Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-09-07
A Thrilling Story,

oOme OF the particulars OF the recent
kidnapping case at Clifton, H., have been
given to the public. The Chicago Tribune
gives the whole story in the annexed state
ment:
On Sunday, June 5, three colored men
living in or near Clifion--a village near
Ashkum, station on the Illinois Central
road, about sixty miles from Chicago-were
enticnd by seven or eight whites into a
country store or grocery, and when there
were pounced upon by their armed decoys,
now turned assailants, and under threat of
instant death from reyolrers pointed at their
bseasts, We're compelled to submit to the
commands of those who by force and fraud
had overpowered them. They were in
stantly hurried off to Askum, and their
captors having timed their movements to
correspond with the motions of the down
train, thrust their prey, still guarded by on
array of pistols and bowie knives, into the
cars, and bore the poor men of. All this
was accomplished without process of any
sort--by brute force alone, illegally and d.
abolically. The Indignation of the quiet
community in which this occurred was thor
oughly aroused by the outrage; but all par
ties, the wronged and the wrong -doers, were
gone-hid in slaye State, under the shad-
ow of the institution that justifies all such
atrocities-and everybody despaired of be-
ing able to bring the captiyes back, Or the
scoundrels to the punishment that they had
richly earned.
The kidnapped men were carried to St.
Louis as fast as steam could convey them.
jealously guarded all the way. Arrived
there, they were thrust into negro pen
which still disgraces that free soil city, and
the work, with view to the profits Of the
great crime, was commenced. In answer
to the inquiry directed to each, Who is
your master r one averred that he was
then, and had always been, free man
another refused to answer, while the third,
the man Jim, said he had been the proper
ty of Aime Penard a farmer, near Caron-
delet, seven miles from the city. The man
who claimed TO be free, and his silent fell
low prisoner. acre tied up and cruelty fogged,
the one TO refresh his recollection of seryi-
tude that his captors suspected, and the
other to confession he would not make,
Whipping proving Of no avail, other forms
OF cruelty-hunger the most potent-were
tried, but with no better success. AT last,
both these men-one torn ruthlessly from
his wife and children, and the other from
nelghborhood in which his industry had
made him respected, and each from life
of freedom and enjoyment--were sent South
and sold. They were made prisoners of
war, and as such in this time of peace were
compelled to submit to their captor's will.
While this whipping, shipping and selling
was going on, Aime Pernard, the owner of
Jim was visited by one of the kidnappers.
He 'cemt ,cith offers 10 buy Jim, running
buy the chance of a capture after five years
named for this fugitive piece of flesh and
blood. But it was Indignantly refused
The sum was doubled, trebled, quadrupled.
and at last multiplied by ten bnt all tempt
ations failed TO get them legal title to their
prey, They served this purpose, however:
The owners suspicious were aroused by
the amount offered by the scoundrels, and
their eagerness TO effect trade. On Sat
urday, then, a week after the capture, he |
sent negro woman into st. Louis-the |
woman by the way, the mother of jim
to make inquiries that the case seemed to
demand. Her mothers instinct led her to
the right place. Admitted to the pen, she
recognised her son, learned from his Hps
his suiferings and danger; and then with
such speed as she could command. hurried
back to the masters house. Her story sent
bim into the city and TO the slave pen di-
rect. Jim's story was repeated with such
emphasis and particularly that every drop
of that masters blood tingled in his veins.
His haggard appearance, his wounds and
marks of stripes attested TO the masters
sight the truth of the words that fell upon
MS cars. He called the keeper of the
place, commanded the humane treatment of |
lis property, and left with the promise that /
he would return and relieve him of his .
:harge. This was on Sunday morning. !
Bright and early on the day following. Aime {
Pernard appeared at the prison gate. To
'sy the sum (sl00 allowed by the law of
he State to the captors of fugitive. the {
all fees amounting to s35 more. and to rig /,
i'm out in a new suit which his master had T
trough, along was but half-hour's work. d
y hen done, the two went buck TO Csron- :