The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-05

were lost to their friends. The.mother hav-
ing spent a greater part of the night wan
dering through the fields Of the neignbor-
hood. accidentally met a searching party
of her friends. related the story Of Clark's
duplicity, described the building where the
children were hidden, and, with them, was
happily and safely concealed among the
ravines east of Clarksburg to await the
coming OF another night. But much time
had now been lost and slave-catchers were
so searchingly securing the country. and,
above all the owner of the fugitives, Mr..
George Ray, appearing in Clarksburg offer
ing large rewards, the conditions seemed to
demand heroic measures. The contestants,
each having gained transient victory, only
to be baffled, redoubled their energies for
a decisive move The Donnells and Hamil-
tons called on the members OF their re-
spective families for help, and the unani-
nous decision was reached that, cost what
it might, the mother and her children
should be passed to Canada. The mother
was disguised in mems clothing, placed
astride a horse between two stalwart coll
ored men, and rode through the village on
her journey to the next station of the un-
foreground railroad, which was located at
the home of Mr.. William Beard, a friend
of humanity, a Quaker of decided princi-
pies, a man of irreproachable character
and one of the most prominent citizens of
Union county. The two youngest children
We're carried around the village and met by
the mother and her escort. The two older
were given in charge of a trusty colored
man and his wife, who had recently moved
from Union county to this colored settle
ment. Having children of their own, they
started with these two older children on a
visit to Union county. That a mix-up of
children had occurred was not suspected.
A LONG DRIVE.
The mother and two youngest children,
having now reached the home of Mr.. Dom
nell, were secreted until the following night,
when they were furnished with warm cloth
ing, the mother heavily yelled, all snugly
tucked in a close carriage, provided with
an escort consisting of Luther A Donnell,
William NJ. Hamilton, John r. Donnell,
Lowery Donnell, Robert Stout and Nathan
lei Thompson, began a race with the sun
for the home of Mr.. Beard, a midnight
journey of fifty miles. They reached their
destination with jaded horses and carriage
springs broken, received a royal welcome
from Mr.. Beard who eagerly placed the
older children in the arms of their mother
and as eagerly made prompt arrangements
for the safe passage Of the fugitives to free
dom. Soon all anxiety as to their safety
was at an end, for Mr.. DOnnell received a
letter bearing a postmark of Canada, thank
ing him for the noble part he had per-
formed, full of gratitude for all concerned, |
voicing the spirit of the free in every word
end signed Caroline
Bafled, but not discouraged, Mr.. Ray and
his sympathizers secured the indictment by
a grand jury in Decatur county of Luther |
A. Donnell for aiding and abetting fugi- |
tives from labor" Hon. George H. Dunn |
was the presiding judge, Hons. John Hop |
kins and Samuel Ellis associate justices. |
In slavery days and while the fugitive slave |
law was in force a. coored man was de-
barred from giving testimony in case |
wherein a white interested. Mr.. |
DonneIls witnesses were thus debarred. |
Neither could white man testify in his !
own behalf Mr. Donnell was pronounced !
by jury to be guilty. He appealed the
case to the Supreme Court of Indiana who |
handed down the following opinion:
''Donnell vs. the State. Perkins, judge |
Error to the Decatur Circuit Court.
This was indictment against Luther |
A. Donnell, containing two COUNTS one
charging him with inducing the escape of, |
and the other with secreting a certain !
woman of color called Caroline, then being |
Ray, of Kentucky. The defendant was con- !
victed. The section of the statute of our |
State upon which the indictment was
grounded, according to the decision of |
Prigg VS.. Pennsylvania is unconstitutional /
and void. The conviction on it was there
fore erroneous. "-(Porters Indiana Reports, |
Vol g. Z. 4S0.)
Mr. Ray now brought suit in the United |
States court at Indianapolis to recover from
Mr. DonneH the money value of his slaves. |
He obtained judgment for $1,5O0 and the |
costs of the suit, aggregating $1,000. This |
sum was promptly paid, and Mr.. Donnell |
became the immediate recipient of money |
from the anti-slavery men throughout In |
diana and Ohio, receiving a sum equal to |
or exceeding his entire expenses, including !
judgment and costs
Thus terminated case widespread in its |
moral effects, being the last effort to catch
a fugitive slave in Decatur county and driv-
ing the inhabitants of many parts Of the |
State to declare themselves in favor of or |
opposed to the underground railroad and |
the fugitive slave law.
CHARLES II POWNER