The New York herald., 1845-04-13
Vrtal OF Nicholas 3. Gordon for the murder
OF Amasa Sprague.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON, April 10.
WILLIAM II. GaEErE-saw Nicholas g. Gordon about
oocieck on the day Of the murder; he was going up
westminster street, IN this city.
PAUL WHEFLocK-Went into Nicholas Gordons store
early in the winter Of ls4s and before the murders had
seen Nicholas before, but not acquainted with him.
he was talking about his license and Mr. Sprague said he
would he reveRged on Sprague, and seemed angry; he
was tlking to man did not know; stopped only about
GLEs JAMES was in Nicholas Gordons store in the fa
OF ls4s asked him for glass OF brandy he said he had
no license; said Amasa Sprsgue, damned Agerine had
prevented his getting license but that Amasa Sprague
would be out Of the way before another year and would
getting license. he said would have his revenge il
God spared his lile also called there the last Wednes
brandy Gordon he had no license and that il he sold
wi hou one they would prosecute him saw him at Mat
tavern in this city, the night Of the murder;
he called there with he called OBrien snd nqur
ed the time Of night; some one said Mr.. Sp ague was
dead; Nicholas said s it possible !" said il was mpossi
be; OBrlen said he glad OF Nicholas said he
sorry, and said OBrien, you talk so the people in
the house won't like it, end shall 20 along they went
out door, and turned up the street.
Crosse eramned.The subject Of the murder being
talked about at the when Nicholas came n he ap
peared sincere when he said he sorry and seemed
she cked when he learnt Sprsgue was murdered.
| tHApEys MArcHEsrKR-I was in Nicholas Gordon's
shop early on the Saturday morning before the MURDER
sell it, az he had license Ben Kit in, and nc
gave him something from Aug in tumbler, which
took to be new rum Nicholas said Sprague had kept
him from getting lie and said he would have him
out OF the way or put him out OF the way before next
Gouns men ID Gs
gun.
Cross tramned-I have known N. 8. Gordon good
many years; what he said, did not impress me very
strongly he did not eDoin any secresy OF what he said
consuct never % nisnusted he would xii Mr. sprasue
NIonoLAs sHsErvs-saw Nicholas Gordon in septem-
Der October, l843 at tavern in Warwick he asked
me when the Council in the town Of Warwick told
him, not till the second Monday in next month"; he said
Mills then asked me if William sprasue was in War
wick what Amasa Sprsgne was in Cranston said Amasa
Hss sS and Ss 5
Cosseramned This 6rst occurred to my
know who Gordon was, when he talked with me; in.
quired and his in less than half an hour
JOHN srkvEss-saw N. 8. Gordon at Hoyle's tavern
in this city, Monday morning after the murder; asked
med; said he sorry for it, the chief Of his bust
siness came from the who worked in Spragues EN-
Pioy: said it would hurt bis business some one men
| should.
ago Nicholas have coat the color Of which re-
sembled the in Court when first saw this coat after
had ss
Gordon coat and this might have helped the impression
Of resemblance
ter hs murder had lately came from FAN River; he
told there had been sad oar in the vilage he stated
to me where he on Sunday: said he had been
Mr. sprsgue: he felt ashamed to 90 alone: he also
said he felt ashamed to to the place Of murder alone
but he intend'd TO 60: thought ne looked dhersn,y
lock me in the face.
| Cross.eramined-I knew that Gordon was suspected
and believed him to be guilty.
s. B. CUSHING Il made the calculation Of the apparent
time OF sunset on the sst of December. ls4s A. the
place where the body found 1t would be o'clock 90
minutes: at spragues house, O'Clock "a minutes at
Kingston's, O'Clock a5 minutes
AMOS PoTrER-Sawi Nicholas Gordon in the road near
Mr. knights house, in Cranston the night of the
der: tall man with him: thought he was intox
caed he said bad affair has happened out here: thank
God did not help kill him: was not here
ATTORNEY GENERAL BLAKE here stated that the Govern
nent had no further testimony to introduce
vernment evidence and had not concluded at half past
O'Clock when the Court adjourned to meet tomorrow
| morning at o'clock.
Mr. Porter resumed and concluded bis opening argu
ment touching upon ell the evidence which had been
troduced by the and TO the charge
| set forth in the indictment.
When he had concluded,
SAMUEL CuRRr opened for the prisoner briefly setting
forth the propositions which the defendant would attempt
| to establish, and then proceeded to examne the
PRIsoNERs WITNESSES. -
| HonArIe N. WArERMAs Recalled for the prisoner
Was by when De Merritt traced the foot prints Il
Gordons house did notice any tracks leading from
tho house towsrds Hswkins' Hoie heard Of any
recollect that Mr. De Merritt spoke Of such track
former trial never heard Of i till now.
CTOeSsf1dm1ne0-lW
chard; was several rods from De Merritt
Direct II was locking for tracks, and had the same op
portuny when near the house. to observe such track
WALTER BEArrIE-went with Rowland Mathewson to
Bog Meadow with boot to see If il would 4, the track
running ards Gordon's house This was before any
rain had fallen, bat cannot recoect what day 1t was
We found no track the boot would fit.
ANDREW BRIcos.- Went to place Of murder Sunday
between my house and place Of murder got over the
fence rods from Gordons house. and went directly
Hawkins, WIKI Hole % and took the euas drway Or On;
notice any track leading from the swamps to Gordons
| house.
| Asny AVN KrNa. = Nichoiss Gordon boarded in nv
house from Sept 1884, to June or july lSA2 He had
svercost when he came to board with and bought
one now in Court think; never saw him have the blue
found in swamp; never it, till sew it here The
frst older coat he gave to me when he went away
and 1t afterwards cut up. Thinks was Of dark
green co'o;.
not shaggy, ike coat found in swamp.
MARoARET 0oRDoN, sister Of prisoner-Came to this
country June, lsas and stsd with Nicholas till No
vembe Have him have the green coat frequently
never him have the blue coat; saw before
saw il in Court We used the back door of the house
cheAy went to the prvy from that door never heard
Nicholas use any threatening language towards slr.
the murder committed was at home on Christmas
day; John and william were both there.
Nicholas III Cranson, since to this country, in
June ls43 the green coat resembles belonging to
Nicholas the blue coat never saw I'LL saw in court
ives At home the day Of the murder had not been
from Christmas used the back door Of the
swept the dit cut Of that door, threw the sops
there and went to prvy from that door did not
John have gun on day Of murder.
Crosseramnsd- ssy positively that have seen
the green the possession OF John Nicholas IA
pair of pansaloons taken from Gordons house. were
shown 10 wtness1 Don't know as ever saw them in
the house Was In the house all day on Mondsy after
the murder there good many people in the store,
but did not into the house the officers came In in
the evening.
Csswel, given former trial II set forth that
fe to the depth OF inches the 27th December,
1884, that fell after that period, and prior to
the time Of murder.
Orn srorE = Lived about thirty rods from Gordon's
house at time Of murder wasntately acquainted with
Nicholas Gordon had known him hre six years have
him the green overcoa; never saw the blue
in his possession heard him threatening
language against Sprague his dog used 10 lay behind the
counter Ihave been behind the counter, but never
noticed what the dog lay
Cross,raind-I think Gordon kept store in Cranston
from three years ego last spring. till time OF mur