Abduction of slave by Canal Captain, 1856

A Serious Charge.

A man by the name of Wellman, the Captain of a Canal Boat from Cumberland, was arrested last week in the neighborhood of Williamsport, charged with having abducted a slave, the property of George W. Spate, of Poolesville, Montgomery County, Md., by inducing him to go upon his boat, and bringing him to Williamsport. A man by the name of Noland also became implicated in the charge, and both were committed to the Washington County Jail in default of bail, to answer to the charge. Wellman had a hearing before justice Cook on Saturday last, by whom he was released, but having been subsequently re-arrested and taken before Justice Powles, he was re-committed by that Magistrate. He resides in Cumberland, where he is considered a very respectable man, and has a number of friends who have promised to bail him out as soon as arrangements can be made for that purpose. He is a native of New York, but has been boating on the Canal for some years.