Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1813-05-29
TO JOHN HEIsKELL.

From the Consteta' IN of the ssfh inst.
SIn--I am induced,not by your conspi-
cuous standing in any meritorions cir
Gle in civil soeiety,-but by your
boasted occupancy of the station of u
public journalist, to notice the foul and
nnscrons attack you were pleased TO
make on my Official character in your
most foul and venal sheet of the slh
inst. E5otism being at all times cen
surablc, and sometimes fulsome, know
'iot in what way to shape this address
so as TO steer clear of the charge; I
trust, however, / may be excused for
promising, that AN a republican,
blood, bone, and sinew,-.iave been five
years in the service of the U. States,
in various stations and under peculiar
and trying circumstances; and in no
one instance has blame been attached
to my conduct SO a. to reach my carr
Commencing the recruiting business at
this village with arslor, and at q time
when foreign and domestic enemies to
republican liberty were endeavourins
to SOW seeds Of disaffection amongt the
citizens Of the U. s. TO their govern
ment, to damp the rising spirit Of re-
sistance to the common foe, had con-
sidered it my bounden duty to leave no
essay untricd to enlist into the service
able bodied men Of a proper age: and
whilst thus proceeding met with Levi
Picken at Isaac VanhOrn's tavern.-
considering him fit subject, he was
solicited to take the bounty, and TWEEN
ty silver dollars were counted and
placed upon the table IA considcra-
BILE number being present, and u hustle
the consequence, in a short space Of
time two dollars from off the twenty
we're missing. Immediately suspect
ed Picken aud challenged him. He at
first denied, with a stout oath. Of know
ing any thing about them; but being
hard pressed, IN trice owned that he
knew who had the money-'rhis was
enouSh-it was positive proof That he
himself was the taker, or that he wa.
privy to the act and would not dis
close the secret.-Itis extreme insO
! ieDce threw me into rage, and i'll
not deny that in the heat Of the MO
ment lifted up n chair and threat enet
to sacrifice him in very harsh terms;
lscnlilc ensued, and ordered Picken tc
the barracks, with view to secure hin
It'll he told where the two dollars were
! Shortly after being conducted TO Oh
,ibarracks, he repeatedly asked my SCI
Ijeant John Smith for the balance of I'll
!, lbounty, who at length gave him III
leighteen dollars, which he accepte
: with the usual ceremony, and aft,
s keeping them for some time, tire
5 them down.-CaIling at the barracl
e some time after the acceptance Of Il
% balance Of the bounty by Picken, and b.
ling informed Of the same, asked Picl
: en- for his description, where he wi
q born, what age and so forth, whic
S drew from him much aggravating ms
:, lencc. Having full proof Ito me) tlt
he had taken the u. States money |
J. way Of bounty, | believed it my duty
!hold him fast, and therefore had HI,
: t;ed--t'rom the evidence exhibited
$ the last superior eoart relative to Il
case, the honorable judge tho't propt
: 10 release Pickin, WHO has instituted
4 suit against me to recover damages.
h must, therefore earnestly solicit the il
a dulgent forbearapce Of my follow Gil