Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1858 — A Romantic Reality-A White Woman Escapes From Slavery! [ARTICLE]

A Romantic Reality-A White Woman Escapes From Slavery!

Wc copy the following interesting case from the Alaysville (Ky.) Eagle of Thursday* afternoon: ' “One of the most remarkable aid intensely interesting cases ever brought bofore a court of justice, waA tried and disposed of in our Circuit Court last week. The plaintiff’, Ann Goddard, was a handsome young white woman, about twenty years of age—perfectly white, with- long, luxuriant and straight hair, graceful and easy in manners, and having all the appearances of a wellraised lady. Her features bore the highest marks of European perfection; and tliero was not the slightest indication of African blood in her veins. She brought suit here for freedom, alleging that she had been forcibly arrested by the officers and Ibdged in the negro jail of the late James McMillan, under the claim of the defendant, Mary Godda d, that she was a slave, ‘when, in truth, she was a-free white woman.’ “The suit was brought nearly two years ago by Hon. R. H. Stanton; and was prosecuted by him, with the assistance of Hon. YV. 11. Wadsworth and Judge J. D. Taylor; and was defended by Hon. H. Taylor and T. C. Canifibell, Esq. When the Jury was sworn, the only testimony relied on by the plaintiff’ was the exhibition of her own person for inspection, her counsel claiming that her appearance was prima facie evidence of her freedom; and the presumption thua being raised, of course, the burden of proof rested upon the defendant to prove her a slave. An attempt was then made by the defendant to prove her the daughter of a mulattg named Matilda, by whom plaintiff’ had been reared from infancy; but in this they did not succeed, as no witneea was introduced who was present at the birth es the ehild. ! “The case was ably argued on both sides; , and much feeling was manifested in the community on behalf of the plaintiff. Whea the Jury brought in their verdict to The effect that she was ‘a free white woman,’ the Judge was compelled to address the audience upon the impropriety of any demonstration of applause in a court of justice, in order to keep down a universal impulse to show the satisfaction given by the result.”