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: 596   Enlarge and print image (50K)

 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
clear space clear space clear space white space


 

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: 596   Enlarge and print image (50K)

 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
570 THE miDERG&OOND SAIL ROAD. iation to the life and escape of the girl of sixteen, and was prepared to swear to her identify simply " by her fevor," as he termed it, he was found sadly deficient in memory touching the owner, whom be had known much longer, and more intimately than he had the girl, AS will be seen from the following facts in this witness' testimony : Illness.—" I don't know when Dr. P. died; I can't tell the year; I should suppose about fourteen years ago; I was at the funeral, and helped to make his coffin ; it was in the fall, I think; it was after the camp-meeting I spoke of; at that time I went regularly, bat not of late; I have no certain recollection of the year he died; I kept a record of the event of my conversion, and have referred to it often. It has been a reference every year, and perhaps a thousand times a year; it was in the Bible, and I was in the habit of looking into it; I was in the habit of turning over the leaves of this precious book ; I think it was eighteen years ago ; can't say I'm certain ; can't say it was more than twelve years, Dr. P. left six children ; two remain in our country, and one in Louisiana, and the one, who is here, making four; I have no interest in the fugitive; I made no contract in " regard to this case; there was an offer ; are you waiting for an answer ? the offer was this, that I was to come on after my fugitive, and if I did not get him they were to pay my expenses; I hesitated about coming; it was a long time before I made up my mind; they said they would pay my expenses if I didn't succeed in getting mine out of prison." In this way the above witness completely darkened counsel, and added to the weakness of his cause in a marked degree. THE OVEKSEER IS XOW EXAMINED. Zachariak Bowen recalled.—" I didn't come here on any terms ; I hardly understand what you mean by terms; I made no contract; I came upon my own hook; there was no contract; I have no expectations ; I don't know that Dr. P. ever manumitted any female slaves; I never knew that she was in the family way when she ran away; I heard of it about that time; she ran off in the fall of 1828. Dr. P. told me so; in the fall of 1828; in 1825, '26, '27, she lived with my brother; in 1825 I lived there; in 1827 and '28 I lived with Dr. P. I moved there and was overseer for him ; I was overseer for fifteen years for him; two years at his house; I ceased to be his overseer ia 1841,1 think; he was living in 1841; I am certain of that year, I thfck; Dr. Purnell died in 1844, I feel certain; 1 said to Mr. Pur-n^ll that I did not know what ailed the other Mr. Bowen, for the doctor died in Ifct4 ; he died in the latter part of the Spring of 1844; Mr. Bowen made a mistake m saying it was eighteen years ago, if you recall him he will rectify the mistake, I think ; several slaves escaped from Dr. Purnell; a boy, that lived with my brother, ran away in 1827 ; the others were not hired to my brother; I don't know that I could tell the exact time, nor the