New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-11
SuSPEC OF ABOLITIONlSM

An old gray-haired man named Samuel Murdoch
was yesterday arraigned before Mayor Monroe on
the charge Of being an Aboiitionist He is a ma
tive of Massachusetts, but has resided in this city
some nine years, acting as a coporteur, or dstri-
butiDg Bibles and tracts, for the Southern Aid
Society" of New York; visiting prisons and
ab0des of wretchedness, and sometimes eXhorting
the wretched in q religious way. The officers
stated that he had long time been accused of ut
tering Abolition sentiments; that ii was the COM
plant of those who boarded in the same house
with him; that they Uhe officers) had frequently
watched him. and had often seen him conversing
with negroes; and that he appeared to be fearful
of being watched, by his manner Of looking around
as he passed along the streets. The old man ut
terly denied the charge of Abolitonism and de-
Tended himself iu eloquent style. reverend gen.
tleman from Jefferson City, Il Southerner defended
the old man with an ability that would have hon
ored one of our frstclass lawyers. The end of
the matter was, that the Mayor severely repri-
manded the old man for his intimacy with negroes,
and let him go.
Another old man. Mr.. J. NJ. Durand, q well
known private teacher in this city, called upon the
Mayor to know it either his lie or liberty were in
danger, because he acted as tutor to the son of a
wealthy free colored man of this city. He said
that whilst he was giving the boy his lessons, two
men came and raped on the window of the room; !;
looking through the glass, he saw these men
shaking their fists at him, and making pantomimes
indicative of throat-eutting or hanging. He imme
dately stopped teaching his darkey, and called
upon the Mayor to know if he had been violating
any law. The Mayor replied, certainly not; but
that the teelingsof the times were SUCH that asso
citation with negroes, whether free or slave, was
liable to bring man into suspicion and bad repute.
Mr.. Duraud said that if such were the case, he
would dismiss his colored pupil, and left.
Several gentlemen just arrived from Galveston,
called upon the Mayor to notify him, that when
they left the people Of Galveston were debating
whether they should ship off or hang an Abolition
ist named W. F. Clemson, an elderly man engaged
as book keeper in that city. They said that if
Clemson were not hung, he would certainly arrive
here by the next steamer and so they notified the
Mayor TO have officers il readiness TO receive the
gentleman, should he be so fortunate to BIS ship
ped for the North.
The Mayor received fourth visit from men, in
forming him Of fragrant of Abolitionism,
and asking the aid of his officers to make an
impor ant arrest. The officers were sent out. We
give no particulars, as the alleged offender had not
been arrested when we were last at the Chiefs
Office.
The Opelousas cars last evening brought to
town. from Houma, man named Fogay, who had
been invited to leave tor tamperiHg with slaves
and betrayiug other evidences of Abolitionism.
The belief in his treAchery was so genuine, that
before putting him on the cars the committee gave
him hint not to return to their parts. The hint
consisted of 100 ashes, well laid on his parts
The Second District police have him in charge, fol
transhipment to the North.