CHAPTER XXIII.
MY CROOKED TELESCOPE.
In the autumn of 1847, Dr.Robert Mitchell, of Indiana, Pa., was tried in Pittsburg, in the United States Court, before Judge Grier, for the crime of harboring fugitive slaves.

In an old cabin ten miles from Indiana, on one of the doctor's farms, some colored men had taken refuge and worked as harvest hands in the neighborhood.

To it came the sheriff at midnight with a posse, and after as desperate a resistance as unarmed men could make, two were captured.

On one of these was found a note: "Kill a sheep and give Jerry the half.
ROB'T MITCHELL." The name of the man who had the note was Jerry.

It was addressed to a farmer who kept sheep for the doctor, so it was conclusive evidence of the act charged, and the only defense possible was want of knowledge.
There was no proof that Dr.Mitchell knew Jerry to be a slave, none, surely, that he knew him to be the property of plaintiff, who was bound to give notice of ownership before he could be entitled to damages from defendant.
This defense Judge Grier overruled, by deciding that no notice was required, the law presumed a guilty knowledge on the part of defendant.
Under this ruling Dr.Mitchell was fined $5,000 and the costs, which were $5,000 additional.