Saturday night to
give expression to their sentiments. They be-
lieve Anderson to be legally a free man. Is
not this case deserving the Gidding's treat
mentl