other!" "For God's sake, save me," cried Euphemia, to a woman in the
second story, who was an eye-witness to this monstrous outrage. But
despite the piteous appeals of the mother and children, the poor woman
was hastened into a cab, and borne to the marshall's office.

Through the vigilance of J.M. McKim and Passmore Williamson, a writ of
habeas corpus returnable forthwith was obtained at about one o'clock.
The heart-broken mother was surrounded by five of her children, three of
whom were infants. It was a dark and dreadful hour. When her children
were brought into the room where she was detained, great drops of sweat
standing on her face plainly indicated her agony.

By mutual arrangement between the claimants and the prisoner's counsel
the hearing was fixed for the next day, at the hour of three o'clock.
According to said arrangement, at three o'clock Euphemia was brought
face to face with her claimant, William T.J. Purnell. The news had
already gone out that the trial would come off at the time fixed; hence
a multitude were on hand to witness the proceedings in the case. The
sympathy of anti-slavery ladies was excited, and many were present in
the court-room to manifest their feelings in behalf of the stricken
woman. The eloquent David Paul Brown (the terror of slave-hunters) and
William S. Pierce, Esqrs., appeared for Euphemia, R.C. McMurtrie, Esq.,
for the claimant.

Mr. McMurtrie in the outset, arose and said, that it was with extreme
regret that he saw an attempt to influence the decision of this case by
tumult and agitation. The sympathy shown by so many friendly ladies, was
not a favorable sign for the slave-holder. Notwithstanding, Mr.
McMurtrie said that he would "prove that Mahala, sometimes called Mahala
Purnell, was born and bred a slave of Dr. George W. Purnell, of
Worcester county, Maryland, who was in the habit of hiring her to the
neighbors, and while under a contract of hiring, she escaped with a boy,
with whom she had taken up, belonging to the person who hired her." The
present claimant claimed her as the administrator of Dr. George W.
Purnell.

In order to sustain this claim many witnesses and much positive swearing
were called forth. Robert F. Bowen, the first witness, swore that he
knew both Mahala and her master perfectly well, that he had worked as a
carpenter in helping to build a house for the latter, and also had hired
the former directly from her owner.

Definite time and circumstances