Richmond Enquirer

Affray With A Reputed Slave—Day before yesterday, it was rumored through the city that a man of color had stabbed one or two persons in Wall street—and during the day several individuals came to the Police Office to make enquiries about it. Until yesterday morning no official intelligence of the transaction reached the Police Office. The following is a correct version of the matter:

About twelve months ago, a slave named Martin Palmer, alias Francis Smith, absconded from a Mr. Power at Richmond, to whom he had been hired by his master, Mr. Southall, of Williamsburg, Va. From the time he absconded until within the last few weeks, his master could discover no trace of him. About that time he intercepted a letter which Palmer wrote to his mother, who is also a slave of Mr. Southall, and employed by him as a household servant. The letter from Palmer to his mother, instructed her how she could escape from her master, and encouraged her to do so. It was written from New London; but stated that Palmer would be shortly in New York, where he desired the answer to his letter to be directed. On getting possession of this letter, and thereby discovering where Palmer was, Mr. Southall proceeded to this city, and obtained a writ of Habeas corpus from the Recorder to arrest his slave. The writ was last Wednesday put into the hands of Mr. Charles Riddle, sheriff's officer, who, accompanied by Mr. Boudinot, another sheriff's officer, went in search of him on Wednesday night, but did not succeed in arresting him. On Thursday morning they ascertained that he was about to leave the city in the New Haven steamboat. Accordingly Messrs. Riddle, Boudinot, Southall and his agent, went down to the steamboat, and a few minutes before the boat was ready to start, Palmer went on board of her. Mr. Boudinot went behind him for the purpose of seizing him, and Palmer immediately drew a large dirk knife from the sleeve of his coat, in which he had a regular case or scabbard to contain the knife. As soon as Mr. Riddle saw him draw the knife, he made a blow at it with his stick, with the intention of knocking it out of his hand, but missed Palmer and struck Mr. Boudinot on the wrist; Palmer then turned and stabbed Mr. Boudinot in the thigh, inflicting a wound about an inch wide, and an inch and a half deep. Palmer next made a stab at Mr. Riddle, who, however, avoided the blow, and then rushed towards the wharf, first stabbing at a colored man who was in his way, and who immediately fell, but whether from a wound or fright is not known, as he immediately afterwards went away and has not been since heard of. Palmer then leaped on shore, and run off, closely pursued by Messrs. Riddell and Boudinot, who brought him to bay in Fulton street, where he turned round and threw several stones at them, and then took to flight again. He was however finally captured and lodged in prison.—N. Y. Jour of Com.