The Cleveland Daily Herald

Cleveland, April 12, 1859

The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Case.

Seventh Day – Morning Session.

      Several witnesses were called on the part of the prosecution, to sustain the character of Bartholomew.

      N.A. Wood, sworn: - Has lived in Oberlin three of four years. Knows Bartholomew. Takes the reputation of Bartholomew in Oberlin to be good. Would believe him under oath.

      Mr. Butler came to witness at Wellington to get a horse and buggy to go to Elyria, for a writ of habeas corpus, to get John away; Butler said the papers were all right and they must get a writ of habeas corpus.

      Cross Examined: - Witness was the one who put up the ladder; he supposed there was to be shooting up in the room and witness wanted to see the fun, if there was any shooting to be done; don’t know when, where or by whom the warrant was read; did not hear it read.

      M.T. Gaston, sworn: - Lives in Oberlin; know Bartholomew, and have for 12 years; live near him; see him every day almost; have the means of knowing Bartholomew’s character for truth and veracity; it is as good as men’s in general; would believe him on oath as soon as men in general.

      W.B. Warden, sworn: - Lives at Oberlin; have for five or six years; know Bartholomew; know his general reputation for truth and veracity; his reputation for truth and veracity is as good as men’s in general; would believe him as readily as men in general.

      E.A. Munson, sworn: - Lives in Cleveland; have lived in Oberlin; lived there fore seven years previous to five years past; went to School with Bartholomew; father of witness is the Postmaster at Oberlin; knew Bartholomew very well when witness lived in Oberlin; Bartholomew when a boy was a little wild and since he has come to man’s estate his business transactions have been as good as men’s in general; think Bartholomew’s character for truth and veracity good as men’s in general; would believe him on oath; Bartholomew was accused of stealing when he was 14 years old; the matter was privately settled; he stole the money and it was paid back; have heard of his stealing something else.

      Cross Ex. – Don’t remember about Bartholomew stealing iron; never heard of his being under arrest for stealing; have heard the motto that a man who will steal will lie; it was 12 years ago that the stealing referred to took place; am sure it was not as late as ’57, for he was only a small boy when it occurred; the stealing was after we were to school together; never have heard his character for truth and veracity called in question at Oberlin; boys in general will lie.

      E.B. Dodge, sworn. – Lived in Oberlin; live in Cleveland now; lived in Oberlin two years ago; was brought up there; parents live there; was acquainted with Bartholomew; were boys together; Bartholomew’s character for truth and veracity was a s good as men’s in general; would believe him on oath.

      C.T. Marks, sworn. – Live at Oberlin; know Bartholomew; have seen him almost daily for two years; had means of knowing his general character for truth and veracity; never heard anything against it; would believe him on oath as readily as men in general.

      R.P. Mitchell recalled –

      [This witness was called to contradict the testimony of Dickson.]

      The conversation between witness and Dickson was about the Power of Attorney; Dickson spoke of the Power of Attorney not having a seal, and witness told him that Kentucky law did not require a seal; witness remarked to Dickson that it had the county seal on.

      Anderson Jennings recalled. Was present for the interview between Dickson and Mitchell; the talk relative to the want of the seal was as to the power of attorney, and remarked he was not very well acquainted with such documents, but thought it ought to have a seal; Mitchell said Kentucky law did not require it.

      B.L. Pierce, sworn. Know Bartholomew; said his character not as good as some men; witness would believe him on oath.

      H. Dodge, sworn. – Live at Oberlin; know Bartholomew from childhood; would believe Bartholomew on oath.

      W.E. Kellogg, Sworn. 0 Live at Oberlin; don’t think Bartholomew’s character for truth and veracity is quite as good as men’s in general; would believe him on oath.

      Geo. Dewey, sworn. – Live at Oberlin; know Bartholomew; his reputation for truth and veracity is as good as men’s in general; would believe him as about as men in general.

      C.F. Munson, sworn. – Live in Oberlin; know Bartholomew; never heard his reputation for truth and veracity questioned; would believe him on oath.

      John Dodge, sworn. – Know Bartholomew; his character for truth and veracity is as good as men’s in general; would believe him on oath.

      C. Wack, recalled. – Know Bartholomew as well as any man in Oberlin; know his character for truth and veracity to be as good as men’s in general; would believe him on oath.

      The prosecution here rested, and asked the Court to adjourn at [half past ten] o’clock until 2 o’clock, in order to give the prosecution time to arrange and digest the testimony.