PDF (20 MB) - Virtual Library of the Public Library of Cincinnati

380 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Pleas Court« of Huron County. At the next term, when this case was
called at Norwalk, Mr. Beecher appeared as counsel for Ritchie, and
after the defendant had pleaded not guilty, Mr. Beecher asked him in a
voice loud enough to be heard over the courtroom (the court and laAvyeTs
knowing he had a barber shop in Sandusky), "What his business Avas
there; whether.he had come over to shave the eourt?" Ritchie replied
that be did not have bis kit with him, and Mr. Beecher, sotto voce,
then told him, "To go and get it." Soon after, when the prosecution
was ready to go with the case, Ritchie was not in court and this Avas the
last of the prosecution. It was not supposed that anyone was anxious
to convict him, now that the slave-masters Avere not there. Ritchie
removed to Canada in 1834, and afterwards returned to Sandusky in
1841, visiting Rev. Thomas Boston, to Avhom he expressed his great
surprise at learning that Mr. Parish had become an abolitionist. He
said that when he left Sandusky Mr. Parish Avas as bitter an enemy as
the fugitive slaves had. Mr. Boston could hardly believe this, and called
on Mr. Parish to learn the facts. Mr. Parish said to him, "Y"es, Avhat
Ritchie says is true. I did prosecute them, but the Lord opened my eyes,
and I intend to make tip for those acts." And he did.
Benjamin Johnson came over the road about the time Ritchie left.
He Avas soon after arrested under the claim of his owner and brought
before John Wheeler, esq., in Portland Township (Sandusky) F. I).
Parish appearing for the claimant, and L. S. Beecher for Johnson. It
Avas claimed by Mr. Parish that Johnson Avas a fugitive slave and owned
by claimant. Mr. Beecher admitted that the man Avas a fugitive slave,
but that he Avas not the property of claimant. Mr. Beecher told his
counsel that he had never seen the claimant before. The testimony of
the claimant himself disclosed the fact that after Johnson's escape he had
met Johnson's former owner in this state, and that Avhile in Ohio he
purchased of him the fugitive; that the bill of sale was drafted, dated
and executed in Ohio. On these facts Mr. Beecher claimed Johnson
could not be held. Ohio Avas a free state, and a transfer and sale of slave
property could not be legally made within its domain. 'Squire Wheeler
sustained this position and Johnson Avas discharged. He died several
years afterwards in Sandusky. For years after securing the discharge
of Johnson, Mr. Beecher Avould speak of him as "his nigger," because
he had cleared him in the above manner. This was probably the only
attempt made to sell a slave in Ohio. Who that has known F. D. Parish
since 1835 could belicA'e that he ever, even professionally, was engaged
in the attempt to reclaim fugitive slaves, or that he Avas other than an
abolitionist? Yet such Avas the fact, and up to the year 1835 Mr. Parish
was not an abolitionist, but a member of the colonization society. After
this time he became as zealous in the cause as William Lloyd Garrison,
and, like Paul after his conversion, "abounded in good Avorks" and was
faithful to the end.
In 1838 one Davis came to Sandusky by underground. Afterwards
he removed to Cleveland, where he died, having accumulated quite a
property. Another of the early runaways from Kentucky was William