In Marion, Ohio, in July 1839, William Mitchell (a.k.a. William Anderson) was seized by a group of men from Virginia, who alleged that he was an escaped slave. Mitchell, who had been living in Marion for at least a year, was placed on trial under Ohio's 1839 Fugitive Slave Act in the Court of Common Pleas, headed by Ozias Bowen. On August 27, in front of a packed courthouse, Bowen ruled against the Virginians and declared Mitchell to be free. After his ruling, the Virginians attempted to kidnap Mitchell. The crowd reacted in an effort to protect Mitchell, throwing projectiles at the Virginians while they were in the streets, and breaking into the town's armory and distributing weapons. Mitchell was soon freed and escaped to Canada.