At the first trial we did not know of his pursuits, and he passed merely as a police-man of Norfolk, Virginia. But, at the second trial, some one in the room gave me a hint of the occupations many of these police-men take to, which led to my cross-examination. _From the Examination of John Caphart, in the “Rescue Trials,” at Boston, in June and Nov., 1851, and October, 1852._ _Question._ Is it a part of your duty, as a police-man, to take up colored persons who are out after hours in the streets? _Answer._ Yes, sir. _Q._ What is done with them? _A._ We put them in the lock-up, and in the morning they are brought into court and ordered to be punished,—those that are to be punished. _Q._ What punishment do they get? _A._ Not exceeding thirty-nine lashes. _Q._ Who gives them these lashes? _A._ Any of the officers. I do, sometimes. _Q._ Are you paid _extra_ for this? How much? _A._ Fifty cents a head. It used to be sixty-two cents. Now it is fifty. Fifty cents for each one we arrest, and fifty more for each one we flog. _Q._ Are these persons you flog men and boys only, or are they women and girls also? _A._ Men, women, boys and girls, just as it happens. [The government interfered, and tried to prevent any further examination; and said, among other things, that he only performed his duty as police-officer under the law. After a discussion, Judge Curtis allowed it to proceed.] _Q._ Is your flogging confined to these cases? Do you not flog slaves at the request of their masters? _A._ Sometimes I do. Certainly, when I am called upon. _Q._ In these cases of private flogging, are the negroes sent to you? Have you a place for flogging? _A._ No. I go round, as I am sent for. _Q._ Is this part of your duty as an officer? _A._ No, sir. _Q._ In these cases of private flogging, do you inquire into the circumstances, to see what the fault has been, or if there is any? _A._ That’s none of my business. I do as I am requested. The master is responsible. _Q._ In these cases, too, I suppose you flog women and girls, as well as men. _A._ Women and men. _Q._ Mr. Caphart, how long have you been engaged in this business? _A._ Ever since 1836. _Q._ How many negroes do you suppose you have flogged, in all, women and children included? _A._ [Looking calmly round the room.] I don’t know how many niggers you have got here in Massachusetts, but I should think I had flogged as many as you’ve got in the state. [The same man testified that he was often employed to pursue fugitive slaves. His reply to the question was, “I never refuse a good job in that line.”] _Q._ Don’t they sometimes turn out bad jobs? _A._ Never, if I can help it. _Q._ Are they not sometimes discharged after you get them? _A._ Not often. I don’t know that they ever are, except those Portuguese the counsel read about.