Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-25
More Kidnapping in Ohio.

1t is well for the peace and safety of the
citizens of Ohio, that the race of kidnapping
U. S. Marshals will run out soon after the 4th
of March next. They are a disgrace to our
State, and fit only to rank with the profess
siOnal slave-catchers who run their trained
blOodhounds for human victims in the swaupps
of the South.
The telegraph gave brief account of a re-
cent attempt to kidnsp three colored men in
Morrow county, and the capture and running
off Of one into slavery. The people nobly
rallied and rescued two of the intended vic
tins from the clutches of the men-thieves,
badly wounding, aad it is to be hoped finish
ing, one Of them.
The State Joornal of the oath gives the
following particulars:
It appears that three fugitive slaves from
the State of Kentucky had been sojourning
for some time near iberia, in Morrow county,
and their masters having learned this fact
sent a man into the neighboThood with the
ostensible purpose Of buying hogs. In this
disguise he easily obtained access to all the
dwellings in that neighborhood, and discov-
cred and recognized the fugitives. He imme-
diately spprized their masters of his success,
and they proceeded to Cincinnati and pro
cured the services Of Marshal Sifford and two
assistants, who, in company with the two
Kentucky owners arrived in this city on last
Tuesday. On Wednesday they sent the pseu-
do hog drover to Iberia to ascertain if all was
right, with the understanding that if any
thing was wrong so that their plans would
be disconnected, he was to come back on
Thursday evening; if not he was to remain.
In the meantime, Marshal Siford had aug
mented his force so that the whole number
amounted, in all, to twelve persons, including
Marshal J. K. Lowe, Of this city.
The fugitive slaves were boarding at three
different places, and all within the distance
of half mile. Their plan OF operations was
that posse of four should go TO each house,
secure their men, and meet on the railroad
between Iberia station and Morrow station,
and signal the night express train, get their
fugitives on board, and run them through to
Cincinnati. a.-
The man they sent forward not coming
back, things seemed to work smoothly, and
on. Thursday evening they took the Cleve-
land train, and left it either at Morrow sta
ton or between Cardington and Morrow, but
some one on board the train suspeeting their
intentions, gave information of the fact at
Iberia station, and the nete of alarm was
sounded, which brought together, in an in
credibly short time, some fifty or sixty armed
persons, both white and black, who were de-
termined on rescue. They Immediately
started for the houses which contained the
fugitives. In the meantime the different
squads of kidnsppers had arrived at the
houses assigned them, and Marshal Sifford Sc
cured his fugitive, but hearing the firing of
guns in the direction of the other houses,
made good his escape, taking with him the
negro. The posse commanded by Lowe, on
their arrival ct the house, were surrounded
by the rescuers, and several shots were ex-
changed, when Marshal Lowe took to his
heels and made his escape. They, however,
took one of the Kentuekians and one of the
assistants prisoners. We learn that they took
their arms from them, and after giving them
a lecture upon the business they were engaged
in, set them at liberty. The balance of the
Marshaps assistants scampered off in different
directions, glad to escape with their lives.
We understand that in the melee one ne
gro had one of his fingers shot of, and one of
the assistant Marshsls was badly wounded
SO badly, that when he arrived at Columbus
he had to be carried away from the baggage
car.
Wehad supposed that Marshal loves ex-
perience in the Wellington rescue case was
sufficient to deter him from engaging in op-
erations of this kind, but it seems that it has
only whet his appetite and sharpened his in
genuityefor other adventures in kidnapping.
But Marshal Lowe has been very unfortunate
thus far inthis peculiar kind of business, and
we advise him to dry up-resign, and turn
his energies in some other and more honor
able direction.