On April 23, 1842 John Van Zandt and a group of eight runaway slaves, he was transporting, were caught by two men from nearby Sharonville seeking rewards for the return of fugitive slaves. Van Zandt was arrested, tried and convicted in a legal battle that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Under the provisions of the Fugitive Slave law of 1793, he was imprisoned and fined $1200, four hundred of which was the award for his capture. 

Salmon P. Chase, who later became a U.S. Supreme Court justice, defended Van Zandt. Van Zandt refused to pay his fine. He died in 1847 while serving time in prison for his actions.