Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 396   Enlarge and print image (49K)

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Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 396   Enlarge and print image (49K)

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372 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL SO AD. was being arranged. The reporters were not admitted. It was only known that Watson Freeman, Esq., who once declared his readiness to hang any number of negroes remarkably cheap, came in, saying that the arrest was a shame, all a humbug, the trick of the damned abolitionists, and proclaimed his readiness to stand bail. John H. Pearson was also sent for, and came— the same John H. Pearson, merchant and Southern packet agent, who immortalized himself by sending back, ou the 10th of September, 1846, in the bark Niagara, a poor fugitive slave, who came secreted in the brig Ottoman, from New Orleans—being himself judge, jury and executioner, to oonsign a fellow-being to a life of bondage—in obedience to the law of a slave State, and in violation of the Jaw of his own. This same John H. Pearson, not contented with his previous infamy, was on hand. There is a story that the »lave-hnnters have been his table-guests also, and whether he bailed them or not, we don't know. What we know is, that soon after Pearson came out from the back room, where he and Knight and the Sheriff had been closeted, the Sheriff said that Knight was bailed—he would not say by whom. Knight being looked after, was not to be found. He had slipped out through a back door, and thus cheated the crowd of the pleasure of greeting him—possibly with that rough and ready affection which Barclay's brewers bestowed upon Haynau. The escape was very fortunate even' way. Hughes and Knight have since been twice arrested and put under bonds of $10,000 (making $.30,000 in all), charged with a coospiracy to kidnap and abduct William Craft, a peaceable citizen of Massachusetts, etc. Bail was entered by Hamilton Willia, of Willis & Co., 25 State street, and Patrick Riley, U. S. Deputy Marshal. The following (says the Chromotype), is a verbatim et liieratim copy of the letter sent by Knight to Craft, to entice him to the U. S. Hotel, iii order to kidnap him. It shows, that the school-master owes Knight more " service and labor " than it is possible for Craft to: BOSTON, Oct. 22,1850,11 Oclk P. M. \Vm. Craft—Sir—I have to leave so Eirley in the moring that I cold not call according to promis, so if you want me to carry a letter home with me, you must bring it to the United States Hotel to morrow and leave it in box 44, or come your self to morro eaven-ing after tea and bring it. Jet me no if you come your self by sending a note to box 44 U. S. Hotel so that I may know whether to wato after tea or not by the Bearer. If your wife wants to see me you cold bring her with you if you come your self. JOHN KNIOHT. P. S. I shatt leave for home eirley a Thursday moring. J. K. At a meeting of colored people, held in Bclknap Street Church, on Friday-evening, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : Retained, That God willed us free; man willed us slaves. We will as God wills; God's will be done. JRegolved, That our oil repeated determination to resist oppression is the