The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-03-12
CASPER HANWAY.
THE ONLY MAN TRIED IN THIS
COUNTRY FOR HIGH TREASON
And His Crime was in Helping Slaves to
+ run Away and Protecting Them in Their
Efforts to Gain Their God-Given Rights
of Freedom, s--..r..

Only one OF e, eco 600 or more people IN tht.
country has ever BEEN tried tor high treason
against the United States government. Auron
Burr, dead. shares the distinction with him.
This man is Casper Hanway, Pennsylvania
Quaker, now living in WILDER, Saline Co., Neb.
lie is 66 years old. His trial for high trea>sn
occurred over thirty-fve years ago in the 'I*.,S
states court in Philadelphia. Thug A,w 81
nlOSt forgotten It was one Of the exciting ilc-
dents in the early days of anti-slaTe1y agitation.
The celebrated underground slave railroad" ls
yividly recalled by it, and the notorious blood
hound gang of slave traftickers also plays a
leading part in the story. In Mr.. Hanways trial
of the men of that TINE
leading counsel for the defense. :
| With him were associated Thomas Keller and
John Read. both eminent lawyers: Reed afterl
! ward became chief justice Of Pennsylvania.
| Judge Cooper, another distinguished Penusyl-
yanlan, led the prosecution, ana the case, which,
! lasted seventeen days, was heard before Judges
| Kane and Grier of the United States court III
IS fact Of particular interest that Of the many
| persons who took part in this remarkable tria3
ana in the stormy events preceding it, Mr. Han
way Is the only survivor Judge, jury, witnesses,
famous counsel, and even one of Mr.. Hanway's
quaker brethren, who was jointly indicted with
hun, but never tred-all have passed to higher
| court The story of the incidents surrounding
the case when related to the writer, during RI
cent Western trip, by the sole remaining actor
serious Import, possessed an interest peculiarly
| enchanted by Mr.. Hanway's genuine Quaker
uOOeSly VI manner
lie Is PLAIN man. He stands some inches over
six teet His form is spare IN proportion to his
nelgnt. Als face is calm and patient, and lie
! speaks deliberately and thoughttully in a low
mild -moduiated voice. Mr.. Hanwsy removed
from Pennsylvania to Nebraska in ISIS for his
health: Ills wife and huge Newfoundland dog
quietly. The nearest approach to excitement is
when MT Hanway relates his story, and that is
seldom. '..& ~ -
What Pennsylvania local history records q,
tne christian tragedy was the affair from which
me trlal grew: 1T happened on Sept. II. in Ian
s eSssTr eounty' WheTe Mr. Hanway was then
ois OF the most fervent of the many, fevent
quaker ~ abolitonists. He was the proprietor
| Many of the fugitive slaves were helped ON
toelr perilous pilgrimage 60 the canadian safety
nnG ~; by him He lad from one to half ",nzen
as many as eleven. but the utmost vigilance was
required 60 elude the bloodhound gang which
INFESTED TIE region The business Of this gang
was TO- k.dnap both fugitive and free negroes
| and spirit them across into Maryland where the
| save dealers maintained brisk market
Toward the fall Of 1851 the bloodhound gang
grew particularly bold and desperate Its raids
| were more numerous than eve: Seiore Ennis
| sarles from the desperate band If negro hunters
oterran Lancaster county and the adjonina
country. ane' opposition to them was extremely
Fer a, long time the bloodhound gang had
hated William Parker who lived near Mr.. Ham
! ways place. Parker was a negro and fugitive
4 ijesidese possessing great physical courage, h.
was intelligent and energetic, and all the acks
| Of the region had long recognized him as thei:
leader. He made no secret Of his hatred for thu
| slave hunters, and in more than one instance
\ he. had thWarted their designs. So great was hi !
4 personal prowessa and his popularity with tho
legroes that even the bloodhound gang did not
! care to attempt his capture by open violence.
lney at last determined to take him by strategy.
:: Edward Gorsuch, Parker's former master, liyei
! DOWN IN Maryland It was easy for the blood
| hound gang to enlist his assistance in the at
tempt to capture Parker over whose loss Cor
such had long been very sore. The gang also
obtained the appointment of Henry H. Kline, 4
| lew, worthless fellow, of Lancaster, as deputy
sons. with Kline and some of the bloodhound
! gang, started after Parker. They reached his
lust dawn on the the morning Of
! upon Parker to surrender in the nama OF the
| United States government. Parker answered
"open that door, you black hound, OF Well
! batter 1t in!'' yelled Kline II a United
voice; officers of the United States generally
talk like gentlemen, replied the sturdy negro.
Il will not open the door. ord give you fair
warning it will be the worse for :uu il you try
| to force it,"
At the same time Parke. hastily told ms wife
| to blow q tin horn from an upper window. This
| was signal for the rising OF the blacks. The
(usty blast sounded for half mile around
Kne and Gorsuh up heT
on Parker before they were surrounded. The
startled blacks were ready for desperate work.
|
| knives, some carried pitchforks and axes and
few had pistols and guns.
Mr.. Hanway' lived a mile from Parker's cabin
| He was at breakfast when the news of the dis
turbance reached him. It was brought by
brother Quaker named Elijah Lewis. Mounting
| his horse and leaving Lewis to follow on foot.
Mr.. Hanway set off for the scene on gallon As
he came painting up the negroes at Parkcr's
we're on the point Of charging the Gorsuch party
cabin, brandishlng their miscellaneous weapons
and yelling defiance at the kidnapers.
But for Hanway's timely arrival blood would
have flowed in q few minutes He was highly
| respected by all the negroes, and calling to
| them to stand their ground, he rode over to
parley with Kline and the Gorsuches. Kline was
| furious re sWore he would take Parker dead
or alive, If the whole country had to swim in
t ',ji. HanWay was still arguing with him vixen
hem both to assist him. They refused and
pointed out the folly of opposing the overwhclm-
ing Ing force Of Infatuated blacks. Kline would
10 era no argument Again he ordered them
IN the name of the United States to assist MIN.
AGAIN they refused. He raved and sworc he
would rave them both hanged 80
Our counsel we have given thee. II WOW,
emh1g o who're We esnnot 90. We viii not
meantime the negroes had once more become
uneasy: Ihey swayed about in the lane. ges-
te sx aso Wildly and N1uttering yioisa Han
way paciaed as we'll as he could second time
but IT was manifest that they were fast gettin:
beyond control. Then having again besouehi
t me murders to withdraw, he and Lewis left
nephew OF Gorsuch, against whom the negroes
seemed to be especially bitter. Price had echoed
| klines threat to carry off Parker at any cost
refused to 60 with Elm and the Quaner ae 0'ne''
! Scarcely had they got out Of sight when there
| was bloody riot Parker raised the cabin wiz
dow to urge the Gorsuchs and kliue to retire in
safety while they could, and the sight OF theU
leader set the negroes into frenzy. With !.
| rush and yell they swooped down en- the kid
| napers. The bloodhound gang contingent re-
enforced the Gorsuchs, and there was desperate
land to hand struggle. klire took to his heels
! stabbed. dubbed, and Utterly jumped on their
| enemies: they reared like mad bulls all :hn
| while Several shots were fired by the member.
! OF the bloodhound gang, but they all speedily
| followed k!iHes example. {}.s 81
Not so lncky were Edward Gorsucl and his
son. They were killed in melee rhe 1ataei
was hacked to pieces with cornknlves. ard
the son was run through the body with pitch
fork, besides getting two bullets in the Frsf
It was then that the old hero, J: r. GiddiEgs.
| said in Congress-: The blood of Gors tel, =.
| piratical Shareholder who fell at Chrstana. is
1navenged, notwithstanding the lavish eXptnci-
ture Of public money in an attempt to OBTAIN
conviction of those who righteously sl8ts h.it.
He promptly sent Mrs. Hanway to the scSra
4 with lint and bandages. She helped patch up
some Of the wounded negroes, but Dota tie
Gorsuchs had died before she arrived.
Kline had fastened to Lancaster ard IL
| formed against Hanway and Lewis The next
| day Hanway heard that every one near the scene
| Of the battle was being arrested. lie went AZ
once into town and gave himself up Bai was
| also was arrested. Sheriff Eoonsr, whose syEa-
pathies were with the abolitionists, never locked
| them in cells. He gave them the freedom Of the
Jail and permitted them to live in his own apart
until they were indicted for high treason by
the grand jury. Then they were Immediately