ABSTRACT
About the year 1810, a slave, having left the service of his master, in Virginia, went to Philadelphia; where he remained but a few months, before his master became informed of the place of his residence, and sent a man in pursuit of him. This fellow had been in the city but a few hours when he arrested the slave and took him before Abraham Shoemaker. He was a fine-looking young man. I suppose, from his appearance, about thirty years old. The magistrate being desirous that the poor fellow should have justice done him, refused to hear the case until some person should be present to defend him; and I was sent for. Upon entering the office, the Alderman informed me that the individual arrested was claimed as the slave of a gentleman in Virginia, who had authorized the person making the arrest, by his power of Attorney, to apprehend his “fugitive from labor,” and convey him home to Virginia.
