Massachusetts Spy, December 13, 1854
Arrests for Violating the Fugitive Slave Law. ÐOn the 5th instant, Rev. T. W. Higginson and Martin Stowell received an invitation from Ben Hallet to come to Boston and answer to the charge of resisting the laws of the United States by participating in the attempt to rescue Anthony Burns. Accordingly these gentlemen complied with the request, appeared in Court, and gave bonds to take their trial, in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, each.

The Atlas has the following spicy paragraph in allusion to the matter: More Arrests. ÐThe Rev. Mr. Higginson, and Martin Stowell, of Worcester, were yesterday arraigned in the U. S. Circuit Court, on indictments charging them with participation in the Burns riot. These gentlemen came willing victims from Worcester, and voluntarily appeared in court. Mr. Marshal Freeman was informed that it would hardly be safe for an officer to attempt their arrest in Worcester. Upon learning this fact, he invited Messrs. Higginson and Stowell to come down to Boston and be tried, after the manner of the farmerÕs wife, -"Ducky, ducky, come and be killed." And strange to say, the martyrs marched into court in compliance with the invitation, and bared their bosoms for the shafts or Judge Curtis and Mr. Hallett. What particular pleasure the promoters of these prosecutions can take in gratifying Stowell, and filling the bosom of Mr. Waldo [sic] Higginson with delight, passes our comprehension.