The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-23
Trial or John and William Gordon for the
Murder OF Amasa SpraKue.

Trial or John and william Gordon for q
Murder OF Amass sprague.
Reported for the New York HERALD
SUPREME COURT-,APRiL SESSION.
| PROVIDENCE, r. |.
THURSDAY MORNING, April H.
| (Concii.dcd)
Several witnesses we've introduced, whose test
mony went to show that the clothing and other a
ticles produced in court, were the same that wei
found IN the search that followed the arrest OF III
prisoners.
JOB WILBUR swom-Was present at an auctio
az r Almy's IN Providence, in June, 1872 N
cholas . Gordon was there and purchased gun
II was not the gun produced in court; saw job
Gordon on Friday and Saturday before the mul
| swollen.
Amos d. SMITH sworn-Saw John Gordon q
Mr, Sprague's house Monday evening after tn
| murder his face was bruised said he got tn
bru,se IN coming from the city Christmas day
saia he was drunk, and young MIR King picket
| HIM up, and carried him home on his team
Mr. Clap, Constable, sworn-Saw William
Gordon al Bowens office, after his arrest heare
nm say that he went to Cianston on day of the
| murder he contradicted himself, by fixing the
time OF leaving the city for Cranston at different
! hours.
Cross eranined-Am very sure William said he
went TO Cranston on day of murder he was talk
ing with Mr.. Rivers and others
George RIVERS recaiied-Wm. Gordon did no;
say to me or IN my hearing that he went to Grams.
ton on day of murder said he was not out OF city
during the day he conlradicted himself in saying
wards at O'clock.
Mr.. WRIGHT recaled-Heard William Gordon
say IN MIR. Bowen's office, that he was not in
Cranston day OF murder, and could prove it.
Mr.. CLAP recalled think now | was wrong in
saying William told Of being in Cranston day of
murder ! recoiiect the facts now as stated by Mr.
Rivers.
AFTERNOON.
Iet t,vafin ~, sc
the Court on the question raised last evening and
discussed this morning Such threats and declara-
tons as Nicholas Gordon had made against de-
ceased in the hearing Of prisoners, might be test
he'd to-no others.
Testimony was offered and received, proving
that Nicholas s. Gordon could not have committed
the murder IN person he being at the time in the
city OF Providence.
WILLIAM II. GREEN, sworn-Have been clerk
for T. Amy for four years am acquainted with N.
s, Gorton; saw him in Providence about O'Clock,
L. M, evening OF murder.
Cross erar,ined. saw him have on the
coat found IN swamp; was clerk for Mr.. Almy al.
the time Mr. Beverly was there.
SUSAN FIELD. sworn-1s acquainted with Nlchol-
las, John and William Gordon John and William
came to this country last Jaly; used to 60 to the
store of Nicholas very often have not been there
since last August Nicholas sent money and paid
the passage of John and William to this country
they were dressed very poorly when they came;
Nicholas had an o. ID boie-blue over-coat had ano-
Their coat used to put the old coat on wagon seat
when he rode 4; have it the floor Of his
store, for the dog to lay upon; have seen John
seen him wear Nichs pantaloons Nicholas had
brown, black, and a green vest: THE coat
found in swamp was produced This is the one
have seen Nicholas use as "a cushion. Three
fore-one belongs 10 William, the other to Nicho-
las. la PAIR OF fantaoons shown] These were
Johns. tAnother paIr.1 These belonged to
Nicholas; have seen John have them on have
and belonged to Nicholas. Have heard Nick say
in presence Of John and iiiiam, that old Amasa
Sprasne was going to take away his liceHse-he
said, Cd d-n the man that takes away my
that took away his license. An lrishman said,
{" You don't mean )" he answered, 81 do mean
it"-Pd run him through in minute" When
first heard OF the murder, expressed the belief that
the facts have stated to Mr.. Shaw, and described
to him the clothes they used to wear
C. oss eraminsdLived in Providence at the
time OF murder with Susan p Garner she may
be called Susan Parr; ! don't know and don't
care; suppose she is called Susan Parr; (Susan
PAR, or Suke Parr, is rather notorious in this city
the keeper of IA house OF sill fancy what of
it! Lived in Cranson at the time John and vii.
liam first came there; was al the store when they
arrived went to Cranston latter part of July, and
remained till latter part of August with my mother
had lived IN Cranston, in all, about one year be-
fore that time used 10 go TO Gordons store once,
twice, end three times week, before his mother,
sister and brothers came from Ireland; Nick beard
ed out and slept IN his store ne kept thread and
needles, and pms In his store used to buy these
articles for my mother; liked TO 60 there very
much the reason went SO often was, suppose,
that my mother would want more needles, and
pins, and thread ; there last in August was
there ten times or more, from latter part of July to
latter part Of August have never had any difficulty
with Nicholas Gordon; when he threatened
Sprague, John would say, "yes;" William would
sometimes, say, you don't mean it,. or, ''you
once, God d-n him, IN kill him y John said,
emo, Nick - ] am sure ! was at store when Ohm
and William came; ! know William from John
that is William, pointing to John;, he used to
tend the store when Nick was gone.
HARDY HUDsoN, sworn-Heard Nicholas Gordon,
in presence OF one Of the prisoners, last August,
sfeak of Amasa Sprague as having prevented HIM
from obtaining license TO sell liquors; SAID he
would have revenge--would come up with him
seemed to be in passion-swore some -; did not
think he meant what he said tried TO laugh him
ont OF it, but couldn't.
Cross eramiaed Don't know that the prisoner
who was present said anything; have heard good
many others speak against deceased, but never
heard them threaten HIM.
JOHN Nj. SHAW, recallcd-Susan Gamer called
on me just after the murder, and before any one
could put me on the right track went and saw
her She described pistol and clothing TO me
THIS was before | had seen the clothes now IN
court. Her description was correct. She described
oHly one OI lIlt Ntsts pIOuuCcu htIe 2diu sic Hcu
heard Nicholas threaten deceased, in presence of
five men, all of whom joined with him. Said she
had heard Nicholas utter threats before John and
William, but never heard them utter any.
Several witnesses were here introduced, who
testified to the fact that Mr. Sprague had helped
prevent Nicholas Gordon from obtaining a license
to sell ardent spirits, and that Cord was aware OF
the fact at the time. After which
Mr. POTTER, for the government, recaptuaed
the evidence to the jury, and commented at some
length upon the abundance of proof which had
been adduced of the guilt Of the prisoners.
When he sat down, the Court ordered an adj
Jourdment till tomorrow morning
FRIDAY MORNING.
General CARPENTER, of counsel for prisoners,
very briefly stated to the jury the grounds of his
defence, and the character Of the testimony which
would be offered to establish his position. He
hoped and expected to show not only that the pris-
oners were not guilty in the sight OF the law but
that they innocent, beyond all reasonable
doubt He would defer all comments upon the
testimony of the government I'LL another time.