ESCAPE OF SLAVES
January 29, 1855 - Cincinnati Commercial
Six slaves belonging to Mr. Levi DOUGHERTY, who lives on Fourth street, between Madison and Russell, Covington, KY, together with two belonging to Mr. GAGE, residing in the same neighborhood, made their escape from bondage on Sunday night. They crossed the river about 11:00 and are this are far on their way towards Canada. Their aggregate value to their owners was about eight thousand dollars.
ANOTHER ESCAPE OF SLAVES
February 2, 1856 - Cincinnati Commercial
February 7, 1856 - Ironton Register
Eight slaves made their escape from Kentucky night before last; among them was four more belonging to Mr. Archibald K. GAINES, of Boone Co., KY. a claimant in the fugitive slave case at present before US Commissioner Pendery. They are ere this beyond the reach of a capture.
A MEETING IN QUAKER BOTTOM
February 28, 1856 - Ironton Register
On Friday evening, February 22, 1856, a large meeting of citizens of
Union and Rome assembled at Proctorville, and organized by making Wes?
Reckard, Chairman, and Isaac Miller, Sec'y.
A.S. Proctor stated the object of the meeting to consider the condition
of the people of Kansas and our duties in relation thereto and to
express our sympathies in their behalf.
On motion of J. Kimball, A.S. Proctor was appointed a committee to
present Resolutions for the consideration of the meeting, who reported
a series of Resolutions, which after being discussed pro and con by
A.S. Proctor, J. Kimball. H.E. Adams, B. Smith, and C.M. Pease, and
after being variously amended, were adopted without a dissenting voice,
as follows:
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting.
That the repeal of the Missouri Slavery restriction was a wanton breach
of faith, and a great wrong done to the people of the Union, and
especially those of the Free States.
That the troubles, outrages and murders in Kansas are the legitimate fruits of a lawless spirit.
That the only method by which those trouble I Kansas may be healed, and
peace is restored to the country, is restoration of that restriction.
That our Representative in Congress should use his utmost endeavors, in
connection with the Republicans of the House, to secure this great
desideratum; also for the immediate admission of A.H. Reeder as a
Delegate from Kansas, if he be entitled thereto according to
constitutional law; and for the speedy admission of Kansas a Free State.
That we deeply sympathize with our Free State friend in Kansas in their
troubles; that if the President falls to afford them protection from
lawless invasion and outrage, it is the duty of the people of the Union
to furnish that protection; and that we will, individually, and
according to our several abilities, contribute to their aid.
On motion, Resolved, that the Resolutions and proceedings of this
meeting be forwarded to the county papers for publication. Adjourned.
Wm. Reckard, Chairman
Isaac Miller, Sec'y.
FUGITIVES
March 13, 1856 - Ironton Register
The Fugitives of the late Cincinnati slave cases, on being
delivered up to their KY Claimants, were immediately hurried off South,
except the mother who cut the throat of her child to save it from
slavery, was placed at the disposal of the Governor of KY, to be
delivered to the Ohio authorities should Gov. Chase make a requisition.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE AT CINCINNATI - PART ONE
February 28, 1856 - Ironton Register
On the 20th, inst., in response to the copies issued for the arrest of
Margaret Garner, Simon Garner, Sen. Simon
Garner, Jr., and Mary Garner, charged with murder of the child of
Margaret Garner, one of the defendants, the Sheriff returned that he
found the defendants in jail where they were put by a US Deputy
Marshal, who holds them by virtue of a writ issued by a US
Commissioner, J.L. Pendery, (awaiting Pendery's degree) and that he did
not "feel authorized under this writ to take hem into custody." The
State's Attorney asked that the Sheriff be ordered to amend his return
SAYING THAT HE HOLDS THE DEFENDANTS IN CUSTODY UNDER THE
COPIAS. The Court Judge Carter said that they did not recognize
the paper put in by the Sheriff as any return at all; that the
responsibility was on the Sheriff to perform his duties according to
law.
The Sheriff subsequently made a return on the back of the writ that he
had the defendants in his custody.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE AT CINCINNATI - PART TWO
March 6, 1856 - Ironton Register
This remarkable case came to a conclusion on Thursday afternoon of
last week, Judge Lesvitt, of the US District Court, in the application
for habeas corpus by the US Marshall
to gain custody of the slaves from the Sheriff, deciding in favor of
the application Commissioner Pendery had previously given his decree
remanding them back into Slavery. About 4:00, P.M., the slaves were
taken from the county jail, and conveyed to Kentucky, escorted by a
strong posse of officers.
The slaves were lodged in the Covington jail, and the owners, counsel,
and others, proceeded to the principal hotel in Covington to hold a
-----. Speeches were made, and --- Webb, of the Cincinnati Gazette, was
present as a reporter, and while taking his --- heard himself called
"abolitionist reporter," but apprehending no trouble, when returning to
Cincinnati, he was brutally assaulted by a crown in the streets of
Covington, knocked down, kicked and seriously hurt. The US Marshals
with their arms, rescued him from the mod-with considerable difficulty,
and thus probably ended? His life. It was a cowardly and brutal affair.
RUMORED NEGRO STAMPEDE
Cincinnati Commercial
January 1, 1857 - Ironton Register
The Kentucky Whig of December 23, 1857 printed at Mt. Sterling, Montgomery Co., KY, says:
We understand from the Sheriff of Bath co., that the Negroes from the
Iron works have made extensive preparations for an insurrection, and
they intend to steal some seventy horses and start for the Ohio
River.
They say that they do not intend to hurt any one, but if they are
prevented, will fight to the point of the bayonet. They are all armed
with guns and pistols.
The Judge of Bath county has appointed two hundred and eighty patrols
to protect the people.
This is an extraordinary story, and full of improbabilities, but is a
fair specimen of the exaggerated rumors that are shocking the nerves of
persons South of the Ohio
River.
ANOTHER FUGITIVE SLAVE REMANDED TO BONDAGE
November 14, 1859 - Cincinnati Commercial
November 17, 1859 - Ironton Register
Deputy US Marshal, W.L. Manson, arrived from Cleveland yesterday
morning with Henry Seaton, a fugitive slave whom he arrested in
Cleveland on Tuesday.
US Commissioner Brown examined his master, John Seaton, L.D. Ross, and
J.M. Robb, all of Greensupburg, Greenup co., KY. who testified
positively that the prisoner escaped from John Seaton, at Greenupsburg,
on the 4th of July last, and the fugitive confessing the fact, he was
remanded to the custody of his master and lodged in the Covington
jail.
Henry is twenty three years old, six feet high and very muscular -
worth according to the nigger trading price current, over $1,500. It
begins to appear that Ohio is an unsafe asylum for fugitives.
TRIBULATIONS OF A NEGRO CATCHER
November 24, 1859 - Ironton Register
The slave Henry Seaton of our neighboring county of Greenup, who was
recovered from his "fugitive" freedom at Cleveland, week before last,
by a US Marshal from Cincinnati, it appears was decoyed on board the
café at Cleveland, by one Hartman, of that city. Hartman went with him
as far as Columbus, and perhaps Cincinnati.
On his return to Cleveland, he was arrested for kidnapping, and lodged
in jail, but the Grand Jury refused to indict him. Let the Cleveland
Review tell the rest:
"Mr. John Bennett, a special deputy, went in the jail to notify him of
the action of the Grand Jury, and to have him released from
custody.
On making his appearance into fresh air, Hartman found himself
surrounded by a large crown of angry colored men, who made such
demonstration of violence that he sought the protection of Officer
Bennett, and both in great haste made their way to the Court House,
where Hartman so frightened for his life that he trembled like a leaf,
threw himself for protection upon Sheriff Wrightman.
The latter asked the Court-Judge Bishop- what he should do, and was
answered that he was bound to render the protection asked.
Either device or force, or both seemed certainly necessary to be used
to get Hartman to the jail safely, and the following was the plan
devised and carried out:
Deputies Bennett and Hight were stationed at the door to keep the
Negroes from going out, while Sheriff Wightman and marshal Craw hurried
Hartman down to jail.
Hartman is now in jail and will remain there till he thinks it safe to
come out. We hear it said that a near and dear friend of his is to take
him from the jail this afternoon, in a carriage, and put him on board a
railroad train."
FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE
December 16, 1860 - Ironton Register
On Tuesday of last week, Deputy US Marshal Readarnour, of Ironton,
arrested a young man and woman, brother and sister fugitive slaves from
Floyd Co, KY.
The fugitives were under the guidance of Jim Ditcher, a free mulatto,
who has lived about Ironton for several years, and as they were about
to get aboard of the cars a Washington Switch, on the Scioto and
Hocking Valley Railroad.
Readarnour, who was on board with the owner of the fugitives, laid
hands on them, and took them back to Kentucky. Jim Ditcher made good
his escape at "2:40?? Time" and has not since been heard of hereabouts.
The mother of these fugitives left with them and remains in this
county, the owner not choosing to take her back, on account of her
advanced years.
The reclaimed fugitives are cousins of the famous Polly Negroes, who
right to freedom has been in litigation now for some ten years, between
Ohio and Virginia.