Runaway (choose your own adventure

chapter eleven - law and disorder

There are several examples in time of which slaves have earned their own personal rights to freedom in court, or people have freed others in court. There are more famous one such as the Matson's trial (which was a lawsuit), Anthony Burns, John Brown, and Dred Scott cases. Although surprising there were lawyers that would stand up for runaways, despite it being a danger to themselves, in order to earn legal rights in court.

We arrived in Canton, Ohio. A small town but quaint and it seemed friendly. Ohio was a popular destination for runaways because it lacked large amounts of Watchmen and was full of abolitionists. I hopped out of the wagon and gave the man my goodbyes. I would truly miss him, as much as I missed my family, who were still back on the farm. I had good memories with him. I had laughed with him. like the time he was trying to show me how to fish and fell in the stream himself. The world had finally shown some light upon me and sent him to me as a friend, but now the time came to leave him. So off he rode, off he went to show the will of God upon another darkened soul.

I started looking for the nearest depot, hoping there I might be able to start a life, or find a passage to Canada where all color mixes, nothing is separated. Where I could be free. It was late evening and not much was happening, a few people milled around, some of them sneaking glances at me but other than that I went unnoticed. Though just to be safe I stuck close to the buildings, trying at inconspicuousy. A man in a suit turned the corner bringing me into his view. He looked at me weird for a second, and I started to get worried. He smiled, and I got prepared to run, but he didn't try and catch me. He came over to me and asked if I was a runaway. It seemed like a stupid question, of course, I was. I was covered in dirt, had rag clothes on, and my hair was so greasy you could use it as a mirror. I told him that I was anyways and he said that he was a lawyer who took cases like mine, slaves who filed a "freedom suit" to buy their freedom . Saying that only two years ago he had helped a lawsuit against a slave owner for one of his previous slaves, Anthony Bryant. I had heard stories of that trial, but now I was meeting the man who claimed to have been the lawyer for it. He said that he might be able to get me rights through court. I thought about this for a minute. He seemed very eager to take my case, but that might be because he may get more fame that way. If he did, in fact, take part in the Matson trial then he could be my best bet at freedom, true freedom.

A. Trust him, if all goes well you could get rights, find a job, start a life. This offer is too good to turn down (go to chapter 17)

B. Don't, It's another trap. You've been in this situation before when the wagon rider said he was a conductor, also he is too eager for just to take a case that I didn't even ask for. (go to chapter 18)