Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-08-21
The Conflict Of Authority Case In New
York.

81
York who has custody Of MAJOR John II.
Pratt, the alleged Texas rIoter, has re-
ceiyed sn autograph letter from President
Grant. requesting and authorizing him 10
use all the means a. his disposal to resist
sny attempt by the New York State au-
,hori,ies TO obtain control of the prisoner.
The United States court buildings IN Ne"
York, II is stated, are filled with marines
and artillery men. fully armed and EQUIPPED
who will resist any attempt 10 arrest Mar
shall Barlow by State Court process, be-
sides which the Marshal is in constant
communication with the naval and militia
~ authorizes, determined no, to obey or
heed any process OF the State courts.
New York paper gives The following
statement Of The position OF affairs on Sat
urday
"Marshai Barlow having reported the
intended movement Of Judge McCunn to
President Grant, RECEIVING in reply short
bu, decisive note, 10 the handwriting oil
the President, directing hlm IN call on
Gen. Mcdowell for sufficient military
force TO reslst any attempt On the part OF
the State authorizes 10 reIeare Prati. and
to maintain the authority Of the United
States. The Ieuer further directs The
marshal not To release Pratt, except upon
OF Judge having authority over the raSe'
thus Recommending the authority OF
Judge McCunn. The marshal, IN obedI-
epce 20 this order, called on the command
er of The department for fifty men, prop
erIy armed and olilcereG. TIE troops
reached the marshal's Office on Saturday
morning and were quartered there 1t -
known that warrant has been granted
for the arrest Of Marshal Barlow, but
judge McCunn expressed bis de'ermIna-
ton to suspend all proceedings until Mon
day 10 await Developments. Mean"hlie
Pratt remains in Fort Schuy Ter, and will
mol be brought before the commissioner
until Monday noon. Marshal Barlow re-
fused to obey the wit demanding the Ie-
lease Of Pratt, on the ground that Judge
! McCunn's court had no jurisdiction. lie
claimed he was sustained by decision OF
the United States Supreme Court, deliver
ed by Chief Justice fancy, IN fugitive
slave case. Marshal Barlow fearing an
arrest for contempt of court was escorted
10 his home on his home on Saturday by
q body OF United States troops, who, At IS
understood, maintain a guard about his
residence on Staten Island"
New YORK. Avg. IL The case OF
PRATT, the alleged Texan rioIer. was be-
fore Commissioner Osborne to-day.
Gems. Mcdowell and Ingalls, had prevl-
ousy had an interview With District AT
tornev PierrepOnt in reference TO he
course to be pursued in the event of an
attempt 10 rescue. AT noon Pratt was
brought in under guard Of Co. b, first
regiment OF artillery ; lis counsel arrived
shortly afterwards. The case was prompt
ly opened, District Attorney Pierepont
arguing for the United States. but admit
ting that the only evidence against 1he
prisoner was a telegram from the Cover
nor OF Texas asking Gov. Hoffman TO re-
mand him to Texas.
Commissioner Osborne stated that lie
! had examined the case on It's merits and
there was not sufficient evidence 10 hold
the prisoner. And it was simply and
purely because there we're no facts sufiI-
Gent 10 hold the prisoner thai he should
order his discharge.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE PRISONER.
TO inquiries concerning his past lie,
! PGalI replied wiihnu. reserve, es follows
IL was born in Berkeley county, Viz
pinia, on the 18Th of December, 1918.
emgrated 10 Texas in 1852, and settled
in JrG,rs where have been engaged
in merchandising and rsIIroadlng. When
the la,e unfortunate civil war broke out,
| orpanlzed and commanded Praus battery,
| bu, was promoted afterwards 10 major
| ity, and given the command oil the second
battalion Of artillery Of the uans-MIesis-
sippi department, and was OF the battles
of Helena. Little Rock, Cape GIardeau,
Old River Lake, opposed 10 the sixteenth
army coips was at Mansfield and the
battle of the Saline. where Gems. Scury
and Horace Randall fell. served under
the commands Of Gems. Sterling Price and
Marmadukc Of Missouri, and was IN
! General Prices rad in 1864, through
Missouri and Kansas. II the battle Of
Marais de Cyngne, Kansas, fought in Oc-
tober. 1864. was dangerously wounded.
aud now carry in my body Mlnnle-ball
received IN that engagement. Since the
war have accepted the situation in good
faith, and have earnestly labored to pre-
vent collisions between the whites and
blacks, and when such have occurred. !
have always exerttd myself to The beet
Of nv ability to stop them. have sever
al time aided tie federal officers station ed
al jefferson in promoting peace and har-
mony beIw cen lie hiles aud the colored
population. On the 4lh Of July, 1868,
when some shots were fired. and there
was imminen, danger OF general conflict
between several hundred armed negroes
and the whites, exposed my person to
the shots. sppessed the excited populsce,
and received the thanks and coumends-
ton Of the whole community"
IL was absent from Jefferson on the
4lh OF OoClober, 1868. bot returned in
the evening. was not present when &.
w. Smith and The Two negroes were KILL
ed. When | learned that was implica-
ted in The affair Of the 4ih oi October
was astonished Suffering from wounds.
al al.