Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-11

appears in the Cleveland Leader over the sigma
ture OF X. F.PAYsE, U. 8. District Attorney
for the Northern District of Ohio.
Tie United ssstes) In the District Court Of
%. : Ohio. Tried at the No
george Gordon, } vember Term, 1861.
This was prosecution for violation of tho
59th Sec. of the Act for the punishment OF
crimes, found In Brightly's Statutes, paee 2l2,
and passed April 30, 1870. The section punish.
es any person who shall knowingly and williully
oDatruct, resist or oppose any officer of the
United states,,in serving or attempting to serve
or execute any writ, process, warrant, etc., is.
sued Dy any person authorized to issue the same
by imprisonment, not exceeding twelve months,
and BY fine not exceeding three hundred dollars
The defendant was indicted at the November
Term, 1860.
The testimony on the trial established, be-
yond 0 rational doubt, that on the 18Th day OF
september, 1860, three men from Kentucky
came TO Cincinnati, and made affidavit before
U. s. Commissioner Newhall, that three per.
sons owing them service and labor in Kentucky,
bad fed, and we're then In the State of Ohio
They procured three warrants and placed them
10 the hands Of Marshal Sifford Of the Southern
District. Marshal Sfford called to bis assist.
ance two OF his deputies and tao or three men
beside the Kentuckians, and the company ON
the lUth OF September left for the vicinity OF
Iberia, where they understood the slaves were.
short distance from Iberia the conpany
left the cars, and soon after, under the orders
and directions of Marshal Sitford, they separat-
ed, Joseph L. Barber, one of tho Deputy Mar
snais, taking warrant for Granderson Martin,
and taking two of the company with him, went
as he was directed, to the house of James Ham
mond, where 1t was supposed Martin Was.-
When he arrived at the house it had bepun 10
grow dark. He knocked at the door, and ladv
came to it, of whom Barber inquired If color
ed boy was there by the name of Martin. He
was told he was not. He then INQUIRED if such
a person had not been there, and was answered
in the Affirmative. He asked where he then
was, the lady told him che did not know, and If
she did she would not tell. Barber told her ne
had warrant for Martins arrest, and it was
his duty to be satisfied he was not there. The
lady Lighted a candle, gave it to him, and told
MIN he could search the house, which Barber did
slightly, but to his satisfaction, no other person
entering the house Mr.. Barber and his asso
ciates then left, and went back to point on
the railroad, some mile and half, where they
by agreement, were to report themselves.
Soon after they reached the railroad, and
while waiting there for the arrival of the other
companies, men began to collect and INQUIRE
their business, accusing them of being robbers
and thieves. Mr.. Barber assured them that
they were not robbers or thieves, but that thew
were on legitimate business. There was in
company with Mr.. Barber at this time a Mr..
Renick, of Columbus. The crowd now number.
ed some fifteen or twenty, and grew more and
moro boisterous and excited. Mr., Barber, think.
ing bis safety required II, now told them he was
Deputy United States Marshal, that be had a
warrant to serve, explained the nature of it,
and demanded their protection and assistance.
At this they became more sexoited than ever,
and began to threaten to hang them, the crowd
all the time increasing. The crowd now seized
Barber and Renick, and took them some half a
mile from 6here they were, and off the railroad
track, to the edge of piece of woods. After
looking for suitable tree from which to hans
them, and boAs.ing that halter had been pro
cured for the purpose, the crowd changed thei,
minds and concluded to shoot them Bsrbe,
and Renick were now separated some forty feet
and held and searched. On Mr.. Barber they
found wallet, containing his private papers
and about twenty-four dollars in money, his
pistol, small bowie-knife, his warrant and a
letter from Mr.. Sifford. To secure the wallet,
they tore the pocket from bis pantaloons. The
crowd then demanded that Barber and Renick
should kneel with their faces in opposite direc-
lions and some thirty PAGES apart, declaring
that they would shoot them. Renck obeyed,
put Barber refused, They then stripped off
Barbef's oyercoat, dress coat, vest and shirt,
leaving his under-shirt. In this condition they
seized him and by force put him upon his knees
A Ale Of three or four men was then drawn up
In front of him, and orders given to cock their
guns, make ready, and take aim; ell of which
was gone through with. IL was then suggest.
ed that they should not shoot them, but that
they should be whipped until they told where
the colored boy was. Barber assured them that
he did not know, that he had seen nothing of
him, and did not know that any had been ar
rested. -s f t'a sis
Two or three men seized each of Mr.. B.'s
hands, pulling his arms out at full length, and
two colored men, one very large athletic man,
with large1imbs cnt from the trees proceeded
to lash him In the most brutal manner, whip,
ping him until the small branches were worn
from the limbs and the colored men exhausted
and Mr.. Barber, laoerated and bleeding, having
upon him several gashes one and half inches
In length, and his right arm, with which he at
tempted at times to avert the blows, go bruised
that the next day II was swollen to twice its
usual size. During this aogging the muzzle Of
Q gun was thrust against his side with euch vio-
lence that from the effect he has not recovered.
Mr.. Reniek during this tims was receiving
similar treatment &C the hands of another por-
ton Of the company, though not as severe
Barber and Reniek were now ordered to their
feet, and commenced dressing, when Mr.. Got.
don gave one Of the oolored men whip, say
Ing, "They have not got enough yet, give lem
some more" and some twelve or fifteen blows
al
ed with scissors to shear the heads of Barber
aud Renick, and in this made thorough work.
Mr.. Gordon then administered on obligation
to them to the effect that they would never
again vote the Democratic ticket, or be engae.
ed in arresting Q fugitive slave. He then lee.
tured them from five; to ten minutes on the
enormity of their crime, and assured them that
they had been fortunate In falling into the
hands Of the better portion Of community, stat
ing If they had fallen into the hands of the
roughs they would have Jared much worse.--
Barber and Renick we're then, about one O'Clock
at night, permitted to put on their clothes -
Barber asked that his money, papers and other
things taken from him, be given TO him. This
was not done, some one remarking that he bad
no business there, and that he did not deserve
them. During the time after the company left
the railroad TO the close, Mr.. Gordon was pres
ent, actively engaged 10 these proceedings, and
when hle name was mentioned cautioned those
present not TO use names. Daring the most OF
the time there were from thirty to fifty mer
present. Soon after this transaction, Mr.. Cor
don left and was understood 70 be in Canada =
l think In April last, he came to me and volun
tarily entered securities for his appearance q
Court. Until after bis trial no bond but hi
own was requlsed. sH g9 issF's c