The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-02-25
do. Mo, claiming the negro as his oroperty

I
Office, where they deliberated long and
solemnly, and resolved that if all else failed
they would liberate Jim secretly If they
gould, but "Eenly II they must, using NJ
more force than was necessary, They hao
consulted the attorneys says the III.
" but, confound 'em, they were all afraid Of
the law, and advised US to be very eau
tious. Glover & Cook assured us that
they could win the case and get him free
legally. We didn't know then of the other
warrant, and neither did our lawyers. As
they could show that the black laws had
been declared Of no effect by the Supreme
court and Judge Cation was member OF
the bench and its chief justice, We felt, OF
the lawyers did, that we were all right, but
we wanted to be surC, because law Is
mighty uncertain; SO we resolved to be In
the court room ut the trial, and the moment
jim was declared free by the Judge, and
before they could get out other papers un-
der the fugitive slave law, our plan was to
have him flying on towards Canada. The
lawyers, however, consented that If they
failed to release jim, we might rescue him
if we could" DR.. Stout was appointed n
committee TO consult Jim, and notify him
of the plan for his rescue, but first to learn
whether he wanted to be free. The negro
had been left under guard all night by
Sheriff Albreight's posse in the third story
of the Geiger house, Of which John Spicer
was then the landlord, The DR.. found Jim
in Judge Cations private room, or
chambers in the court house, where jim
responded to the Drs inquiry as follows:
For Gods sake, Masser get me away ;
if they take me back they will kill me-"
Next morning Judge Cation held court
expressly TO try Jims case, and the court
room was densely packed, we were on
hand" says DIR. 8, "you may be sure.'
Glover g. Cook, and Leland and Gray, ap-
peared for jim, and Jones 81 Avery for
Sheriff Albright The Judge immediate
ly declared " | cannot hold this man,as we
have already passed upon the statute upon
which he seems to have been imprisoned,
and found IL TO be unconstitutional" sour
side shouted with JOY" the DR.. continues,
" but II was turned to another tune when
the sheriff said, taking hold of jim and
a paper; 4 now arrest you upon
a warrant of U. s. Commissioner Corneau,
as fugitive from labor" Judge Cation,
after examining the new warrant, said:
Well, If that is the case, hope there will
be no violence here. We are in law
abiding city, and we must obey the laws of
the land. Unjust remand the prisoner back
to the commissioners custody or some
thing like II, don't remember, for was
somewhat excited" says the doctor. 81 saw
our time had come for action. | went up,
pushed up to Jim, and taking him by one
arm, and Mr.. Hossack getting the other, we
started for the door, the crowd opening a
lane before US as we passed, and closing up
behind us, so that the officers could not fol.
low. We hustled to the door-were forced
along till we got out; some one pointed TO
a covered carriage outside of the fence, and
jim was told to get In, quick He made
two jumps, cleared the fence at another,
and was In and off like rocket Charles
g. Campbell drove the vehicle, a covered
carriage drawn by two spirited horses" He
took the colored man to Livingston county,
1t was reported, and thence he was sent on
his way rejoicing, Mrs. VIM. Strawn says
he was taken TO her house, southeast of
where Streator now stands, where he re.
manned over night, and went on next morn
ing, riding on a mule, to Pontiac, whence
he escaped to freedom.
OTHER ACCOUNTS OF IT.-JIM sToUT's
SPEECH.
The Republican, after eXpatating upon
the barbarity Of the negro being in chains"
&C., says Sheriff Albright and posse
stopped on the way to the court house and
went into place across the way and
Smiled" The hearing was had before
Judge Cation on Thursday, Oct Goth, 1859.
OF this the FREE TRADER says: "When
Judge Cation had remanded the negro back
to Commissioners Corneau, which was the
only thing he could lawfully do, he added
that he believed in law ard order, and as
this was law abiding community, he
hoped the law would not be set at def.
ance Thereupon, Jim Stout jumped upon
u chair and moved, That this meeting
resolve itself into committee to see the
law carried out which was adopted with
great cheers and yells of derision, and the
good old sheriff of Union CO. was too OBJ
fuse 10 see the sarcasm, 50 he lifted his hat
and thanked the audience for their patri-
otic and law.abidlng spirit meantime,
laying his hand upon the prisoner, but it
was quickly and forcibly removed by some
one, and he was then undecieved as to the
law-abiding intentions of the crowd. When
the negro had reached the outer door,
someone shouted: 'Darkey, II you want