The Cleveland Daily Herald

Cleveland, July 5, 1859

The Lorain Kidnappers.

      The trial of this case comes on, we suppose, to-morrow, the 6^th July. Our correspondent “Civis” will keep our renders posted in the matter. Mr. Jennings, one of the defendants, was in this city on the glorious Fourth. We hear that the kidnappers endeavored to surrender themselves up in discharge of their bail, go into jail and then come out on a writ of habeas corpus to be issued by Judge McLean, but there was no Sheriff nor Judge – so the kidnapers said – to whom they could surrender and therefore they came down here. Last night – the 4^th – two of them went in post haste to see Marshal Johnson, and were hustled into a carriage by a companion who evidently was a little “how came you so,” and the driver told to hurry up his nags to Marshal Johnson’s house. This companion remarked that Judge McLean was about to issue a writ and there would be a “d—d high old time.”

      Since writing the above we learn that by some maneuver a surrender by the kidnappers in discharge of bail was effected and that a writ of habeas corpus was issued by Judge McLean. As the kidnappers, or some of them are in town to-day, we suppose they are in custody of the officer who has that writ. But we cannot explain the proceeding. We know the kidnappers are in the city, that Judge McLean and Judge Willson are in the city, that District Attorney Belden and his associate Judge Bliss are in the city, and that there is unusual activity among all parties, and what will come of it will hereafter be known.