A writ of habeas corpus was procured, and the case was brought before Judge Inskeep, of the Court of Common Pleas.  It was found to be involved in considerable difficulty.  For while several witnesses swore that they knew Etienne in Guadaloupe, as a free man, in business for himself, others testified that they had known him as the slave of Anslong.  It was finally referred to the Supreme Court, and Etienne was detained in prison several months to await his trial.  Eminent counsel were employed on both sides; Jared Ingersoll for the claimant, and Joseph Hopkinson for the defendant.  A certificate was produced from the municipality of Guadaloupe, showing that Etienne had been an officer in the French army for several years, and had filled the station in a manner to command respect.  The National Decree abolishing slavery in that Island was also read; but Mr. Ingersoll contended that when the decree was revoked, Etienne again became a slave.  In his charge, Judge Shippen said that the evidence for and against freedom was about equally balanced; and in that case, it was always a duty to decide in favor of liberty.  The jury accordingly brought in a unanimous verdict that Etienne was free.  The court ordered him to refund the twenty dollars, which Anslong had paid for his passage; and he was discharged.

He was a dark mulatto, tall, well-proportioned, and stylish-looking.  His handsome countenance had a remarkably bright, frank expression, and there was a degree of courteous dignity in his manner, probably acquired by companionship with military officers.  But he belonged to a caste which society has forbidden to develop the faculties bestowed by nature.  Such a man might have performed some higher use than cutting hair, if he had lived in a wisely organized state of society.  However, he made the best of such advantages as he had.  He opened a barber’s shop in Philadelphia, and attracted many of the most highly respectable citizens by his perfect politeness and punctuality.  The colored people had various benevolent societies in that city, for the relief of the poor, the sick, and the aged, of their own complexion.  Etienne Lamaire was appointed treasurer of several of these societies, and discharged his trust with scrupulous integrity.

Isaac T. Hopper had been very active and vigilant in assisting him to regain his freedom; and afterward, when he became involved in some difficulty on account of stolen goods left on his premises without his knowledge, he readily became bail for him.  His confidence had not been misplaced; for when the affair had been fully investigated, the recorder declared that Mr. Lamaire had acted like an honest and prudent man, throughout the whole transaction.

His gratitude to Friend Hopper was unbounded, and he missed no opportunity to manifest it.  To the day of his death, some fourteen or fifteen years ago, he never would charge a cent for shaving, or cutting the hair of any of the family, children, or grand-children; and on New Year’s day, he frequently sent a box of figs, or raisins, or bon-bons, in token of grateful remembrance.