Record Data
Transcription
INTERESTING CASE. In Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, last week, was tried the case of Catharine Oliver, and others of the State of Maryland, against Daniel Kauffman, of Cumberland county, for aiding the escape and harboring 13 slaves, claimed as the property of the plaintiffs.
A great number of witnesses were produced by the plaintiffs’ counsel, who proved that the slaves were brought, on the evening of the 24th of Oct., 1847, to the barn of Kauffman, and after remaining there a part of the night, were taken in his wagon across the Susquehanna River. Several witnesses were called, who were immediate neighbors of Kauffman, and obstinately refused to answer any questions or inquiries proposed by the Court of counsel. Being apparently determined to keep silent, they were given into the custody of the sheriff and conveyed to jail. But after remaining there a short time, they concluded it was better to come forward and give evidence. The defendant’s counsel took the ground that a case of this kind did not come under the jurisdiction of that court.
The jury retired, and after being out some eighteen hours, returned a verdict of $2000 damages for the plaintiffs. - Phila. Ledger.