Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-05-23
FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE,

Yesterday decision was lfaatAe IL Wv 49, ~
The fugitive slave boy Hall, claimed by u. w.
Dnva]l Of George, Of Prince Georges county,
Md, by the District Supreme Court. Chlef
.1nat;ce Cartier announced that the Court
found themselves in condition where noopln-
ION could be pronounced, the Court being
eqnally divided upon the motion to d'scharge
,}e ralator nv habeas corpus. They all had
t,1nharra zsn,e nts about it. He was of the opin-
i'm that the power heretofore exercised IN the
District existed at the present time upon the
subject of fugitive slaves. The question upon
which they disagreed was as to the functional
oowcr which existed for the execution OF that
law and none other Judge Wylie stated that
he would write out his opinion at future tune.
This Court was not a Circuit Court OF the Y;
States and the act of Congress which clothed
1he Circuit Court Of the United States and It's
;ndoes with certain powers in regard to fugitive
s)ayes did not apply to this Court. The tugl,o
iva was remanded, subject to the order OF
Judge Wylie, before whom there was motion
bending for his discharge. The boy. was brought
before Judge Wylie at two O'Clock, and was
discharged from custody.
At this point the case took another turn
Hall, after his discharge, was proceeding out OF
the aforesaid room door with his counsel, when
bis owner, backed by some friends, seized HAN
By the collar Thereupon slight alteration
ensued. Finally the fugitive was Withdrawn
from tie hall, and again taken into the room
Of Judge Wyhe.
nor I ask that this man (pointing to the owner
of the fueitiye) may be punished for attempt
inc to sion tie operations and will Of the
court. You will observe that he seized my
client before he got out Of court, when the
conrt had lust decided that he should be dis
charged. ;.
judge Wylie said: I have discharged the
prisoner, and I cannot permit him to be seized
IN this manner while he is in the courthouse.
Thereupon the fugitive took a seatln little
room, and the owner, With his friends, took up
= nosltion outside; the latter remarking that
he would stay there all night, if necessary, to
get his property. He said he was a law abid-
Inc citizen and had expended more money tor
the Union than Mr.. Dean ever owned.
Thus matters remained for some time, during
which the fugitive was questioned as to how
he had been treated while IN jail. he replied,
"Well enough. >.
time, and then got up and moved to the otner
end of the room, when some OF the owner
friends, observing this, bounded OH to prevent
his escape.
At this juncture, it vas r1mored among the
crowd that the owner of the slave intended to
procure warrant for the arrest Of Mr. Dean,
on charges Of assault and battery, and of bav-
ing attempted to, and succeeded in, resculng
fugitive slave from the hands of his master,
while that master was experimenting his own
property. It is alleged that Mr.. Dean took
the negro by the collar and drew, him away
from his master, while the latter also had him
by the same place And it is said that if Mr.
Dean can be found guilty Of these charges ne
will be compelled to pay fine OF one thousand
dollars, and to sustain six months term OF
AZ oo,,rco. fhia nupSf3On WILL