Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-01
Mistellaneuns &eading.
THE ABDUCTION OF DR.. BRATT0N.
FULL REPORT OF THE TRIAL.

18th, gives the subjoined detailed report OF the
proceedings in the trial of l. B. Cornwall, on
the charge of the forcible abduction from Can
ada, on the 18th Of June last, of DR.. J. Rufus
Bratton, of Yorkville, S. c.:
The charge of forcible abduction against j.
B. Cornwall was yesterday at noon brought
up for further hearing before His Honor Judge
Elliot. Mr.. Barker appeared for the prose-
cutor, DR.. Bratton; and Mr.. Bartram for the
accused.
The cabman Bates was first called, and tes-
tilted as to having been engaged by Cornwall
on the fourth of June last, and recounted the
circumstances Of the arrest on that day. On
being asked he denied having given any as
sistance to Cornwall in the matter, beyond
performing his duties as driver.
DR.. James Rufus Bratton was next called,
and deposed that on the afternoon in question
he was walking out on Waterloo street. He
saw 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
towards Mr.. Evans kiln, the other coming
towards him ; the latter he recognizes as Corn
wall. When within about six feet of him
Cornwall sprang toward him and seized him
in rude and violent manner by the arm and
shoulder, telling him he arrested him under a
warrant. He (Bratton) demanded to hear
the warrant read, and desired his assailant to
show cause why ne 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-.
sued, in the course of which both of them fell
to the ground. Cornwall knelt on his body
and arms, and proceeded to put manacles on
him. He called the cabman to help him.
Here Mr.. Barker asked him if he knew
who the cabman was if he could identify him
in the Court room. Witness, after closely
scanning those in the room, and especially q
number of people seated OH bench inside the
railing, among whom was Bates, failed to
identify the man, saying "his acquaintance
with him had been too short"
Witness proceeded-As soon as he heard
Cornwall call to the cabman, he called out to
him that he (the cabman) should rather as
sist him (Bratton) for Cornwall did not know
who he was arresting. After some further
struggling, the cabman came to Cornwall's
assistance, and held witness arm; the hand
cuffs 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
left, 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 his boarding house on
Wellington Street, MI. Hills, to get some Of
his clothes, but this was refused. While on
the way, witness repeatedly protested against
the degradation of the irons upon his person
and demanded 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 hand
cuffs upon him. Witness returned that he did
not fear to be taken before any Magistrate OF
Commissioner for examination, but objected
to the humiliation of the irons Upon again
demanding to hear the warrant read, still
protesting against the arrest, and telling Corn.
wall that it was not law, but force and vic.
lence, Cornwall read warrant in his hear.
ing. He (witness) then said the warrant did
not embrace his name; did not call for him,
and afforded no legal pretence whatever for
his arrest. Cornwall then said that it was
not his province to discriminate between per.
sons he (Bratton) would have to go to Wind.
sor, where he would have chance to vindi.
cate himself before Mr.. Commissioner Caron,
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 place Of
10000 inhabitants there should be some au-
thority competent to deal with him. He was
told that Mr.. Caron was the only Commits.
sioner for this district, and that he should
have to 20 before him. He could also get
good legal advice in Windsor. When the
cab arrived at the station it stopped, and the
driver said the train (Paci6c Express) was
late. They then drove up and down one Of
the back streets until the train arrived. Then
the cab was stopped, and the driver came to
the door and asked Cornwall for his money.
Cornwall said, "You know me; I shall be
back in the morning then I shall pay you. "
After that he produced $40 bill, and asked
him if he had change. The cabman got
change, and some So or 81 was paid him.
Cornwall then took witness to the Pullman
car, and thrust him in the anterior part Of it,
into small apartment with one or two seats.
the conductor provided them with
a better apartment. I remember no one get
ting into this apartment except the porter on
the train; Cornwall said we ought to get to
Windsor by 10 o'clock; no one except the
porter came into the compartment until we
arrived at Detroit Cornwall and the porter
conversed together in the car, and after they
had done, the porter locked the door; neither
Cornwall or had tickets, and saw no mon
ey paid for our railway fares I spoke to him
of the various lawyers in Windsor, and he
mentioned the names of O'Connor and Prince
as two very able men had no other CONVEX
sation with Cornwall, except as to the lawyers,
until we arrived in Detroit; I did not hear
Windsor announced from the train either by
the conductor or porter when the conductor
called Detroit, he could not get in, and Corn
wall opened the door for him so soon as the
door was open, Hester, the detective stepped i'll
and said "You 60 with me now;" witness here
described Hester's appearance, which cores
ponded with the description of previous testi-
mony I saw Hester before the day was ar
rested, once at the Corpus Christi festival at
Mount Hope, and also on the G. w. R. station
platform before we started; the same man was
on the field at the time was arrested l replied
to Hester when he said he wished me to 60 with
him, mo, I'm under Canadian law, now ;
that warrant does not allow you to detain me
here, and I, under protest, refuse to obey you !;
neither your government, or you, sir, have
right to detain me here, and if you do, you
will pay for it."
Atthe conclusion of this sentence, the crowd
in Court made demonstrations Of approval,
which the Court Immediately suppressed.