The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-04
A SOUTHERN OUTRAGE.
CASE OF Mr.. MiSoT.


Nearly two months since We published th'
fact that Mr.. Lorenzo Minot, and Ia Mr. Chap
man of Damariscotta, had been arrested anc
imprisoned in New Orleans, for no crime o,
offence except that Of being Northern men
Yesterday. Friday Sept. 18th, )Mr. Mino
called at our Office with his sister-an esteem
ed young lady Of this city-and gave us th'
simple facts, from which we make up the fol
lowing statement:
He belongs in Bowdoin, and for four year
past, during the business season, has been IL
New Orleans, following his mechanical trade
as ship carpenter. We will remark thai
Mr.. NJ. Is an intelligent. well appearing, can
did man. Of from 25 to 30 years Of age
Last winter he worked there as usual, board
ing on the Algiers side Of the river, in com
pany with Mr.. Chapman, with widow lady
On the 18th Of June, taking letter from
Chapman to be forwarded to his wife at Dam
ariscotta. no took passage for tho North by q
river boat, not suspectlng any danger, OF
dreaming that he himself was regarded with
suspicion. Coming Of Northern Demo
cratic family, he had never received the leas1
taint OF abolitionism, and had never had oc
casion to- place himself in antagonism to pre-
vailing southern feeling; 80 that he had M
reason to anticipate meeting with any bar Il
his rapid journey homeward. lie arrived il
Memphis on the 2lst Of June, went from th'
boat to the depot, and while asking for
railroad ticket for Cairo. was accosted by a
police officer who enquircd his destination
and on his saying that ho was going to Maine
the officer required that he should 60 with
him-without giving II word Of explanation
or exhibiting the slightest evidence Of auth
ority. Mr.. Minot demurred, but the Officer
drew an ominous looking revolver, and he
then INCREASINGLY marched to the Station
house, where he was kept 4s hours. lie had
the letter Of Chapman about him, but never
dreaming that it contained m offensive word
he did not think to destroy or conceal it,
That this letter had nothing to do with his
arrest is sufficiently seen by the fact that hew
arrested ut least six hours before the letter
was discovered and taken from him, which
was donc when. while in the station.house he
was searched, and his money-Cvery cent he
had-S3sO in gold-and everything valuable
about his person, were taken from him.
At the end Of 48 hours no was taken from
the station. house heavily ironed and deliver
ed to Capt. Richardson. Of steamer Mary
Keen, to be passed over to the Mayor Of New
Orleans. BY extracts from Chapman's letter
published afterwards in the papers, Mr.. NJ
learned that Chapman had written his wife
that he hoped soon to see her, and also hoped
once moro to see the stars and stripes floating
over the Mississippi.
This was the offensive language complain.
ed Of in that private epistlo from man tenn.
porarily scjourning in New Orleans, to bis
wife in Maine, which caused its authors ar-
rest, imprisonment, and nearly his life. The
Capt. Of the steamer Mary Keen was furnish.
cd with written order to deliver Alinot to
the Mayor of New Orleans, signed by the
"Committee ofSiiety" Of Memphis, and thi'
document which shows the fact ofhis arrest,
inc,rccra:ion and return to the Crescent City,
Mr.. Minot contrived to abstract, and to con.
ceal in the heel Of his boot. between the lin.
ing and the back, and In this way to preserve
1t from the scrutiny Of guards and other OH.
cials while coming from the land Of despotism
and a reign OF terror to the free atmosphere
Of New England; and he will doubtless pre-
serve II to his last hour as momcnto Of
Southern hospitality. We saw and read the
document.
In New Orleans he was delivered to the
Mayor, and by him, without q question, q
word, or scarcely look, sent to the station.
house, where he remained eight days, no
friend daring to visit him, or being allowed
to do so if disposed to take the risk. Atthe
end Of eight days, on or about tho 5th ofJuly
he was transferred to the Parish prison, where
he was kept as q criminal, with poor fare and
not always BY kind attendants until wednes.
day Sept. 4th, when he was discharged. A
lawyer who appeared for him took an order
to obtain his money-s3S0 above mentioned
and after taking out $3.50 Tor his hand.
cuts. like sum for other irons. SOS for his
passage frpm Memphis back to New Orleans
and sandry other small sums for kindred &C
comodations, 1.-The balance was paid to the
lawyer. who deducted his own fees. and paid
over to Mr.. NJ. the small remainder Of $42!-
In tho meantime he (Siinot)b had gone over to
Algiev to thank his kind bcnefantou-ths
lady with whom ho boarded and clergymcn
who had both been unremittine In their o.
forts in his behalf, and while there no d''-
covered demonstrations which were unpleas'
ant, and was Advised, II ho could obtain .
pa.s to start at once for home. I" his ilis
mich, NOT be safe. His landlady went to the
Governor and readily procured psss-which
We have seen-merely. an informal request
,ha. he might bs allowed to 80 North through
the Confederate States without molestation---