Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-26
Michigan Railroad Conspira sors.

Michigan Railroad Conspiras ors.
The following is part of the testimony on the
trial of these scoundrels at Detroit. Henry Phelps
testified as follows in relation to the plot to burn
the depots:
Mr. Van Sickles, who was then on bail for
counteffeiting. could be placed in jail-:he depot
at lpsilanti, Ann Harbor. or some other one be
burned, and on furnishing information who fred
it, Van Sickles could get released. and they could
also doubtless get $1,000 reward from the Railroad
Company for the information. besides getting
$500 from his (Gay'>) friends for setting fire.
/ II was suggested that the burning should be laid
to Joseph Boyce.
The witness asked why not prosecute similar
plot upon the burning of the depot inst burned,
to which Gay replied that it would not do ''there
are too many Of us engaged in the burninr,' and
besides he rather thought Boyce was in Jail at the
time.
He subsequently, met Van Sickles at Gays
House, when Gay stated the plan OF operation.
He would first get Boyce out Of ai; then they
would burn depot somewhere upon the road and
swear it upon Royce. Cav said he knew first
rate man and his wife who would swear that
Boyce tod them before the burning that he was
going 10 burn it, and afterwards he had done it.
When Phelps asked who woald pay the 5000,
and if it would surely be paid, Gay said it woald;
| they had paid $3.50 for burning the depot in this
city, and gave witness TO understand he had the
money in his bar. Gay kept sort of grocery
in the upper part of The citv.) He said he knew
the man bv sight who paid over The $3.50. bn'did
not remember his name-t was raised bv CON-
pany of men.
At another interview, Cav said he burned the
depot in Detroit with match placed in the Gu
| pola; the match was in box. Smith heard part
| of the conversation. and afterwards intmated
that he received portion of the Sl5G; said Gay
did not keep quite all of it.
Next saw GAY on the 18th February. at Gen.
/ trail Railroad Depot, near Johnson's Hotel and
| Savnack's Saloo+; had conversation relative TO
| the burning of the depot. Gay showed him $50
which he said he had received from the same man
who paid him the $3.50 for burning the old de-
pot; il was paid for burning the new depot; said
he had been furnished with two matches for the
| purpose, the same as the one with which he was
Furnished to burn the old depot, and by the same
person.
Cav said the person who delivered the match
was then in the city. Next saw Gay 2lth Feb
ruary, at his house; Mr. Lake went with me. Got
there about 9 P. NJ. Gay related the conversation
again; said he was bound to clear Van Sickles. but
could not predicate it upon the burning OF cd de-
pot, because Boyce was in Jail when the old one
was burned. He exhibited match which he said
was like the one used in burning old depot. He
stated in presence of Lake the amount he received
for burning old depot, and how he received il; HE
match exhibited was similar to one subsequently
found at Gays house; it was in Gays chamber
when he saw II; he brought it from bed room;
il was the same match subsequently seen by
Clark and Van Arman.
Next saw Gay in fore part Of March, at s:Bill
Browns house in this city-Lake was present.
GAY reiterated his former story how he managed
to fire the old depot He went in while hands
were at work, went up stairs and deposited the
box in the cupola, placed the fire in the box be-
fore he left home, and when he left it, took off
the cover was good deal OF talk about burning
40, AZ int
the evening of 1st-April, at his house; Mr. Van
Arman was with me. Gay again reiterated in
substance what he had before told about burning;
sand he could give the new depot better scorch-
ing than he did the old one.
Was next at his house on the 9Th Of April, in
company with Darius Clark and Mr. Van Amman;
| had general conversation in reference to burn
ing the new denot, and also, the old: was there
| again with the same person and Mr. Lake on the
| night of the 9th, conversed about burning depot.
! Gay said he coaid make more by burning depos
on the railroad than BY any other way he could
get $50 more for burning the new than the old.
Again he referred to the scheme OF laying it 10
Boece, and told them he would see David Stuart
in the morning and find ont whether Boyce was
in Jail at the time the old depot was burned, and
also how much the Railroad company would pay
| to be informed vino burned it; and Van Arman
(who had gained the full confidence OF GAY as
co-iaborer Twas to go to Hilsdae and get sold Se
against Boyce. and the Railroad company paying
500 reward for the information. eve suppose
Van Sick!es had been liberated by some other
! means.) Bean a.@,a44as .saa@ ~.
On that night, asked Gay to see the match, as
witness was about TO have one finished and wish
ed TO see if il was made right. Gay said there
were good many about the house. bat he would
get it and exhibit it up stairs. He did so, and
Clark and Van Arman saw it at the same time,
and witness, at the suggestion of Clark, went up
the second time alone, and placed private mark
upon it. In conversation about burning the new
depot. said he had the tools in his house to do it
with the same as used in burning the old one,
and they would take effect.
Witness introduced Van Amman under a ficti-
tious name as man from Indiana, who came to
get Doty ont of Jail. He had before told him
that he had friend coming in dav or two, for
that and kindred purposes. He also told Gay
that Van Arman was an engraver and had got up
a plate for comterfeitn, bills on the Michigan
State Bank. Van Arman showed Gay number
of genuine S. bills in blank, as counerfeits, and
a partly finished counterfeit 50 plate. which
pleased Gay very mach, especially the fves, as
thew were SO good an imitation of the genuine.
Mr. Van Amman, and also Mr. Clarke were more
or less disguised by their dress.
WOLF. Of Ill.,, and who came recommended as the
right kind Of fellow for operations On the
first night Clarke affected to be pretty drunk
witness and Mr. Van Arman executed the matter
by saving that he was on a considerable of
bender that day, owing to big strike he had re-
Gently made in some counterfeit bills on the Wis
cousin Fire and Marine Insurance Bank, but he
would be all right by the next day, when he be-
came sober Clark during the evening, exhibit