The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-15
THE FAMOUS FREEMAN CASE.
Story Of the Attempt to Steal and Convey
into Slavery a Free Colored Man.
An Exciting Local Incident of Thirty Years
Ago Retold in Graphic and Entertaining
Style-Jee Marshalis Eloauence.
indianapolis Letter in New York Tribune.

indianapolis Letter in New York Tribune.
Early in June. 1853, Pleasant f. Ellington, a
STAKEHOLDER of Western Missouri, came to this
city, and clsiined one John Freeman as his prop
erty. 1t was a conspiracy to steal and convey
into slavery free man. ThisState at that time
was largely Democratic, and being largely settled
by emigranrs from Kentucky Tennessee and
North Carolina. was deeply tainted with pro-
slavery feelings. But free-soil SCI timent had
sprung up among the people, and the leaven OF
liberty was fast leavening the whole lump. A
writ was issued, aud Freeman arrested, Filing
ton swearing positively that in him he recognized
a slave who escaped from him while living in
Greenup county, KY. Upon his affidavit Free
man was cast into Jail. The news soon spread
Freeman had lived here for years, and was high
ly respected as sober, honest and industrious
citizen So great was the excitement that bust
ness was almost wholly suspended.
John L. Robinson was at that time United
States marshal for this district, and rabid pro-
slavery man. He lent all the power of his Office
to further the scheme Of Ellington. Ellington
brought witnesses from Kentucky to identify
his property. The marshal took them to the
Jail and compelled Freeman to strip in their
presence On one of his legs was found scar.
They declared they could identify him by that
scar. Upon the testimony of these witnesses,
Ellington insisted Freeman should be at once
turned over to him. But Freeman's friends
rallied to his rescue BY his industry and econ
omy he mad been able to accumulate little
property in the city. To this Ellington laid
claim If Freeman was slave the property he
had earned by his labor belonged not to him,
but to his master. The case was set for hearing
before William Sullivan, United States commits,
sioner, fearless upright and honest official.
The friends of Freeman employed the law
firm Of Barbour, Ketcham Sc Coburn.
Judge Barbour, the senior member
of the firm, was man learned in the
law standing at the head of his profession in the
city. DIR. Ketcham, was scarcely less eminent.
Dir. Coburn was the youngest of the firm and
had only commenced the practice of his profes-
sion. Ellington was represented by Thomas
and Robert Walpole, and Jonathan A. Liston,
all acute and able practitioners. The attorneys
for Freeman demanded time to procure witnesses
to prove that he was free born. The attorneys
for the claimant vehemently demanded an i'm
mediate hearing. They would hear Of no delay,
but stood upon the rights of the master as So
cured by the fugitive slave act By this time
the excitement in the city was at fever heat and
a riot was imminent The friends of liberty
were open in their declarations that the man
should not be taken away until after fair trial.
Squire Sullivan, he was Familiarity called,
paid no heed TO the buster Of Ellington and his
attorneys, bat "put his foot down" and declared
that the prisoner should have the right
to be hoard through witnessed; that no
u L. Il
slavery without having chance to prove his
right to be free. He remanded the prisoner to
Jail and continued the case for seventy days.
And now occurred another outrage by Robinson,
the tool Of slavery Upon pretended fear that
Freeman might be rescued from Jail, he en-
ployed guard, and required the prisoner to bear
the cost of keeping this guard. His friends, be-
lieving there was danger that he would be spr-
| tied away secretly. by the very guards employed
| to watch him. and taken South, organized a
committee to prevent this by mounting guard
over the jail This was maintained for more
than six months,
Immediately upon the decision of Mr.. Su!li-
van, the search for testimony began. Mr..
Ketcham went to Georgia and in Macon county
found abundant testimony to establish that the
claim of Ellington was false. Freeman had been
born there, OF free parents, and lived there until
he had grown up. MIR. Ketcham brought back
with him three of the leading citizens of
the county, who promptly identified Free
man. The prosecution now asked for time,
and served notice of the taking Of dispositions in
Greenup county, Kentucky. Mr. Coburn was sent
to represent the defendant. AS the place could
only be reached by boats and they were very
irregular he started SO that he reached there
two or three days before the time appointed for
taking the testimony. He occupied his time
well, making friends with many of the old resi-.
dents who had known Ellington and his runaway
slave. Among others the landlord.of the
hotel. He took great interest in the case, and
when the personal appearance of Freeman was
described to him, he at once said he was not the
person Ellington claimed him TO be. He also
said that up to a recent period the real runaway
had lived in Ohio somewhere; that on a recent
visit to that State he had heard of him through
Methodist preacher named Adams. This was
an important bit of information. and Mr..
Coburn was not slow in Selling onto it. To find
the real runaway was TO make sure of his case
The landlord did not know where the preacher
was to be found, but knew that he had married
daughter living back in the mountains, and
offered to furnish horse and guide to the law
yer. After concluding the taking of the
dispositions. Mr. Coburn started over the
mountains, in search of the preach
er's daughter. He found her, and
gained the information that her father was
living at a place called jackson, in Ohio. Ger
tain now of final triumph, he hastily returned to
Indianapolis. secured another postponement of
the case, and started for jackson There were
few railroads in those days, and most of the
journey had to be made by boat and stage 1t
was long and tedious; the water was low in the
river, and the stage roads horribly bad. He
reached jackson, dilapidated and almost de-
serted village Years afterward General Coburn
spoke of it as the most fororn and lonesome
place he was ever IN. He found Adams, and
gained from him most important information.
He knew Ellington and the escaped slave. He
told how the slave escaped and lived for years in
Salem, O.; how Ellington had then found and
claimed him, causing his arrest and incarceration
in the county jail; how, by the help of friends,
he had a second time escaped. and about his
| fight to Canada. Mr.. Coburn went to Salem and
conversed with many who had taken part in the
rescue Among others be met John Butler with
| whom the slave had lived. This Butler was the
man who had raised Copic, the friend and con-
federate of John Brown, few years later, at
! Harper's Ferry. COpc was then living with
| Butler, and had participated in the rescue Mr.
Coburn was shown letter from the slave writ
| ten from his new home in Canada.
Armed with all these facts, he returned to
Indianapolis and announced that he knew where
\ the real Siav vxae IN no fOund IN