The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-23
THE KIDNAPPER Gagged.

THE KIDNAPPER Gagged. |
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE ABDUc-
TION OF DIR. BRATTON.
The Trial OF the Mtacrennt Cornwall at |
London, Canada-He is Sentenced to |
Three Years in the Pen1tentIary.
The London tCanada) Free Press, of the |
18th instant, brings us the full details of the |
trial Of J. B. Cornwall for the forcible abduc- |
ton of DR.. Bratton, of South Carolina. We
present in condensed form the most interest |
ing portions OF the evidence.
DR.. James Rufus Bratton deposed that op
the afternoon In question he was walking out |
on Waterloo street. He saw q cab standing |
in the distance, and three men; two of them |
were standing In the road, and the other was |
seated on the box; as he walked on the two |
men separated, one going, the other coming
towards him; lhe latter he recognizes as Corn
wall. When within about six feet Of him
Cornwall sprang towards him and seized him
shoulder, telling him he arrested him under
warrant. He (BrattoB) demanded to hear
the warrant reau, and desired his assallant to
show cause why he should be arrested. Corn
wall returned that he would do that soon
enough. Witness resisted and still demanded
to know the reason OF his arrest, but received
no satisfaction beyond being told that he
would find out soon enough. A struggle en-.
eued, in the course OF which both of them fell
to the ground. Cornwall knet on bis body
and arms and proceeded to put manacles on
him. He called the cabn1an to help him.
After some further struggling, the cabman
came to CornWalls assistance and held Wit
ness arm. The handouts were then placed
upon his (Bratton's) wrists, and he was led
between the two men, Cornwall on the right
and the cabman on the LETT, to the cab. into
which he was pushed. Cornwall gave orders
to drive to the station by the back streets.
Witness asked that they should drive around
by bis boarding house to get some of his clothes,
but this was refused. While on the way, wit
ness repeatedly protested against the degra-
daLion of the irons upon bis person, and de-
manded to know the authority upon, which
Cornwall proceeded. Cornwall told him to
keep quiet, and not create any outcry, lest he
should expose himself with the handouts upon
him. Witness returned that he did not fear to
be taken before any magistrate or commission
er for examination, hull objected to the hnmil.
iatlon of the irons. Upon again demanding to
hear the warrant reau, still protesting against
the arrest, and telling Cornwall that It was not
law, but force and violence, Cornwall read 9
warrant In his hearing. He (wltness) then said
The warrant did not embrace bis name; did not
call for him, and afforded no legal pretence
whatever for his arrest. Cornwall then said
that 1t was not his province to discriminate be-
,ween persons; he (Bratton) would have to go
to Windsor, where be would have chance TO
vindicate himself before Mr.. Commissioner Ca
ron, by whom the warrant was signed. witness
objected TO 60 to Windsor, saying he was pre-.
pared to submit himself to any authority of
this city, and he thought that In aplaee OF
twenty thousand Inhabitants there should be
some. authority competent to deal with hlm.
He was told that Mr.. Caron was the only COM
missioner for this district and that he would
good legal advice In Windsor. When the cab
arrived ut the station 1t stopped, and the
driver said the train (Pacidc Express) was
late. They then drove up and down one Of
the back streets until the train arrived. Then
the cab was stopped. Cornwall then took wit
ness 10 the Pullman car and thrust him 10 the
interior part of 1t, Into small apartment
with one or two seats. Cornwall said
we ought 10 get to Windsor by ten O'Clock;
no one except the porter came into the
compartment until we arrived at Detroit;
did not hear Windsor announced from the
train either by the conductor or porter; when
the conductor called Detroit be could not get
in, and Cornwall opened the door tor him; go
soon as the door was opened, Hester, the de-
now;"I replied to Hester when he said he
wished me to 60 with him, 'No, I'm under
Canadian law, now; that warrant does not al
low you 10 detain me here, aud ], under pro-
test, refuse to obey you; neither your govern
ment, or you, Sir, have right TO detain me
here, and If you do, you will pay for It,"
at the conclusion OF this sentence the crowd
In court made demonstrations of approval,
which the court Immediately suppressed.
Witness continued !: Hester then arrested
me on q United States warrant, having the
signature of the President of the United States
written thereon; Hester, after | remonstrated
with him, said, II will show you that
have commission to arrest you," and we
then proceeded to the room where there was
a light; he then showed me commission,
botn as detective and United States marshal,
but my name was not on the warrant; Corn
wall was present during this conversation;
we then went TO the police station, and all my
papers, pocketbo0k, money, &C., were taken
from me; was afterwards put into cell IN
the police station; was there for an hour or
Two when Cornwall and Hester came and
called me, and the superintendento OF police let
me out where Hester and Cornwall We're; the
former then asked me to 60 with him and Corn
wall to ON hotel, and gladly accepted the In
vtarion; we got room In tho hotel, With
three beds In it; told them If they had no OBJ
lection would 70 to bed, aud did 30. saw
no more OF Cornwall after that; was taken
to Yorivllle, South Carolina, by Hester, and
was not allowed TO come back to Canada;
was not taken before Commissioner Caron, at
Windsor, nor any other Canadian magistrate;
certainly was taken across the lines out OF
Canada against my will on that occasion oy
Cornwall.
Cross.examined: Cornwall did not read the
warrant to me until we were on Richmond
street. 1t purported to be warrant slgleo
by Mr.. Caron ut Windsor. The name on the
warrant Was James william Avery. told
him could give every satisfaction that was
not the person, and he said it was not for him
to discriminate. He also replied that at the
proper time there would be q person able TO
testify as TO witness Identity. | never saw
Avery either In London or Canada. When we
were riding down Richmond street, Cornwall
said to witness: II know yon are Avery, be.
cause saw you walking down the street with
your daughter the other day." The person
who was to identity me In. Windsor as Avery
knows both him and perfectly we'll. The
cabmau took hold of me- by the arms and held
me until Cornwall put the handouts on, but
did not after got up made no effort to get
out at Windsor. trom the fact that did not
know was in Windsor.
Mr.. Bratram then addressed the court IN a
long spseeh on behalf of his client, contendng
thai the case was not one OF kidnapping; that
Bratton went over to Detroit OF his own ac-
~ .ltnN toh0 q