Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-03

rLHi0D or 90 YEARS EMBRAcED-1nE OLD
SLAVERY DAYS.
4 ease around which clusters much romantic
interest hus been before the court at Nav Castle
iuI several days, and after lengthy arguments by
counsel, was given to the jury on Saturday even
iiig y Is an action for tjectment brought by jus.
mi Martha Jane Frisbee (colorcd), against West
EN- Johnson (colored). Bradford and Higgins
ior Plaintiffs, Thomas +. Bayard for defendant.
Al the principals In the case are colorcd peo-
ple and the verdict depends on the validity of Il
marriage, said to have taken place AZ years
aa2 One Of the witnesses has been, kidnapped
ani s. Id intn slavery aud the Whole case shows
NE lo9sc morals and irregular connections sane
No'ti NY that Institution, which then had, nppa-
rentlv, perpetual footlold on this Peninsula.
he allegations which the plaintiffs attenpt to
lakt good arc in effect as follows:-
spttfn johnson, son of Isaac johnson, was
i'lii NJ Snow Hill, Worcester county, Maryland.
ID lS2l be married Hetty j. Stevens, the service
,Wns duly performed In lawful manner by Rev.
VIM. Is. Balcb, pastor of the Presbyterian church
2, Snow Hill One child was born OF the marri-
agr at Snow Hill named Martha Jane john
80, since married and now beng named Martha
da'c Fri>oec, and she and her husband being the
lltpiis In the case. The plaintiffs further III
VIZ Tint soon after the birth of this child that
l@rImrents removed to Baltimore, In which city
severn johnson subsequently abandoned his wife
NM afterwards married Frances Holland, by
whom he had several children. Subsequently
viii HE second family he removed to this city
sId 10 mp his permanent residence here with
llu loot of Ninth street, which has since be-
come very valuable. Ia 1SGi-j lie died, leaving
~ property In the possession of his children by
W second wife, by one Of whom, Western John
son. the defendant in this case, 1t Is still held
~, facts sought to be proved run through PEE
nod OF 30 years.
he Plaintiffs offer in proof of the marriage the
Gtiosilinn OF Parson Balch, as he is called by al
We Old WITNESSES taken at his residence in Prince
William county, Va. He states that he is 20 years
old, and was pastor Of the Snow Hill Prcsbyteri
~ church from 1919 to 1929. that he recolscts
distinctly having married Severn johnson ant
lefty j. Stevens about tho year 1921. He dc
slrlbes the appearance of the groom and men
Tons au incident ut the weddiEg.
Lavinil johnson, about 90 or 76 years old. ties
tldtd that she was the wife of Isaac johnson, Jr.
ahrother of Severn's aud was at the wedding o
NC latter with Hclty J. Stevens. They went from
Itr house to Parson Bachs To be married, cam,
ohtk and had their wedding supper there ant
,,!aid all night, going to housekeeping next day
Hetty was between IA and 10 when she was mar
iied; they had one child In 1888 witness and he
Mo children were kidnapped and sold into sla
very near Augusta, Georgia, and left there thu
% 4 man named Smith while In Georgia Helty'
child could walk when witness was kidnapped.
Henrietta Fisher lived in Snow Hill, knew Sc
aerh ana ietty as man and wife, ard they stat
7 sucil all nignt, Win tnelr cniiu, at her nous
before leaving for Baltimore
John Brooks, who had taught school in Baltl
more, testified TO Severn sending Martha Jane I,
splnnl to him along with his children by the sec
ohd wife.
The defence denied first. that the alleged mar
,Waie had ever taken place; second that II IL had
Martini Jane Frisbee was not born in lawful wed
ioek Mr.. Bayard attempted to discredit the eyi
uehce OF Rev. Mr.. Baleh on the ground of ex
IRENE age and iorgeiiulness.
rtter Wilson testified that lie had lived at Snoy
IN was playmate of Severn johnson In thei
Shiidhood thai they had grown upas boys to
Tc..ner and had seen each other almost every day
Witness never known him to be II married mar
slu he had nlwaysbeen spoken of as single ma
~ snow Hill; knew hetty j. Stevens; neye
hhnew Of her as the wife OF Severn Juhnson G
heard Of her having any children. She was
| Wilson.
Nlinrod Broughten, Mary Thompson, and Hu
Mil Ganby. all boin in Snow Hill, gave simila
Evidence, but Mary thompson also testified th'
j mc hnew Hctty in Baltimore, where she was ll'
ms with reter Expert s his wife. She also wen
W me mme OF Douglass and Coleman.
arlnenia Lane, lived in Baltimore when Sever
ppulhson lived there; knew him to be married I
d. Sa'nces Holland; they had four children, Flor
w. htyeIdy, Mary Ann and Western; knew hi
Il M years before he was married; never kne
, ,,. TO have any other wife; knew Mary Jan'
W.T., wa, daughter of Hetty; she told me her moth'
mnls married tn Severn johnson; saw Murti
v u When she was married TO her first husband
liver ,ser seen her again until she had left her fir
,"i"soin.l and was married to the SECOND. Que
tph-When did You Pgnin see hprp Ans-(
Ing Ing not till she Ind the third husband 81
hi ntu IN Philadelphia, aud lives there now. III
,,Shly was out until u o'clock Saturday night nj
,leh reported themselves unable TO agree, OF
we're discharged,