Discharge of Some of the Christiana Prisoners

    Source citation
    "Discharge of Some of the Christiana Prisoners," Charleston (SC) Mercury, January 8, 1852, p. 2.
    Original source
    Baltimore (MD) Sun
    Newspaper: Publication
    Charleston (SC) Mercury
    Newspaper: Headline
    Discharge of Some of the Christiana Prisoners
    Newspaper: Page(s)
    2
    Type
    Newspaper
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Zak Rosenberg
    Transcription date
    The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.

    DISCHARGE OF SOME OF THE CHRISTIANA PRISONERS-On Friday, nine of the colored prisoners, charged with treason against the United States, alledged to have grown out of the Christiana riot, were discharged from the custody of the keeper of the Lancaster county prison. They had previously been delivered by the United States District Attorney to the authorities of the above county, and, there being no evidence against them, they were liberated from confinement. One of them was immediately taken into custody again, on the charge of being a fugitive slave from Virginia. The claimant and the officer took him to a tavern at Penningtonville, where, during the night, the alleged fugitive, although handcuffed, effected his escape.

    Another statement is, that the alleged fugitive's name is Williams, and that on the arrest the citizens became much excited against officer Kline, who took him into custody. It is said a warrant was issued against Kline for perjury, which so frightened him that he hurried off with the claimant and the fugitive to Penningtonville, where they locked themselves up in a room. Here they all fell asleep except Williams, who embraced the opportunity to make his escape.-Baltimore Sun

    How to Cite This Page: "Discharge of Some of the Christiana Prisoners," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/1828.