The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-27
From the Salisbury ( ". C. } Boansr.l
The suspicious BOOk-Pedlars
Again.


The Hartford Conn Press Q; the 18th
inst, has grossly perverted account OF tie
arrest OF the book pedlars, Miller and Zoe,
in Salisbury, some three or four weeks ago.
At the time of the occurrence, Wa published
strictly true account of the who' matter.
We witnessed all the material points Of the
affair, and recorded them as they occurred.
On their return to Connecticut, Miller and
Coe, it appears, thought it a fine chance to
manufacture sympathy by publishing their
own version of the affair, in which they
have perverted truth and lied most infa-
mously.
These miserable lying scamps,to givethem
full credit for their professions came to this
State to perpetrate fraud for the publish
ers, EStebbins d Co., upon our pe0ple-iu
palming eff old editions of books as new
ones-the original letter pages having been
cut out and recently printed and different
ones put in. Whilst here they were detec-
ted trading with slaves and promising to
correspond with one, and this they did not
| deny. Suspicion rested upon them-extend-
| ing, even, to completely in firing the Me-
| thodist Chure1-and they,weTe taken before
| and in the kindest manner. They admitted
| trading with slaves and promising to cores
pond with one, as we have stated. They
denied having been in any other county in
the State, save in passing through on the
railroad: whilst in their possession we're
found lists of names procured in other parts
of the State, which they could not satisfac-
torily aecounttoT. In this they lied, for it
has since oeen ascertained that they were in
NkI.1
Mayor considered it his duty to return them
to Court, then in session, on the charge of
illegally trading with slaves. After endeav-
oring to obtain security for their appear
ance and failing, they were committed to
Jail.
The public mind, from similar causes, was
much excited at the time; and the Mayor
fearing violence to these fellows, ordered
body of citizens to accompany the officers,
and to see that no harm was done them. At
the earliest opportunity they were taken
into court, and MIR. Solicitor Lauder, heiev-
ing they were ignorant Of the Ian lin trading
with slaves, and in consideration of their
being Kept in all some two or thrse days,
declined to prosecute. His Honor, Judge
Heath, cautioned the prisoners, and dismiss
ed them. This is a simple staten sce Of the
facts. No violence was offered them at any
time, nor were they subject 60 insult OF any
kind.
In the account the Press gives, the 'erowd'
is represented as questioning and swearing
snd then Questioning and swearing more"
in the Mayors Office. The citizens sent to
protect them are represented as ''si1 OIL
GERS around them, ten couples in front, and
six more behind" They represent them
selves as being visited daily in Jail by crowds
to see the ''d--d yankees" or the "d---d
abolitionists," and on their liberation,
''crowds in the street indicated disposition
to mob them, and they armed themselves
with determination to resist''-snd so on
all of which is a pack of the most infamous
and deliberate lies. This Is the kind of ma
terial abolition sympathy is manufactured
out of. We would advise Messrs. Miller and
Coe, on their next trip South TO rarry a
while in Salisbury, and we promise them
the truth will furnish material sufficient for
their next stock of sympathy.