Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-09-28
Latest PROCEEDING s..
MOTION FOR COMMITMENT.
EXAMINATION OF. EVIDENCE.
& FRIDAY, Sept. l8.
James MDc7reL.

| James M Dogrel
Mr.. Hay. Did you So as 10y as the Chick
asaw Bluffs! a.. / did. @. What numbel
4 of men were assembled at the mouth o.
Cumberland river? A. About 100. G. How
MANY additional men Joined them there a.
F do not recollrct. c. Did you see any boxes
of arms "A. No. g. Didycu see any guns
with bayonets !? "A I saw a few. @. Any pis-
tolls? "A. Six or eight pair and some III
Aes. @. Doyou know of any. men who joined
them at + ort Massac lar. Barr objected to
this question. SD Fort Massac was in the indi-
ana territory--Nr. Hay. Did you see any
powder! Yes @. What quantity : a. A
couple of small casks. @. Did you see any
bullets and what quantity A. helped to
run some myself, and ] saw one barrel about
two thirds full. i saw those bullets below
Bayou Pierre. @ Did you see Blannerhas-
sett and Smith a.. Yes. @. Did this par
ty seem to be under Burr's command! A.
They said, it was Col. Burr's boats and party.
They regarded themselves as under his di-
rection. Q. Were there any other officers
apparently under Burr's command? Axes.
Col. Tyler was an officer and Mr.. Blannerhas-
sett seemed To- be one but not to have so
str go -
much command as Gel, Tyler
Mr.. WIrt. Did you see any agricultural
tools, such as pIoughs and hoes, adapted to
the settlement of lands? A. Not any. @.
Were there any families; that is, any men
with their wives? A, There were two faIni-
lies. @. Ofwhat description Of characters was
this party composede A. Principally Of young
men. G. Did they appear to be men accus-
toned to plantation labor? A. Sohe OF them
appeared fit but most of them seemed Like
gentlemen.
Mr.. Hay presumed that it would notbe de-
parting from the opinion Of the court, if he
asked question concerning some transaction
out of the United States which might Serve to
eIucidatc the state of the party at the mouth
of Cumberland. Might he not for instance,
enquire whether the witness had seen any
| boxes Of arms at Bayou Pierre; because it
was perfectly fair to infer, that if they had
not been subsequently received, they must
have been with the party at the mouth OF Gum
berIand river.
MIR. Barr, No precise inference can be
drawn from that circumstance: because these
arms may have been received into the boats
below the line of Tennessee.
The Cnief Justice thought it a proper cues
ton If the acts attempted to be proved were
done in the United States, evidence might be
drawn from any place to prove them. But
no evidence could be produced to prove an
act, that was not done iii the Z. States.
Mr.. Baker, This is really a strange way
of inferring circumstances by contrast. The
witness says expressly that they were not at
the mouth of Cumberland, and yet he is to
be Intercepted whether he did not see them
at Bayou Pierre.
Mr.. llfDozveN. did not say, that they
were not at the mouth of Cumberland. ! said
only, that did not see them there.
Mr.. Ray- Was there then any fact to in
duce you TO believe that there were chests Of
arms on board A. did not see them. But
they took in some boxes at Blannerhassett's
island. @. Did they take in any, boxes be-
Pierre? A. None.
Mr.. Hirt. You say that there were aboat
100 men at the mouth of Cumberland river.
Was there any procession to this party after
wards A. 1t was increased before we got
to Coles's Greek. @. What was the total
amount of the party A. There were about
$50 at Colcs's Creek G. was there any APP
plcation to you to join them Mr. Banner
hasset applied to me. Q. In what manner !?
A He asked me to go along with him but
l said. l did not wish SO without knowing
wherethey were: going. 9 He was atmc two
or three tines Re SAID that many men were
going, withoufS owing any more than | did.
told him very little IN the world; but
that I did,Hcss, $,lto leave itiinthat way.
MIR. BIZ sre interrupted thefrgamina.
ton, He 6snffsed thai, the coanselfor the
prosecution We're bound toprove fhe overs
act first; that there was no lmpropriesY 10
producing circumstances explanatory of the
overt act; but how could these coByer.l
sa,ions between other persons, and held
in his absence contribute 10 establish Ibis