Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First TimeFreese, Jacob R.
History
Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First Time
Freese, Jacob R.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865
Accordingly, after tea, instead of going back to his store he went
direct to Judge Freese's quarters and told him the whole story, just as
his wife had told it to him. The Judge listened attentively, and, when
Mr. H. had finished, said, in a very quiet but in a very determined way,
that the case should have his careful and prompt attention. The Judge
then told Mr. H. to please bring his wife around to headquarters next
morning, that she might make a formal affidavit to what she had seen
and heard, after receiving which he would direct the Provost-Mar-shal
to arrest Mr. H., and bring him and the two servants before the court at
its next sitting. Next morning early Mr. and Mrs. H. went to the general
headquarters. The Judge wrote down, as Mrs. H. detailed it, the story as
heretofore told, when Mrs. H. added her signature and made affidavit as
to its truthfulness. The Judge then sent for the Provost-Marshal, and
ordered him to arrest Mr. D. and bring him and the two servants, Mary
and Jane, before the court at ten o'clock.
The arrest of so prominent a citizen as Mr. D. spread through the city
like wildfire, and, when the court assembled, the court-room was crowded
in every part. After all the other prisoners present had been discharged
or sentenced, the case of Mr. H. was called. He arose, when his name was
called, and said he was there in obedience to the orders of the court,
but for what cause he knew not, except--if he had understood the marshal
aright--for punishing his own slaves, which, according to the laws of
Virginia, he certainly had the right to do. The Judge only replied that
he (Mr. D.) would probably understand his rights better after the case
had been tried, and then directed that the trial proceed. Mr. D. asked
if he could be represented by an attorney.
"Certainly," replied the Judge, "if the attorney will first take the
oath of allegiance to the United States Government."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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