Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-09-24
Alabama The particulars are given by the
Abbeyille Banner as follows

-.
Alabama. The particulars are given by the
Abbeyille Banner as follows =
Patience Hicks, young woman about sew
enteen years of age, who was held as a slave
by John Guiltord, citizen of this county, UNI
der a bill of sale made to him by one James C.
Wilson, was brought before Judge Williams
under writ Of habeas corpus, sued out by Mrs.
Casey Ann Hicks, the mother of said girl
who arrived in the town of Abbeville on Tues
day, the 9th inst On the trial of the case
it was proved that Wilson went to the house
of Mrs. Hicks, in Columbus Georgia, about
the first of last March, where he remain
ed sick for several weeks. On his recovery,
he desired to marry the young lady, and find-
ing that her mother was opposed to the mar
riage, he stole heraway, and brought her to the
house of Rev. John Guilford, to whom he sold
her for slave On his return to Columbus,
he procured her brother, boy about Is years
old, and sold him to gentleman in Georgia
The girl has worked on a plantation, and is
considerably sunburnt, which make her ap-
pear rather dark. But we think that we have
seen great many people who are recognized
as white persons, who are of darker COM
plexlon than this girl even in her present con-
dition. The mother, brother, and sister of the
girl are all destitute of means, but the humani-
ty and benevolence of our citizens has contrib
uted literally to the poor, unfortunate people,,
This fellow Wilson is not the first kidnan.
per who has sold poor dishonored white girls
into slavery, although he is evidently one of
the very meannest. Sometime after being
sold to this Rev. John Guilford, the girl gave
birth to child, like herself entirely white. but
evidently SO unfortunate as to have that scoun-
drel, Wilson, for its father. 1t was not LONG
hafo no Ror C,,sic
was, where she came from, and why she had
been kidnapped and sold and yet he did eve
rything in his power to retain her as his slave
The decision Of the court, which was made
about six weeks ago, is reported in the Ala
bama paper as follows -
"In this case, Casey Ann Hicks sued out
writ of habeas corpus for her daughter. Pa
thence L. Hicks, and Casey Ann Hicks. the
infant daughter of said Patience L., who were
held in slavery by John Guilford, of Henry
county, said state of Alabama, on the grounds
that said Patience L. Hicks, and her daughter
Casey Ann Hicks, are not slaves but free
white persons, which, being controverted by
said John Guiltord, the trial came ND before
me at Abbeyille, in said county, on the lIth of
Aug. 1859. The defendants (GuiIford's) coun-
sci moved to dismiss the petition and writ of
IL.
ferred to the case Field VS.. Milly Walker ct
al, 18th Ala, page 80 The court overruled
said motion, on the ground TINT said petition
and said writ OF habeas corpus claimed the
said Patience L. and Casey Ann Hicks as
free white persons, and not as free negroes. as
in the case referred to. The court then pro.
ceeded to hear the testimony in said case
when four witnesses took the stand, and prov.
ed, beyond the possibility of doubt, that the
SAID Patience l.. and her daughter, Casey
Ann, are free white persons Three of the
witnesses knew the said Patience L. from ber
birth, against whose evidence nothing has
been urged. Besides, the fact of the freedom
OF the said Patience L. and her daughter Gas.
sey Ann must have come TO the kuowlod,,o 20
the said John Guilford within short ,;no -
Ter he claims to have purchased them from
Wilson; and, after full hearing Of The ~;
dence on both sides, il is ordered ad;nd,sai
and decresd, that the said Patience 7, U;eIa'
and her daughter Casey Ann Hicks. he. and
they are hereby, discharged from the service
of said John Guilford, and be restored 10 her
mother, the said Casey Ann Hicks, and that
the said John Guilford to pay all costs"
We do not hear that Wilson has been tarred
and fe9thered, or subjected to any other pro.
cess Of lynch law; but ifany filter subject for
alynching operation can be found anywhere
in the country, good many people will be
constrained to confess that reality in this line
far outstrips imagination.