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Chapter 22
WeascertainedthatbothBurchandRadburnwerestillresidinginthatcity. ImmediatelyacomplaintwasenteredwithapolicemagistrateofWashington,againstJamesH.Burch,forkidnappingandsellingmeintoslavery. HewasarresteduponawarrantissuedbyJusticeGoddard,andreturnedbeforeJusticeMansel,andheldtobailinthesumofthreethousanddollars. Whenfirstarrested,Burchwasmuchexcited,exhibitingtheutmostfearandalarm,andbeforereachingthejustice’sofficeonLouisianaAvenue,andbeforeknowingtheprecisenatureofthecomplaint,beggedthepolicetopermithimtoconsultBenjaminO.Shekels,aslavetraderofseventeenyears’standing,andhisformerpartner. Thelatterbecamehisbail.
Atteno’clock,the18thofJanuary,bothpartiesappearedbeforethemagistrate. SenatorChase,ofOhio,Hon.OrvilleClark,ofSandyHill,andMr.Northupactedascounselfortheprosecution,andJosephH.Bradleyforthedefence.
Gen.OrvilleClarkwascalledandswornasawitness,andtestifiedthathehadknownmefromchildhood,andthatIwasafreeman,aswasmyfatherbeforeme. Mr.Northupthentestifiedtothesame,andprovedthefactsconnectedwithhismissiontoAvoyelles.
EbenezerRadburnwasthenswornfortheprosecution,andtestifiedhewasforty-eightyearsold;thathewasaresidentofWashington,andhadknownBurchfourteenyears; thatin1841hewaskeeperofWilliams’slavepen;thatherememberedthefactofmyconfinementinthepenthatyear.