When they were within a short distance of it they heard a shout, and a man who was lounging near the door ran inside.

Almost instantly they saw the shutters swing back across the windows, and when they drew up, fifty yards from the door, the barrels of four rifles were pushed out through slits in the shutters.
The sheriff held up his hand.

"William Porter, I want a word with you." A shutter in an upper room opened, and an elderly man appeared with a rifle in his hand.
"William Porter," the sheriff said, "I have a warrant for the arrest of two men now in your house on the charge of kidnaping a female slave, the property of Captain Wingfield here.

I have no proof that you had any share in the matter, or that you were aware that the slave was not honestly obtained.

In the second place, I have a warrant for the arrest of your son John Porter, now in your house and passing, recently, under the name of Jonas Pearson, on the charge of resisting and killing the officers of the law on the 5th of December, 1851.