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The Shaw Kidnapping Case.As had been announced, the Shaw case, which has betn the subject of so many newspaper items, was taken up in the Court of Quarter Sessions on Wednesday morning, before a lull bench. We have already given our readers all the faots in this case, *• far as developed, and shall only publish such new matter as may come out during the trial.At ten o’clock, the prisoner, Georgo Shaw, who haa been in prison some time, was brought into oourt. A jury was empanneiled with some difficulty, and tho ok-iuninatiou of witnesses commenced.Mrs. Msry Ann Ferrir, wife of Georgo W. Ferris, tho slave alleged to have been abducted, testified to having been uiarried^to Ferris nearly six years ago. She haa not seen him5for ono year, whoa he sorted for Sh Louis, trom Albany.James Ligman, councilman, knew Ferris and Shaw. In September or October, 1856, had a conversation with the latter, in which he wished witness to take Ferris to Virginia, under pretence of giving him a job. On reaching that State, Shaw would have him arrested ; said he would pay all expenses. Shaw told him he had known Ferris a3 a slave in Memphis.J. R. Neasler, a Justice of the Peace in Mahoning county, Ohio, sat in the same coat with Shaw in a railroad cwr, coming to this city. Had a conversation with him, when he said ho had just returned from the South, where ho had done a good job ; ho Lad got five hundred dollars, his expenses paid, and a dollar and a quarter a day for taking Ferris back ; the raward had b«n out for him a long time. He sxld no ona in Pittsburgh know Ferri3 was a slave but himcli. Ferris found out he wanted to take him back andTleft tho oily. Shaw said he followed and caught him.John Rodgers, who bud employed Shaw, related a conversation with Shaw, in which be saw a letter, containing an offer ior the returning uf a fugitive slave, net named. The letter stated that tho fugitive was o, gootTfurnaeo builder and frequently took jobs in the slave State.?, and instructed Shaw to watch him until ho got Id to a glavo State, end then arrest him. Witness did not recolieot tho exact amount ■ offered fcr tho slave; thick* it was several hundred (dollars, ,Catharine Smitn. who live* near Rogers new house on Fifth street, saw Shaw with a letter, and asked her if she knew Ferris, or where he was working; also, whether he wfes a colored man. Ho said that tho letter would prove Ferria to be a slave, and that it offered him a certain sum to look after Ferris. Told her if ah3 would get Ferria to eleep in her house, skesnould have a reward of fifty dollars ; Feme cools'get chloroform there. She refused to take any part :n tho affair.John ^-Kennedy eald Shaw sent for him when this suit was Lnsti;uted, having worked for him on the Chronicle building. Ho said that he had received a letter from George Raglan concerning Ferris, proposing to give him uve hundred dollars to get a man named Julian to a?j4st in returning Ferris. Shaw described the arrest cf Farris; said he made no re* eistance. They took him to Tuscumbis, Alabama, where he was joyously received, Raglan treating him very kindly. Shaw ..omitted having received the money. Said he knew Ferris in Alabama, and though* it his duty,to assist Raglan in EecuriDg his property. Tjcv took Ferris at Brunswick.John Brennan swore teat IS jaw wished him:to try and induoe Ferris to go into Virginia, telling him be might offer him any wages, however high, bo he got him th6re.Alfred Keesil had a conversation; with Shaw last July; he said they could provo he took Ferris away. He learned Ferris was a slave from a description in Unela Tom’s Cabin.Hera the testimony fur tho prosecution closed, and Mr.; Swartzweldcr, as counsel for the defi ds8, opened tho'esse on his side. John M. Kirkpatrick, Esq., is private counsel for the prosecution.Samuel Meeks testified that in August, 1S57, Ferris went with one Philip Harlan to 8t. Louis, witness having written to Harlan that ho thought wagea were higher there. Ferris worked for a time in St. Louis, then went to Hannibal, Missouri, with witness; stayed a effort time, and then returned to St. Louis; witness remained at Hannibal.Court adjourned tiTT nine o’clock this morning.
Newspaper Details
Pittsburgh Morning Post
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Thu, Oct 14, 1858
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
OH, USA 06 Jun 2024
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