The New York herald., 1845-03-04
Price Two Cents.

Providence, sc In the city OF PIovid eDce, this
10 h day OF Fe ebruary, lS45, appeared William Cor
don, and made oath that the afore written affida-
DIT py R.1 hm subscribed is trse IN all It's parts
Justice of the Peace.
!, Simon Mathewson, of Sctuaie, in the county
oiProvidence, on oath, declare and say:-
case Of the State vs. s Nicholas s Gordon, charged
rs the nstlgator OF, and accessory 10 the mur-
der OF the late Mr.. Amasa Sprague, at the last
osp,einoer term OF The Supreme Court that
alter the termination OF the trial of said Nicho-
las ana the DISMISSAL OF the jury feeling q strong
desire to see The scene of the murder and the
neghborlng grounds, ! determined to visit the
ground as returned to my home, being obliged 10
travel about mile out OF my way TO accomplish my
purpose-that accordingly, on the day of nv dis
mlssal by the Court, IN company with MIR. Lewis
chapman, young man then in my employ whom
found IN Olneyvllle, proceeded tow the said
scene OF ihe murder, taking the Johnston road,
! ard mat, While on The Johnston road, and
were overtaken by wagon containing three men,
one OF whom I.recognlzed as William Goraon, a
brother OF the said Nicholas, with whom enlt red
into conversation, which continued until we reach
ed Dyers bridge.
And further declare and say that on arriving at
said bridge l requested that some one OF the three
would accompany me and Mr.. Chapman over the
grounds, to point out to us the several places and
objects referred to in the trial, and that the said
William Gordon complied, and with us traversed
murder, and from thence to the bridge over Haw-
kins' Hole, and up the drlftway towards the Cor
don house.
That few minutes after crossing the bridge,
In the course OF conversation expressed my epnlOL
that John Gordon could not possibly have been
guilty OF the murder but to Nicholas, cnuld
not speak SO positively; there were some sUGra
circumstances against hIm-such owning tte
gun with which unquestonably the deed was oen.,
NC, &c [ noticed that when n | made mention ot
The gun, William seemed much affected. even
ihnHri md UaE aEfara
positive tone, 1t was not Nicholas gun that was
used in the preparation OF the crime and pro-
duced in court. then told him il had been prcved
70 be Nicholas gun for Nicholas told Dr. Ceve-
land that he had gun, which he bought at Amy's
auction and the negro Francis had sworn that
the gun IN court was The one he left with Almy to
sell The said William, deeply affected, reiterated
his denia. and when |, continuing to argue upon
the evidence, asked him where Nicholas gun was
that ne bought OF Amy, he said he knew where it
was. and would show it to me if would 60 to tho
house. To this readily assented and in company
with said William and said Chapman proceeded
| TO the Gordon house William leading us imme-
move piece OF cloth carpeting frem the floor, and
then piece OF the flooring boards. From the ca
vlty thus opened he took out gun, rather short,
| with a small bore, percussion lock, and half
stocked, somewhat rustv, with iron trimmings,
declaring that that was Nicholas gun that he put
II there on The evening of the day that Nicholas
and John were arrested, taking it from the small
room below. He said, also, that the reason OF his
secrehDg the gun was that IN his own country the
bare possession OF gun was crime, and know
ing that his brothers had been arrested he feared
that the finding of gun the house would be dis
advantageous 10 them. sne
On my enquiring why he had not disclosed this
fact before, he said that after he was himself ar
,ested the day following he feared to do So lest
should prejudice his case The said William also
sad that he had never shown the gun to any one
sace Its secretion until this time, and it is my i'm
fession that he requested me not to disclose the
'acs he had communicated. have, however, fre-
lueni!y spoken OF them TO my acquaintances, both
~ that day and since. (slgned y
PROVIDENCE. sc.-In the city of Providence this
esh' day OF February, lS45, there personally ap-
pea,ed simon Mahewson, and made oath that the
acts ana statements contained In The foregoing at
hdavl' ty him signed, are true.
THoM IS A JENcKEs, Justice Of the Peace.
!. Lewis Chapman, Of Olneyville, in the county
ot Providence on oaih declare and say:
That have listened attentvely to the affidavit
this day made by Mr.. Simon Mathewson, OF Scitu-
ate, In which he represents me as having accom-
panied him IN visit TO the scene OF the murder of
The late MIR. Amasa Sprague, and having been pre-
sent at a conversation with VIM. Gordon, near
rawkins' Hole, and at conversation afterwards
with the :, same person in the upper room Of the
Gordon House, when the said William produceda
gun, which he averred 10 be the gun OF his brother
Nicholas-that the said affidavit has been twice
rs ad in my hearlng-and that my recollection of
the facts IL that affidavit set forth corresponds In
every important particular with that OF Mr.. Md
thewson, as therein stated.
(Slgned) LEWIS CHAPMAN.
eighth day OF February, ls45, there personally ap-
peared Lewis Chapman, and made oath TO the
truth OF the facts and statements in the foregoing
affidavit by him signed
Before me, THOMAS A. JENcKEs,
Justice of the Peace.
], Thomas Cleveland, of Provisence, in the
county OF Providence, declare and say,
That few days after the commitment OF Nlcho-
las 5. Gordon to prison, charged with the murder
Of Mr. Amasa Sprague, he informed me that he
owned gun, and only one gun that II Was 1alf
stocked gun, which he bought al Ahny's auction
room and that II was in his store 'k- day OF
his arrest, he having seen II there, and placed II
behind or near the oil can, taking 1t up fiom tie
floor, after dog had thrown it down.
| further declare and say, that believe II wss
the information thus given me by said Nicholas,
which led 10 an examination OF Amy's books, and
to the discovery OF the fact that Francis lett gun
at Almy's 10 be sold, and to the summoDing OF
Fran els as a witness for the government.
And further declare and say, that was wit
ness the part of the government, in the trial OF
Nicholas 3 Gordon, and then testified to the facts
set forth in the first paragraph of this affidavit.
(Signed,) THOMAS CLEVELAND.
FRovIDENcE sc.-In the city OF Providence, his
l0th day OF February, A. d. lS45, appeared Thcs.
Cleaveand, and made affirmation that the aiore
written facts and statements by HIM subscribed,
are true IN all their parts.
Before me, J. G. HIDDEN,
Justice OF the Peace.
FATAL DURI.-The Columbia Cdyofinida says:--