Castner Hanway, Elijah Lewis, and Joseph Scarlet Taken Soon after the Treason Trials Courtesy of Lancaster County Historical Society

 

Trial  

The trial of Castner Hanway was held in Circuit Court of the United States for the Easter District of Philadelphia in the Third Circuit on Monday,

November 24, 1851.

The indictment against Castner Hanway listed five specific charges:

1. That he, with a large number of armed persons forcibly prevented the execution of the United States Fugitive Slave Law and levy treason against the United States.

2. That he, and others forced resisted arrest by Marshal Henry H. Kline, a United States Officer in the process of executing the Laws of the United States.

3. That he liberated from Marshall Kline the custody of the fugitive slaves of Edward Gorsuch.

4. That he and others did meet, conspire, and consult to resist the laws of the United States.

5. That he acting on his treasonous intentions, distributed various books, letters, and other material inciting fugitive slaves and others to resist the laws of the United States.

The trial concluded on December 11. 1851 with a decision by the jury after deliberating for less than fifteen minutes. The verdict of not guilty of the charges of Treason.