The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-12

PROVIDENCE, Jan. 10, 1874.
The Mysterious Murder of Mr.. Spraguc in Rhode
Lldnd-P0litics and Hu,nbng.
DEAR SIR -
On returning to my post this afternoon, after an
absence of four or five days, find that the truth of
what wrote you before, in relation to the murder
and murderers Of MI. Sprague, is pumply denied
by the Journal of this city, and that you and your
thousands of readers have been imposed upon ~
Well. am sorry, really, if such isrhe fact; and il
may be SO but must take the liberty to say, that
many persons talk of it strongly and will VEN
ture to ask the Journal to tell its readers what
there stated, and then deny the truth of all. The
fact Is, the Gordons (the men charged with the
murder of Sprague) have been wronged by our pub
lie journals here since the murder; while Mr.. S.
may have been properly enough lauded to the skies
as the most noble and vrtuous citizen the State
could produce The Journal itself admits that the
chief cause of the arrest of n Gordon was the sup
posed fact that he had threatened Sprague, which
supposed fact was not true, can be proved by
those who heard the conversation between the par
ties. The threat was on the other side Gordon
may be guilty, as accessory-certainly not as a
principal, for no one believes he was present, or
within two miles of the spot when the murder wa;
committed. But you will find, friend Bennett, that
that license had very little to do with it; there was
a woman, or perhaps half dozen women, in the
case, will be shown, fancy, if ever justice gets
upon the right track Almost any one in this Wei
nifty would tell you that Mr.. Spragues life has been
long threatened by one at least who considered him
as the author of his ruin and it is not at all mpro
babe, in my opinion, and the opinion of hundreds
here, that some of those who have long thought
themselves thus injured could tell who committed
the murder. The Journal says that Mr.. s. was on
his way to his farm to see about the shelter of his
cattle, when the murder was committed. This
may be true, but nobody here believes it and
quently on that road Of Sunday, would laugh not
little IT they could think the Journal editor be-
lieved his own statement
The witnesses in this case underwent an exam-
nation yesterday before Justice Bowen. The trial
was strictly private, all solicitations to admit even
reporter being rejected. None but Government
witnesses We're examined, and the Court adjourned
to next Friday, when ii is thought things will take
| a new turn Why all this secresy?
| must sayone word of politics. and will tell you
to begin with, that ''the great democratic party OF
this ESQ called) Little Britain, is in as pretty fix
as the most cooLblooded " Algerine" could wish,
the late State Convention but their oppo-
nents, the " old hunkers," as they are called, are
up to them in stratagem, and will make them vince
most terribly before the war Is over The refusal
OF President Anvil to sign the proceedings Of that
Convention-the admission Of two sets of delegates
from Newport-he defeat of Pearce, and that per.
sonal quarrel, have all tended to make an old
| breach wider, and rendered it almost impossible
for the two parties, two clans, to unite, with
| out frst throwing overheard their leaders. My
opinion is, that, should Mr. Van Buren, be elected
the Dorr party will get the Offices; and ! should
not be at all surprised, if Dou himself should b,
| offered place in his cabinet.
| Our General Assembly, in session, but has done
nothing of interest as yet. The law and order
party talk of stopping the treason suits against al
the Dorrltes, except Dorr himself; but the Demo
Gratis will oppose the amnesty unless it include.
their great leader. In this state of matters, it il
most probable that nothing will be done.
| saw Governor Derr to-day; he Is hale ant
hearty, and don't care snap.wheher he winters. il
his present comfortable quarters not He vii
demand a trial in March, and plead his own case.
Yours, G.. w.