New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-30
.,,y GREAT TORPEDO CASE.
,n.,,.n Of 0se-Eyed thompson
YIRsT DAY.

w. ,bs foundation Of all the eSaminA'.ous anu
mes y - which have taken place OF wnS' Is
p'O'so- l,osu as the "Drury gang was set
PoPuiany ".,srSsy. before Justice Osborne at the
down III ..ors apparently complicated and ex'
fomO'' ~ crime than this, in which ThomP'
fensv' IA GOD. Arlington Bennett Thos. War
son. ~ r Ashley, Count Foster, and dozen
nef' 'O's r. figured as compainants and defend
w. 0,vsr talked the acumen Of legal skill ana
ans 80 progress there is made, the more mysh-
@ .,d complicated the whole appears. Mr. Ben
-s,h.. been honorably acquitted of the charge oil
s,,gerr. but is under another indictment, for OBJ
tanning money by fraudulent representations Ash
lev is convicted of forgery, in passing altered ous'
and il awaiting sentence; there are other indicf-
uepts Of the same nature against him, but VIII
nrobsbly be quashed. Drury Is on bail, TO be tined
on an indictment charging him with manufacturing
the Torpedo sent TO the house of Warner Tnomp'
SOD, tie Prosean Cycop of this intertwsted drama,
has been tried in Brooklyn for passing couH'efie'
or altered notes, and acquitted and no" apP'A'
10 undergo examination directly upon inc iV'pe'0
affair. ..o5 :,
A, ,hout 10 O'Clock Thompson appeared IN
Cont With his Counsel Enoch L. Camp Esq
-, NIXON. District Attorney, appeared on
- r. .be People To shorten the work, the
e., If an explosion at Warmers office was ed-
nae bv the defendant. The first witness ex'
IToistcin Failing, keeper Of Franklin House, at
Capapdagaa Knows the prisoner had been ~
witness' house on business for some documents, IN
search of criminals it as in May, 1872 the %o'h
NJ the month; saw accounts OF the Torpedo expo
sion. il was before ThompsoRs arrival heard
Thompson talking Of it, Of the box sent 10 w aneri
understood Thompson to say that ne was tne
maker; believe he said he was the inventor ana
that he was arrested Tor II ne sSiI 'i.a' nall III
agreed that he should be let OIL, II ne wouid teI
who sept the box but be said, think, tuat ne ala
not or would not tell who sentl 1t.
Cross.e ro,ained Took possession OF my house
a wear ago LIST of April; was before that 10 tne EN-
plov of the Auburn and Rochester haroad' az
conductor; left that employ when took 'ne mouse
left for the purpose of taking the house, no otner
reason had seen Thompson before lett the road,
I think latter part of March, l5i9 had no CONVEX
sation with him did not know him. except oy
sight, can't say how the torpedo conversation
began between myself and Thompson; others
were in the room | do not recoilect them believe
il was in the evening antsay what day; Ihomp-
SOD think was there day two; believe the talk
was on the second day believe he was there pre-
viously but can't say when; was standing up Wnen
this talk occurred, near the bar think was ou,-
aide of the bar; can't tell how many there were IN
the room nor who they were know there were
others there cant give the precise conversations
I'M. Phillips, Assistant District Attorney now took
Mr. Mex cons place :; believe was within three
OF four feet of Thompson when the conversation
occurred Thompson, think, gave something OF a
history of his ile told OF his going South, TO New
Orleans said he was shiPwrecked or me. win
some accident at sea F; gave description oil some
swindhng oper ations which he had been engaged
in ferreting out believe he said it was in this Cty
think he said who employed hun, but don't reco-
lect the name this is about all l can remembers
never saw Drury until saw him IN Court here In
February; was subpenaed by Mr.. Clark on the
mart of Drury; was paid by the man who served
The subpoena paid me SIS to come down with; the
second time he paid me $50 or go; TINS Is all
have received from any quarter Tor purposes Of
,Oese trials; am 30 years old born IN Montgomery
County Canaioharie; been earning my own sup
port since Twas IA first yearin Rochester with Jno.
Watts saddle and harness maker and Tor three
wears after in Schenectady as apprentice to Jo
sepb Lyons saddle and harness maker wentr
there home to Seneca Falls; had not served my
time out made arrangement with Lyons 10 re-
lease me soon went INTO business Tor mysehi
worked iourneywork previously with john DICK
inson he lives there Seneca Fails stlli bought
Dickinson out; kept for myself about year. then
went into my brothers store, same place, as clerk
in grocery and dry goods business sold out my
saddlery; had no means OF accOun, When WehI
into nv brothers store; was with him. Oh ana on
for two years then peddled dry goods can say
how long was CLERK, IT was from three u sax
months was paid by my brother; alter Lett him
went in charge OF a boat OF his on the canal 70 Al
bany; went two or three trips; then was taken
SICK aud did nothing OF consequence; III the W IN
ter of 80 my brother and self went 10 texas
and run a steam saw mill was IA business three
months, then al hands were taken SICK, and laid mp
for about eight months then went TO Galveston;
WINS taken sick while attending the store OF Mr..
Seckson; he gave me charge OF retah sio7ei
stayed till got means to bring me oacK' Drought
barely enough to get back was then IN no regu@
employment for some months; then got SITUATION
on the Auburn and Rochester hahroad, Where
remained until took my present hotel; Thomas
Beale owns the house; bought the good will
in March, ls49, from Mr.. Leman Is. CARING
house paid for furniture, &c. near $500;
paid about 81 100; the rest secured by mortgage;
paid on the LIST Of April last $500 or over; this was
money received in profits on my business bor-
rowed some, however, TO use Tor another purpose;
itswas S4O0 Of Milton Alcott about tue last OF
March on my own endorsed note or think gave
a note to run six months; not positive that gave
a note Alcott is manufacturer OF locomotive
lamps in Rochester; had known him i've years he
ian American; never saw HIM an TINS City 10 my
knowledge; never saw Acott aud Drury together
don't know that they have any acquaintance don't
think ever told the torpedo conversation to any
person until after l was subpenaed; don't know
why was subpenaed; may have spoken OF the
conversation, but don't think did; nothing said in
regard to q Canandsigua Bank between me and
Thompson that know OF, or OF any person who
owned Bank there; Thompsons manner was as
usual in every thing else, when talking Of the tor
pedo l should Judge he good talker he did
not In ony way enjoin secrecy IN the matter his
manner was oil hand thought the story was told
for another purpose, ferretng out the insurance
fraud in which supposed he was engaged; his
(ThompsOnsl manner was not such as in any way
calculated to make me suppose that he was the
person who sent the box James NJ. Smith. Esq.
was now at the elbow Of Mr.. Camp, and next 10
him sat ThOmPsonJ had no thought, at the time,
that thompson sent the box; think he said he had