Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-07-02
The "coca oid pemoer.tio rime..n

AhH ''ONUW W.. hfsh.VeEstto
The death of one Peter M. Gardner,
which occurred iii Columbus few days
ago, revives chapter in-the history OF
slavery ip this part of Virginia, which
serves we'll to illustrate the remarks
made by the Hon. Charlie Lewis to a
Democratic crowd at Clarksburg last
Monday week. AS sample of the
good old Democratic limes, which he
SO feelingly lamented, we copy the fol-
lowing notice of Gardner,s devth from
the last Marietta REGISTER. AZ p i
Mr.. Gardiner was one Of the three
citizens Of Decatur7-Crayten J. Lorraine
and Mordecai Thomas. being the others
who were seized on the soil of Ohio,
by Virginians, and forcibly carried over
the river, on the night of July 8, 1916,
and lodged in jail ut Parkersbug, where
they remained six months.
Briefly, the facts were: Six slaves Of
John" II. HARDWOOD, of Washington's
Bottom, Va, Just below Bhnfierhassett
Island, escaped into Ohio. At the river
bunk, met them to assist; but the Vir-
ginians, having obtained some knowl-
edge of the purpose of the negroes,
were there in advance, concealed In the
bushes and fully armed. AS the bag
gage was being taken from the boat, the
Virginians rushed upon them and secur-
ed five of the nes sroes, and captured Gar
ner, Lorraine and Thomas.
The Virginians claimed that these
Citizens of Ohio who had never set foot
OH Virginia soil, were "felons," and
amenable to the laws OF that State, for
an alleged offense, not known 10 the
laws of Ohio, and done within its own
jurisdiction. Bal was refused the pris-
onresI; intercourse with their friends
from Ohio was denied them and Mari
eta lawyers employed to defend them
were rejected. Subsequently the wives
of the prisoners were permitted to visit
them. under guard. August 10th, q pub
lie meeting was held at the Court House
in Marietta, ITO take into consideration
further measures for the liberation of
Ohio citizens now in jail at Parkersbuig,
and the vindicati0n of the rights of
Ohio. Sept. I'd, the prisoners, each
collared by Two men, were token from
the Jail to the Jail to the Court House in
Parkersburg, and there plead not guilty
10 the charge of enticing and assisting,
In the County of Wood, Va, the SIX
negroes to escape from slavery. Bail
was again refused, except by u Virginia
freeholder, and the prisoners went to
Jail. Nov. 18th their trial came on
The jury founda special verdict of guilty
turning on Jurisdiction in the case,
to be tried by u higher court. The
question of Jurisdiction, or boundary
between the two States, was argued be-
lore the Court OF Appeals ut Richmond.
Dec. 1Cth-l3th; and the Court divided
equally on the question whether the
State line was at low water mark on the
Ohio side Of the river, or above that
The men had been captured just above
low water mark. Virginia thus "oozed
out. Alta special term at Parkersburg,
Garner, Lorraine and Thomas were ad-
mittee to bail of 500 each on their oWn
recognizance, and were set ut liberty
Jan. 10, ls46-having lain in Jail six
months.
This ended the case. 1t produced
much excitement at tho time.
They were quiet citizens, and were we
believe, of quaker stock. Thomas went
to Belmont County, and b5canie blind.
Lorraine is living in Illinois.