The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-08

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persons he learned that Colonel Winree had acquired
some knowledge or Information which could thro con.
@ ou sa' On the plot and he accordingly sought
in ls40, and employed him 10 discover the where
aoouts OF man named David Miller. blacksmith who
in the conspiracy against his life. After the rst s,er.
Wow he did not see Winfree again for nearly a wear
When he again sought him out and gagged him 10 die
two other persons also supposed to be in Mo,
one OF whom was George Cummings. some time after
Winfree wrote letter 10 Mr.. Oracle requesting an inter
view as he said he had received letter from the sih
which efmportance and which letter purported TO
have come from the man Miller and was dated at Balti
more April 24h ls4l. This letter Winfree showed To
Mr. Oracle who at suspected it to be forgery and
broke off all connection with Winree in consequence
Winfree, however, determined not to let the game
slip easily and by closely following up his victim
managed again to be engaged in hunting the
raors as he said he could manage all such business mas
much he in the constant habit Of requenting gam
bling houses all sort Of places where persons Of such
character and description were wont to assemble VIM
free meantime went to England with the notorious Col
Edwards and his resumed the plan he had
eunnngly laid, whether hoax with criminal in
remains to be seem At Lost he announced to Mr..
Oracle that he had found out the man. George Cummings
who knew every thing about the disboca case and who
had in his possession all the papers and documents
sary to establish the guilt OF the parties engaged in the
plot and with the consent of Cummings appointed time
and place for interview, which kept at oyster
cellar in the upper Blocker street. when the pri
soner at the bar pointed Cunmngs-and such
ne himself nthe entire transaction (hough
Oracle had subsequently reason to believe that his
1t was agreed at that interview that Cummings should
hahe over athe papers to Mr. Oracle at subsequent
meetng but cummings failed to keep his promise at three
successive interviews at the same place. Winireo being
present only at the first and third fourth appointment
was mad and Cummings and Mr.. Oracle met at another
oyster cellar in the street. when he told Mr. a. that
the papers were not far off but the person who held
them wanted money enable him the moment the napers
were in Mr. Grace's hands, to fly beyond danger Mr.
Oracle promised harm should come 10 the man or To
Cummings if the papers genuine and after sumo
other conversation, they left the cellar and Mr. Oracle
was induced to pay over to Cummings $40 for which he
took his receipt at grocery store. Cummings then
rtuadfn hi tho eli nj Of
made OFT with his prize leaving his receipt the only
curitv When next Mr.. Oracle met Winree he told him
OF the conduct Of Cummings, and threatened to have
him arrested but Winfree said that Cummings had told
him that he obliged to leave the city, but il Mr. Ora
pers would surely be given up This he to- as
ter informing friend where he had gone to and VITA
whom as he feared assassination He there accordingly
met in the Park about seven in the evening" when Cum.
mings handed to Mr. Oracle the following papers, which
he said would be sufficient for all Mr. Oracle wanted
Cumming then left and Winfree accompanied Mr. Cra
Gle to his in the Globe Hotel where he remained
Tor a few minutes, while Mr.. G. was examining the pa
pers and then he too left.
The annexed documents copies perbdti1 Ell iferafiu
of those given by Cummings belonging parties
engaged in the conspiracy kill Mr. Oracle and are
and knavery. They all in the same handw riting
ink and same paper and, from their very
diton have been iold and reiolded many and many
time:-
No. Letter from Mary Anne Oracle to Chief Csnspi.
rator
BROOKLYN, May 90 1885,
hereby consent, according to my word of honor to
present in good and current money to Joseph Oner-
vile and associates the Of three thousand dollars for
the destruction or putting away OF VIM r. Oracle, and
lest by accident this contract should tall into Improper
hands, give my first name as fictitious
MARY ANNE Oracle, BROOKLYN.
This paper was endorsed Contract from old lady 10
II. Onerville'
No 2-.agreemen, of Chief Conspireor Nth Mary Ann
NEW YORK. May %, $780,
do hereby promise 10 put out of the way, destroy,
VIM Oracle for the sum OF three thousand dollars 10
he vpdf AM herf b.
OF the fact ard also agree, the delivering up the
documents, Jain number, TO said NJ Ann Oracle, tho
No g. Receipt Of Henry Thompson Chief Conspirsor.
Received, from Joseph H. Onerville one hundred and
fifty dollars part pay for service to be per-
formed for him, in concert with others
$3.50 90. HENRY THOMPSON.
Dec. g. 1910.
No, 4-Receipt Of Henry Leonard TO Chief ConspiratO,.
Received from II. onervle the sum Of three hundred
dollars, as pant payment for Gracies destruction.
$3.50 10 HENRY LEONARD.
These documents read by the District Attorney,
and ELECTED considerable surprise and laughter.
second batch OF papers were delivered up subse.
ing =
Nol-Chief COnspiratOrt 70 George Cummings.
BROOKLYN, May 20, 1889.
Dean GEORGE AT last i have fixed on plsnthatw We
make eternal fortune On next Saturday night
Jerome, Hilson Reed, Thompson, you and myself and
others go TO Jamaica and fire TO house in
the visge and by that means will get old Oracle
open hs doors windows to from whence the alarm
comes When he does that, or some else will ad.
upon him dressed in disguise in Clothes
and instantly seize upon him. and then put in pos.
J.HosEsvILLE.
Ne.2- Chief Conspiraor to same
BROOKLYN, June 7th, Is4o
DEAR GEoRGE-As have made arrangements 10 have
the desperate deed of putting old Oracle io eternity
tomorrow night, and have got my plans arranged
thst it will be impossible for him to escape.
have understood from the best authority that he will
De on the road late tomorrow night The plan is this =:
Reed has promised to do the deed he will be placed
rome and myself will be in attendance a lew PAGES in
front, in case of aiaure-and if So, we will all rise up
and instantly put him TO DEATH Be aud come and
see me tonight. Yours, most truly, TOWNSVILLE.
Mr. GEoRaE CUMMINGS. New York
There were many other letters of simar import but
the above will show how the plan laid and the da-
bolcal means which the prisoners employed to work
upon the already diseased mind of Mr.. Oracle.
He, however, having learned, well from othe,
ces from Cummings, that there was in pa
per, which the name Of each conspiraor had been
delivered, but not obtaining it, he handed all the decu-
ments TO his honor the Mayor, and had warrant issued
TOR the arrest of Cummings, in order that If he
really knew ofthe conspiracy he pretended he might
be compelled to disclose the before the police
magistrate in the city, or If he had only been playing
upon the creduly OF Mr. Gracie that he might be pun
ished Tor mis- infamous conduct 1t appears Cummings
was arrested but contrived to escape, Mr. Oracle
derstood
The above is the result of the direct examination
Mr. DRINxEn opened cross exanin stion by asking
the name, residence, occupation, SC of the witness and
was proceeding to ssk he resided with his wife, when
the Dist let Attorney objected, the question was ire
ievan and without reference 10 the business before tho
Court; and this view was sustained by the Bench
A long argument here ensued bet the counsel on
the subject OF the popriey OF disclosing the the
parties whom Mr. Gracie believed 10 have been concern
ed the conspiracy, when the Court decided that the
counsel would be permitted to have free scope to their
examination Mr.. Oracle then stated that ne believed
that Caleb Weeks, Ohm OneIvle Abraham Fleet James
Thompson whom he pointed out in the gallery Who
finding the gaze Of the Court fastened suddenly on
him. abruptly quilted his place and made himself
and George Cummings.
Q-Do you believe that the prisoner Cummings was
in the plot1
A-Cummings told me he knew all about IT, and il he
not actual member OF the gang he certainly was
partctps eriminis. think Cummings put forward
by others to extort money from me.
Q-Do you believe that your wife was concerned in
this conspiracy
A-Idecline answering, unless the Court says must
CoURT-Decides in the affirmative.
WITNEss--I believe Mrs. Oracle never would have ia.