Дванадцять років рабства

           WeascertainedthatbothBurchandRadburnwerestillresidinginthatcity. ImmediatelyacomplaintwasenteredwithapolicemagistrateofWashington,againstJamesH.Burch,forkidnappingandsellingmeintoslavery. HewasarresteduponawarrantissuedbyJusticeGoddard,andreturnedbeforeJusticeMansel,andheldtobailinthesumofthreethousanddollars. Whenfirstarrested,Burchwasmuchexcited,exhibitingtheutmostfearandalarm,andbeforereachingthejustice’sofficeonLouisianaAvenue,andbeforeknowingtheprecisenatureofthecomplaint,beggedthepolicetopermithimtoconsultBenjaminO.Shekels,aslavetraderofseventeenyears’standing,andhisformerpartner. Thelatterbecamehisbail. 

           Atteno’clock,the18thofJanuary,bothpartiesappearedbeforethemagistrate. SenatorChase,ofOhio,Hon.OrvilleClark,ofSandyHill,andMr.Northupactedascounselfortheprosecution,andJosephH.Bradleyforthedefence. 

           Gen.OrvilleClarkwascalledandswornasawitness,andtestifiedthathehadknownmefromchildhood,andthatIwasafreeman,aswasmyfatherbeforeme. Mr.Northupthentestifiedtothesame,andprovedthefactsconnectedwithhismissiontoAvoyelles. 

           EbenezerRadburnwasthenswornfortheprosecution,andtestifiedhewasforty-eightyearsold;thathewasaresidentofWashington,andhadknownBurchfourteenyears; thatin1841hewaskeeperofWilliams’slavepen;thatherememberedthefactofmyconfinementinthepenthatyear.