The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-29
The Michigan Railroad Conspiracy Trial.

The STATE OF MICHIGAN VS.. ABEL S. FITCH.
Henry Phelps of the witnesses for the prosecution
occupied the stand the oath and 25th inst His est
mony il Of the most positive character lie says he
applied by Fitch TO burn of the depos either at
Marsha, kalamazoo Anu Arbor Niles for which he
would pay him 500 Saw Fitch ut the State fair when
he invited him phelps) his house where he would be
supplied with any amount Of counterfeit money he
might desire II he did not wish to burn the depot him
self be could employ some one else, and make good
thing out Of it, as he would have nearly the whole OF the
$500 Fitch told him that he paid $3.50 for the burning
of the depot at Detroit lie had conversation about
one OF the party named Laycock who, 1t was feared,
would expose their plans and 1t deermine "a
him arrested and sent 10 prison, it a pity kill
the propositions Fitch lie (Ritch) spoke of the
depot in this city, said they had prepared the match
there and sent it to man in this city, and paid him
$50 for burning the depot said IL constructed
TO burn given time and they gave instructions about
IL he did not tell who the person 1t sent to- but
said II had been done directed and when II burst out
it spread rapidly that all the in the river could
extipguish it, said they had Injured the company
TO the amount Of about half million Of money during
the past year would double the ensuing year
He said they going TO burn the depot
they got it hnhed said they had warned people not
TO ride the road and they knew better than to
do it, and he did not d-n who they killed IL it
the Governor Of the State In got into din
Guilty in burning the Niles depot, he said he would bail
cut change the and remove the to jack
son, when he could get witnesses to out;
he (Fitch) said his influence there great, and
that all the new officers Of the county were
pledged against the road; he could do better with the
new officers than he could with the old ones; said he
could get host OF witness to put down traitor to
friend. and named large number; said he
could impeach the best man In Jackson county who
would come up and swear against them; said be could
get the best men in jackson county to assist him In
difficulty. Heard Williams say witness might go before
grand jury against them but would live be-
fore petit, jury heard Fitch and Corwin make similar
remarks. Sometime in January Mr Darius Clark wrote
letter and afterwards came to my house; Invent to
the Centre after that found Fitch at the ball alley had
talk with him alone; he spoke Of Laycock; said he
in Detroit and wanted something done to prevent his
exposing them VIM Lang and III. Wakeman came in
and broke of the conversation; after they le Fitch
spoke to me about burning Niles depot took me into
f'ys bar room and then into small built into
the bar room. and exhibited TO me a match which he
iad made like the used TO burn the Detroit
depot said they would give this another one, TO
go to Niles with and said they preparing give De-
troit another touch they getting pretty well built
up again. this match cerreponded to the described
by Riley In construction but not exactly in shape this
very similar to the Afterwards given to me TO
60 TO Niles with and fire that depot.