Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-22
AN IyTEREsTING NARRATIVE.
THE CASE OF REV. CALVIN FAIR
BANKS.
Twelve Years in Prison for IIeIPin
the Escape OF a Fugitive Slave
Pair Of Lovers Reunited.

FaAE Oh Lovers heuuALeOs
Some weeks ago it was announced that
Lieutenant Governor Jacobs, of Kentucky,
had pardoned Rev. Calvin Fairbanks out
of the Penitentiary of that State during
the temporary absence of Governor
Bramlette
A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune
relates the facts concerning the case. Mr..
Fairbanks was kidnapped at Jefferson
vile, Iowa, in 1851, was taken to Frank
fort, and after mock trial, was sentenced
to fifteen years imprisonment The
offense with which he was charged, is thus
related;
lIn November, 1851, Rev. Mr.. Fair
banks was in Louisville on business con-
nected with the 0berlin (Ohio) Institute
and while there was made acquainted with
the case of a young slave girl, nearly
white, who was endeavoriHg to escape to
the free Etates. She was the property OF
one A. Shortwell, of Louisville, and was
named 'Tamar' The story she related to
Mr.. Fairbanks-though such as thousands
in her condition could truly relate-so
worked on his feelings and SO aroused his
sympathies and indignation that he deter
miued to render her escape certain. On
the night of November I'd they crossed
the Ohio from Louisville to JetfersonvHle,
Indiana. The girl secreted herself in
field, while he went in pursuit of a horse
and buggy. Before daylight he got her,
cold and benumbed, into the buggy, and
that day, November Sd, drove thirty-four
miles into Indiana, placed her among
friends and himself returned with the
horse and buggy to Jacksonville, where
he remained about week. On his way
to church the following Sunday, he was
assaulted and seized by William Ronald,
then Marshal of Louisville, Kentucky,
NOW Sheritfl and one Stamlett watch
man, assisted by said Shortwell, and thus
kidnapped he was taken by force into
Kentucky. He was thrown into prison in
Louisville, where he lay about five months
awaiting trial, bail being required in the
sum of five thousand dollars, which he
was of course unable to procure in that
State.
After his Imprisonment. Mr.. Fair
banks strength and health soon failed
him, and he was utterly incapable
OF performing his tasks. Then COM
menced the horrible brutality to which he
was subjected. He was put at the hardest,
dirtiest work, and orders were given by
Newton Craig, the then warden, to kill
him. The insulting tones of voice and
insolent and abusive manner to say moth
ing of the horrible oaths directed to him,
were enough to PROSTATE man Of his retn-
ed and sensitive mind. But all this was
as nothing compared to the horrible whip
pings inflicted on his naked person
Forced to lean forward over a stool, chair
or bench, he was made to strip, and then
with a sole-leather strap, eighteen inches
in length, two inches wide, and about
three-eighths of an inch thick, soaked in
water and fastened to a handle about two
feet long, no was fogged sometimes daily,
sometimes four times day, for not per-
forming heavier task than it was possible
for him to do in his state Of health. He
was given from two to one hundred and
seven lashes at time. Sometimes he
would escape fogging for month, and
once six months passed Ell without his
heing whipped. During the time he was
imprisoned he was brutally fOgged more
than one thousand times because he had
IOI --ErE1sEI-v-.y- ,z-os l.r,aaa
and exhaustion, the task imposed
upon him. l -.s
ssAt the time of the imprisonment of
Rev. Mr.. Fairbanks, hewas engaged to be
married to Miss Mandona Tilerton, of VIII
liamsburg, Mass, a young lady of rare per-
sonal attractions and mental endowments.
And the qualities both of heart and mind
which this estimable lady possessed, will |
be best illustrated by stating that during |
all the time of his imprisonment from |
1851, to April 1861 Mr.. F. |
was the one particular object Of all her |
and all her devoted Affections |
Her loving, and cheerful, and hopeful let
ters were as the staff of life to himl-
Though stripped of all his money, clothing
and property when he was imprisoned,
and, after his other means failed, she sent
him money with which to supply his
wants--furnished him, bed bedding,
.owels, linen, and funds with which to sup
0ly himself with suitable food coffee, tea,
Sc., and to supply with such comforts as it
vas possible to do, and that he might not
)e obliged to eat the miserable prison fare
are which was supplied by the warden,
She visited him in person 1853, 1855 1859,
s60 1868, making constant efforts to pro-
ure his pardon.
aAt length, after twelve years, one
nonth and six days dreadful imprison-
nent in the State prison at Frankfort, be-
ides the four months he was in iaii in
Mr.. Fairbanks receiveda a par
ON from Lieutenant Governor Jacobs, of
Ientueky, and was restored to his liberty.
During the six last years Miss Telston
as been residing in Oxford, Ohio as a | ]
sacher, where she might be near Mr.. F.,
nd where she could be enabled to furnish l
i'm with continued means AS soon as he | I
-as set at liberty he repaired at once to
er place of residence, where they were
larried few weeks since"
'Un leaving the prison he was furnished
18th five dollars from the prison fund, q
nd an old suit of clothes, such as a hod-
lrrier might wear. None of his personal c
rOperty was surrendered to him, the pres
ut keeper refusing ogive it to him, say
g to him, all his property is minel Sew !
lty-fve dollars sent to him was withheld 9
Id kept by the warden, Newton Craig
nd after almost thirteen years of impris-
lment at hard labor, stripped of all his u
cans, he boarded himself during his in v
recreation, he is again freep
"Nhat martyr to the benevolent i'm L
llse of the human heart has he not beenl Il
hat an illustration oft barbarism of u
lvery' is his historyl What an exam Q
e oftrue womanhood, what an instance u
that constancy, devoted affection, and U
lf-sacrifeing spirit which is the true or u
Iment Of the gentler sex, the rare exhi- ?
ton Of which in these degenerate days !,
lkes this illustrions instance stand out in u
anscendent BEAUTY and holiness. n
The Tobacco Crop in Kentucky. tc
The tobacco crop of K Kentucky will, it is
porteqJ be bOuntiful one, and if it can
put in and secured. will realize a larnn