The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-16

among which was pretended power of attorney d.
Tected 10 n. X. Wills, Esq. attorney at law, New
Orleans, In which Edwards speaks OF his vast pos
sessions In Texas and other places and various
other matters and things, all calculated TO fiji the
mind OF the unsuspecung and gulible with the idea
that Edwards was one of the wealthiest men in all
creation. These letters were undoubtedly written
Tor effect, and TO carry out the plot which he was
then hatching and being looked upon by the officers
OF the prison as only continuation of his grand
scheme of humbug and deception were not mailed
but suppressed. This pretended power OF attorney
will be found below.
On Wednesday morning last, Mr. Powell, while
on hall duty, at breakfast time, took from Edwards
a letter addressed 10 Messrs Seymour McDufie
and Van Zandt, (Which will be found beow) stating
that the writer, Edwards, had for reasons stated,
made up his mind to throw himself in the river.
Van Zandt is the keeper in the shoe shop where Ed
wards works About O'Clock in the afternoon,
Edwards, pretending to be sick, asked leave to go
to the Hospital, and was observed to go in that d.
rection. But about the time of closing the prison,
the larm was given that convict had jumped into
the river One convict, black, stated that he saw
| the man Jump in the river-that he reached a pole
to him, but that he refused to take il, and went
down, and that the man was Monroe Edwards.
Edwards cap was found on the string piece at the
dock, In which was found the following note,
Copy of a letter found in Edwards capa
The keeper guard this morning took from the let
ter avowing my intention The deed is now done;
To Messrs. Seymour, McDune and Van Zandt.
Upon the alarm being given, guards were station
ed In every direction IN and about the prison. and
the river at the Dock was raked to the body
| II 1t should turn out that Edwards had actually
drowned himself-which, however, was contrary 10
| the general impression Thorough search was made
| throughout the prison, and men were sent of In
various directions, while the Sing Sing guard and
the prison guards were kept on the watch during the
night.
The next morning, about ten O'Clock, Mr.. Van
| Zandt, the keeper, thought he would examine fur
| Their, and upon looking under bench in one cor
ner OF the shop which had not for some time been
used, but which was part way boarded down at the
side and ends, found upon board which was put up
like shelf upon ceats nailed to the siding of the
bench. Mr.. Monroe Edwards, slowed away as snug
y as mouse, with nice little supply of crackers,
cheese, cakes, and brandy A lot of boxes had
been piled up around the bench, by some person
| after Edwards had been secreted. Mr. Van z indt
very soon brought the drowned man from his snug
quarters, before he had time to wink.
Mr.. Van Zandt gathered up the store of eatables,
&c, and took them 10 the different stores in the
village for Identification. The articles were iden-
fled, some at one place and some at another, ar
the contractors agent above alluded to. Shortell
was thereupon arrested and brought before Justice
Charles Voc, before whom an investigation OF the
case was had Albert Lockwood, ESQ, appeared
tor the people, and R. R. Vors, ESQ.,, for the pri.
son er, Shertell.
The substance of the testimony adduced was the
identification of the articles sold to Shortwell and
found with Edwards-the proof of the direction on
the handwriting of Shortell-Shortes intimacy and
frequent long conversations with Edwards in the
shop during working hOurs-Shortel's habit of
being in the shop and making fires early in the morn
ing before the arrival of the keepers at the prison.
which practice he had suspended the preceding
week, however, but that on "Wednesday morning,
Shortell was again in the shop, and had the fires
made, at an unusually early hour sometime before
the keepers came to the prison, &c.
Alter a full investigation of the matter, Shortell
was committed to appear at Court. The Justice not
being empowered to allow bail, Shortel was
brought before the Supreme Court Commissioner,
A. Lockwood, Esq. and required to give bail in the
sum of $2,OOO-two good sureties Of 81, 900 each
-Shorte succeeded in procuring the necessary
bail, and was accordingly released from the custo-
And now for Edwards letters, which are rich,
rare, and racy.
The following is the letter taken from Edwards
on WEDNESDAY morning, by Mr.. Powell, the keep
Copy of letter taken from M. Bdwards:)
APRIL 9Th, AS.
dure no longer The ordinary evils Of the place
augmented at present by painful maady that am fear
fully admonlshed that reason itself totteriug.
Before become a confirmed maniac, and while vet
have lucid moment, have resolved to throw myself
into the river and thus put end to life and its miseres
am the victim Of conspiracy whose malignant perse
cution has reac he'd in hsdread abode for in the
last few days the Prison Doctor has made several attempts
poison and he doubtless been brbed TO do 80 by
my prosecutors. With these my last words am
entirely innocent OF the charge forwhich convicted
we'll those made against me- Heretofore have given
you but little trouble and hope to give you less here
after
Ihavea solitary request make it is if my body is re-
mily who reside at distance, may have time to claim it
l am, yours, &C.,
To Messrs. Seymour McDufie and an Zandt.
The following is Edwa.d d. letter to Hon. Thomas
F: Marshall, sent back by Mr. Marshall to the Agent
of the Prison
SING SING, N. Y. ID Jany, ls43.
The locofoco Governor ofths State is inauguraed
tomorrow. and it is known he will turn every Wing
in Office including the keepers othis prison. whose term
expires on the 10th inst and that day they will be
perseded One of them yesterday proposed me- that il
would give him 5000 of land in Texas and defray
expenses to that country he would restore to
my liberty, and accompany thither. am here with
out dollar and no friend relation than Ken
call on you for small accommodation, when I air ady
owe you s400 but do this for the very that will
thereby the sooner be able to pay you.-Thus-you
collect the story of my having coored Mistress at Fhla
dephia This was true but the story about bags clothes
was not true The girl very fair almost white quad
such creature as we amorous men would eory IN or
bed fellow kept at her lodgings part Of my effects
and amongst Others bonjutere case, containing
drawer Known only to nyss
$4,000 in Bank notes. At the time Of my arrest
triaand she wisely induced them think she
would in order to gain time to leave the city, which she
did In lew Tor an IN country, where
the has been since that one, friend
foe, could sesher Shortly after the termination of my
trial being Disappointed in getting funds from the
expected sent Everts Philadelphia telling him that
the girl had valuable of mine containing valuable
but did not tell him about the money. He spent week.
aided by Dallas and Gilpn, and though he negro
man who was formerly slave OF mine who knew where
she was he declined to let Everts see her. telling him
that he believed they were all trying to rob me- and that
they wished to the girl in way to aid them but
that she in twelve miles of the city, and white
man but myself should her. This negro fellow
m nate He ie rfact1 10
voted to me, and would peril his life in moment
me Therefore, i'll can get to Philadelphia,
msnd the So 900 in az hours after for will have di.
ty in finding Alice, and in her Ibave the utmost conf.
dence az have known her intimately for years. during
the whole OF which time she has been devoted The
reason have not done something pay you simply
because could not My poor mother last year very
wisely morgaged the whole of her property raise S
500 for trial. She promised the time much
$40 900, if she should it, but sooner had my
trial Terminated as did than the mortgage declined to
advance another cent and unless pay the debt by