Passmore Williamson

And indeed, the necessity of so doing is precluded by the fact that Mr. Williamson, in justice to himself and the cause of freedom, with great pains and singular ability, gathered the most important facts bearing on his memorable trial and imprisonment, and published them in a neat volume for historical reference.

In order to bring fully before the reader the beginning of this interesting and exciting case, it seems only necessary to publish the subjoined letter, written by one of the actors in the drama, and addressed to the New York Tribune, and an additional paragraph which may be requisite to throw light on a special point which Judge Kane decided was concealed in the obstinate breast of Passmore Williamson.

As said Williamson persistently refused before the said judge's court to own that he had a knowledge of the mystery in question.

After which, a brief glance at some of the more important points of the case must suffice.

Correspondence of the New York Tribune.

Philadelphia, Monday, July thirtieth, eighteen fifty-five.

As the public have not been made acquainted with the facts and particulars respecting the agency of Mr. Passmore Williamson and others in relation to the slave case now agitating this city, and especially as the poor slave mother and her two sons have been so grossly misrepresented, I deem it my duty to lay the facts before you for publication or otherwise as you may think proper.

On Wednesday afternoon week at four and a half o'clock, the following note was placed in my hands by a colored boy whom I had never before seen, to my recollection.

Moyamensing's prisoner history included two men whose names reach far beyond its walls.

In 1855, abolitionist Passmore Williamson was jailed for contempt after he helped an enslaved woman and her children claim their freedom.

H.H. Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett, and remembered as one of America's earliest documented serial killers, was confined at Moyamensing after his conviction for murdering Benjamin Pitezel and was hanged there in 1896.

Outside the cells, reformers from the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons, later the Pennsylvania Prison Society, visited inmates, inspected conditions, offered religious instruction and practical aid, and helped prisoners prepare for release.

Moya Mensing's prisoner history included two men whose names reach far beyond its walls.

In 1855, abolitionist Passmore Williamson was jailed for contempt after he helped an enslaved woman and her children claim their freedom.

H.H. Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett and remembered as one of America's earliest documented serial killers, was confined at Boya-Mensing after his conviction for murdering Benjamin Patazel and was hanged there in 1896. outside the cells reformers from the philadelphia society for alleviating the miseries of public prisons later the pennsylvania prison society visited inmates inspected conditions offered religious instruction and practical aid and helped prisoners prepare for release the society chronicled that work in its journal the prisoner's friend Quaker women carried the effort into the female wards, pressing for matrons and support beyond the prison gates.

Moya Mensing was Philadelphia's gateway at the local jail, holding defendants awaiting hearings, indictment, trial or sentence, people unable to post bail, persons serving short or county terms, and people awaiting transfer or execution.