The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-06-01
The Easton Conspiracy Case.

10 IHe EdiOF " 4 Ho W. i. 1ftouHe'
SIR: The public mind in Easton is
still agitated on the subject of the great
Conspiracy Case, and the newspapers are
full of the details of the trial. 1t seems
that DR.. Field and DR.. Lauchenour were
both physicians in full practice, and well
known in the community. The last named
gentleman has been resident of the
county about % years; during which long
period lie has sustained the character OF
a faithful, hard working man, extremely
exact and honorable in money matters
and altogether above suspicion in every
respect; and he seems never to have been
charged with that kind of pride or osten-
taton which sometimes leads weak men
into extravaganza and crime. There
seems to have been considerable excite
ment during the trial, and there was ap'
parently a prevailing idea that the de-
PENDANTS would escape because they were
rich. There was no doubt floating i'm
preston that the case was the cause of
the poor against the rich; though b it seems
that the parties concerned in the prose
cution were quite as wealthy and as we'll
able to spend money on the trial as any
of the defendants. Many people here
are beginning to reflect on this fact while
many others remember that the only wit
ness of Importance was this James II.
Stevenson; and that his oath alone was
put against the good character of the 9th
er parties; for without him there was no
evidence at all. The consequence is an
evident commencement of doubt and ques-
ton in the community as to the credit to
be given to this man who is, no doubt,
the most accomplished villain in the State,
and, perhaps, in the United States. His
villany and adroitness were sufficiently
plain on his own testimony, and, as the
first excitement of the trial is dying away,
there are symptoms, l think, of consid-
cradle change in public opinion on the
whole subject; but time will by degrees
develop the sober second thoughts of the
people, whatever these may be. This
Stevenson was a dark haired blacked
whiskered fellow, gentlemanly and stu
dent like, with rather sinister pair of
eyes peering behind his gold spectacles,
slow and heavy in talk. and rather timid
and awkward in manner, but very push
ing and not easily abashed. He came
here about two years ago, and was stu
dent in DR.. Green's Office; and, with this
introduction, he contrived to force him
self into great many families, and he
never failed to boast of his great intimacy
with any man who so much as nodded to
him in the street. It is impossible to
imagine how many plans ne may have
concocted against the citizeDs upon whom
he fastened himselfin this way. He was
also very pious, went to church, was a
communicate and made speeches in favor
of religion. l learn that the defendants
offered to prove at the trial that he was
actually convicted once before, and served
out his time for a conspiracy in an ad-
joining county; and since the trial, other
startling reports have come out respecting
his former career and his wonderful fore
sight and skill in villainous combinations.
These and other alleged facts are ex-
citing a good deal of attention among
people here and doubts as to the truth
fulness of such chaaacter, and of course
as to the real guilt of the convicted par
ties are increasing daily in the public
mind. Yours, &c, w.
EAsToN, May IS, 1854.