George Frazee (1821-1904)
OFFICE LOCATION: Burlington, IA
TENURE: –
HEARINGS: 1
RENDITIONS: 0
CASES:
“Dick” Case (1855) – 1 released
- On June 23, 1855, an approximately 50-year-old African American male, named “Dick,” was seized near the Iowa-Illinois border by slave catchers William C. Young and Solomon Rose (both Missourians), and brought to Burlington, Iowa for a hearing. Young and Rose made tracks for U.S. Commissioner George Frazee’s office, and along with attorney Milton D. Browning, obtained a warrant for Dick’s arrest, which was executed by U.S. Marshal Frederick Funk. “As Dick had no counsel, Mr. [T.D.] Crocker moved to continue the case till Tuesday [June 26] in order to give time to employ counsel.” [1855-06-25 Burlington, IA Hawk-Eye]
- The son of Dick’s alleged owner, Thomas Rutherford, testified that “the negro there present WAS NOT the slave Dick, was not the property of his father.” After this testimony, Commissioner Frazee released “Dick.” [1855-07-04 Burlington, IA Hawk-Eye]
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