Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-21
ISSUING OF 4 WRIT OF HABEAS
CORPUS

WV ~
Early on Saturday morning last, rumOrs
were rife that negro woman living in this
city had been forcibly seized by person re-
presenting himself as her master, with the
intent to return her into slavery. Upon
tracing these rumors further, it was ascer-
tanned that the woman was taken, under a
process issued by Q. S. Commission
er White, upon the oath Of one William S.
Goshorn, who claims to hold her to service
aud labor for life under the laws of the State
of Virginia. The hearing had been set by
the Commissioner for 10 O'Clock on Monday
morning, and the woman had been commit
ted to Sheriff Craw by Deputy Marshal
johnson, for safe keeping in the county jail
until that time.
Our reporter upon reaching the jail found
a large oOncourse of people collected the
greater part Of them being negroes, who wtre
talking exeitedly Of the event which had
brought them together. Upon inquiry, the
following fa cts appeared:
Some three months since, the woman
came to this city, and through William E.
Ambush, was provided with a situation as
domestic in the family of Hon. "A. G. Rid
die; subsequently she left there, and lived
at Mr.. Wm. Smiths, and finally, has been
for two weeks past at Mr.. L. A Benton's on
Prospect street On Saturday morning, at
about O'Clock, knock was heard at Mr..
Benton's door, which was answered by the
girl, who, upon looking out saw several men,
and among them recognized her master In
stantly springing back and pushing the bolt,
she retreated to Mr. BIS. bedroom, whether
she was Immediately followed by the Off
GERS, who had forced their way in. Upon
Mr.. Benton's demanding their business, a
warrant for the arrest of the girl was exhibi-
ted, and they were suffered to remove her
without further remonstrance, upon prom
ise that fair trial should be accorded her.
She was Immediately placed in a carriage
and driven rapidly down the street,
Finding his outer door forced, and some
what suspicious that all might not be
exactly right, Mr.. Benton communicated
the facts to Ambush, who at once, accom-
panied by several other persons, proceeded so
the depot, and not finding her they were in
search Of, returned and ascertained that she
was confined in the jail.
THE woNLE's STATEMENT:
By the kindness Of the Sheriff and officer
Frazee, our reporter was permitted to visit
the prisoner, who is confined in an upper
cell in the female ward of the jail. She is
an ordinary looking negro girl, extremely
black and somewhat backward about talk
ing. She informed the reporter that her
name was Sarah Lucy Bagby, that her age
was twenty-four, and that she was unmar-
ried. She acknowledged that she had been
the slave of Mr.. GOshorn (who lives about
four miles from Wheeling) but says that she
was taken from home, voluntarily, by her
masters daughter, on or about the 18th Of
| October last, and carried 70 Beaver, in Penn
sylvania. At Beaver she was informed that
by being brought into free State she be-
came free, and therefore she set off in com
pany with another person for Pittsburgh,
and thence, for Cleveland.
In answer to an enquiry she replied that
she ''was not very well treated by her mas
ter" and she evidently seems unwilling
to return with him.
NR. GosHoRS's CLAIM.
Mr.. Goshorn, SEN, states that he bought
the woman Lucy in the city of Richmond,
in the year 1852, and that he sold her at
that time to his son, the present owner, with
whom she has since lived at Wheeling. He
further states, that he himself was absent
from home during the first part of the month
Of October last, and It was only upon his re-
turn that he was informed Of the girls es-
cape on or about the third of the month
She is valued at about $500. Mr.. Goshorn
and son came 10 this city on Thursday last
and on Friday evening, having ascertained
the whereabouts Of their property, went to
United States Commissioner White and re-
quested the drawing up Of the necessary
papers. A mittimus was directed to the
Marshal, and the seizure made in the man
ner we have stated.
1t is said that Lucy admitted to her mas
ter on the way to the jail that she was per
Suaded to leave by another fugitive who in
formed her that she was to be sold. Thi
story, however, does mot agree with hel
present one.
How Information was obtained as to hel
whereabouts, is not known, although it il
almost certain that some one acquainted
with the facts must have written to Goshorn
and we understand that suspicious are cas-
upon one or tive cOlored persons residing il
this city, by their brethren.
TIE HAREAs CORPUS.
The examination before the Commissions
had been postponed until 10 o'clock thi
morning, on account Of the absence of ma
terial witnesses. At the urgent request o
Messrs. spaulding, Riddle and Palmer
counsel for the prisoner, Judge Tilden con
Sentsd to issue a writ Of Habeas Corpus, up
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