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The Runaway Slave in Brooklyn, N.Y.
By the telegraph wires we are see it stated that on 21 inst., there was considerable excitement in Brooklyn, respecting an attempt to capture a runaway slave for the purpose of returning him to Savanna. A writ of habeas corpus was issued returnable today: but, in the meantime, the negro was spirited away on the underground railroad.
The above refers to Jim Steele, a bright mulatto boy of Mr. Wm. Greer, in Charleston, S.C.
The boy came to Savannah a short time since, where he passed as a white man, and as such took [illegilbe] passage in the steamer Florida, to New York, on the 25th Nov. Before the Florida reached New York, the alarm was spread of his being gone off somewhere by his owner.
Our city Sheriff, Edward M. Prenolegast, soon discovered his track, and immediately telegraphed to New York to S. I. Mitchet, of the steamship line, to search for the runaway. This was done as the steamer came up the bay, but Jim stuck out that he was all white and wasn't the person needed at all. Certain marks on him having been beaten, however, and from acknowledging that he was a Philadelphia mulatto to a passenger, he was placed in custody of the regular New York officers.
Captain Crowell and others of the steamship company, as well as the proprietor of the line, Mr. Mitche, spared no pains to secure and bring back the runaway, and doubtless it was entirely owning to the influence of the unnamed "distinguished philanthropist" below upon the four policemen, that the fellow got off.
The New York Times of Wednesday says:
"His presence on board was not discovered until the steamer was near New York, and upon arriving at this port he was seized by four policemen at the request of the Captain, and conveyed to the house of a man named McNulty, in Pikemen street, Brooklyn, where he was kept confined until yesterday, and was to have been sent by the steamer upon the return trip. A distinguished philanthropist obtained the particulars of the case yesterday, and last evening an application was made to Judge Culver for a writ of habeas corpus. This was duly issued and immediately placed in the hands of Constable Oliver for execution. During the evening the officer claimed possession of the fugitive and conveyed him safely before Judge Culver, and made return of the writ. Nothing appearing to the contrary, the fugitive was discharged. This morning he was placed on the Underground Railroad and is now on his way to Canada. This morning a warrant was issued by Judge Culver for the arrest of Mr. Nulty on a charge of false imprisonment, and before this his arrest has probably been collected."
Jim, while in Savannah, put up as a free and easy gentleman at a first class hotel, swore at the "lazy niggers" that would not wait on him. spent his money like a lord and dressed in the last mode de Paris, and always chose the highest folks to converse with. He was valued at $1,000, and has a wife in the North. He used to be engaged in a Coffee House in Charleston - Savannah Georgian