New-York daily tribune., 1844-05-14
rhe ,Iurderers of Chavis.

The ST. Louis papers are filled with CT ImunIca-
lions relative ts the death OF this person. aln'os
which is the statement OF Mcdaniel, the leadeF oi
the party OF Texan Volunteers. The prosecution
appears to have relied in his conviction on 'he lac'
that in his previous voluntary explanation OF 'i'e
topography Of the place where the deed vas perpe-
trated. according TO the testimony OF tlr. Ncilo-
Ias Gentry. he had been altogether incorrect. his
was important as ii the features OF the country
were as Mcdaniel stated il was Impossible Tor The
witnesses against him to have had any PersoHa'
1 knowledge OF the immediate circumstances. NC
Daniel persists in his statement and 1t ilr "en'T5
be- incorrect and he can rely only upon his recoec-
ZION of place whose position i very indefinitely
/ defined by dav's-ourneysl it is possible that the
prisoner. though he Killed Chavis. vet IL innocent
>, murder. According to Mcdaniel. Chavis was
shot in an attempt to escape and then, contrary 10
his express orders, by Mason one o his party
This statement is certified II be correct by Two OF
the party confined in the prison OF 81 LOUIS WIN
Mcdaniel The communication OF lcpehi'I IS
well written.
In the Missouri Republican has appeared also
le,,sr from Hon. Edward Bales, at the request OF
Mcdaniel. impeachiug the correctness Of some state
ment- in the columns OF that paper reiau'e 10 "'
statement OF rowson haii-wiucd fellow wno was
convicted bat not sentenced with iicDaI1e'' ne
General tenor of Nh Bates letter goes 10 siio" HIS
belief in the correctness oi McDanel's statements
ho,b before and after trial alr. Thomas IL. Holt
corroboraes entirely Mr.. Bates's oPinlon and mus
sneaks o; Masons statement at The rst tria oi Iic
accused in Jefferson City, and Of the coroborauon
of il by the testimony OF Towson in the 81 Louis
trial From letter Of Mr.. Holt in the same paper
we make the following extract
Iwll -,n,e f- NY ecoec;inn OF Mason testimony on
the ,d, iT@ OF M9eH f atf siasd i a John MsDane
a., men Ind it the company said those Tenalnn= tfa
!, , ece'.nry to put Chay OF the way and thai tney
& DIM lot. in olsr to ascertain upon whom would de-
nye i XII nm i, fl. upon John Mcdaniel David Ncil9
a"d mel l Mason ioa aEd h. Gqi;, pase e & eaqe sppoeh
Chayi,. and requested him to waN WIN 3 ns Vr
and Brown following close N the rear Nier Ncl'lne H
Cay- hnd walked nity of one H'ihdte: S.,, az @ m IN
flrGuce Of d,m-rew and fired h, pistol which TOO. sisi M
the head Of GIays who pqns forward iso Js ara gao
David M,Ii@nei aud Eroyyn fired but rot unn Chars had
@' bm Gan Melnae @ il ii3d suddenly tewais t win an
threatening a TO force MN nas l |" % ry re-
collection Of Mason, testimony at le'ieron 'y la is iis
mgde with siisit ynrtton similar statement on e tile
iabn Nrjsn.l TIE above stated Synuls, Is confirmed by
the recoIrction OF my colleague J. T. CRoc NETT E' WIN
whom have lately couyerscd the subject In 'o e,enta
nntrular did 'Ioyson corrubotnc the testimony ~ Mason,
exrep as 10 OF casting lots "w 'l Siile'! % D. @
,1s md ('hayl. took walk wih David Mclnnc-Btown
md Mason following closely the renithat when about NJ
yards from the camp he saw haNls running, @ n ; 1
D1ne and HI. party IN pursuit firng al HIM rs tney f4l
That in this way Chdrs end hsparSHeS rdn aooh one % a
dfci yards heu John VI fJdn'l orcriod. hIH mar oRrtS
and e T)gna tripped and fell together 10 ne groHRi-
Brown reached spot where they had fallen bu ana n9 te
Mason soon arrrtd and instantly fTed ana he Sd" C@Hc's
Another of,he Prisoners, Joseph Brown, has writ
ten to the Editor OF the Old School Democrat IN
which he alleges thar the renson why s"ch 'fv'r'
Justice has been meted ou, TO them Is disposition
of the community of Saint Louis TO protect the San
ia Fc trade.
The question appears to be one Of great difficulty
and we hope will receive from tho Executive the at
tenon it merits.