East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-09-08
From tho Cleveland Plain Dealer,
r. j. McHENRY. io3

This noted individual at the present
writing occupies the position of cook on
board the schooner Grey Eagle, in the
Buffalo and Cleveland trade. The pay
is Sl5 per month. We visited him yes
terday, at his request, and he covered the
cabin table with huge pile Of documents
with which he purposes blowingthc Can
adian Government sky-high on the first
favorable opportunity. He is not in a
very happy frame of mind. lie has
about arrived at the conclusion that this
world is humbug, especially that por-
ton of it known as Canada West and
says the happicst part cf his life was when
he was private in the army Of our I'm
Gle, the %cnerablc Samuel, and wore
conrsc blue clothes and devourcd salt
junk away off at Pugcts Sound. Many
people in Canada still believe he is the
notorious Wm Townsend, whose black
and cold blooded crimes made his name a
terror throughout Canada West and all
along the Lakcshore. He tried to lee
ture in Vienna near Port Burwell few
weeks ago, and barely escaped being mob
bed by the excited citizens. Her Malcs-
tvs subjects across the Line regard him
with suspicious eye. Children in the
street pause from their play when Me-
Henry passes and whisper, "There goes
Bill Townsend, the murderer" and fe-
males of advanced years franticly clutch
their smelling bottles for fear of swoon.
ing when they hear he is in town. lie
says the prejudice this side of the Line is
strong against him. He can't get any
thing to do that suits him. He writes a
rapid, elegant hand and is good ac-
countant, yet he says tradesmen, &c.,
give him the frigid shoulder when he
asks them for employment. Lccturing
is PLAYED out-nobody will assist him in
publishing thrilling book--and so he
goes for sailor.
This mans case was a remarkable one.
Perhaps it has no parallel in criminal
jurisprudence. He was tried twice for
crimes committed by Townsend-the
murder of Nellis and Ritchic. In the
first trial the Jury dsagrccd--on the
second he was declared to be McHenry
and not guilty. One hundred and sixty
five witnesses, in both trials, sworc posi-.
lively that he was Townsend About
half that number swore that he was not.
a few witnesses from California, who
came all the way from there to Canada
xlrcssly to testify, saved him from the
gallows. Immediately after the conclu
sion of his second trial he was arrested
for highway robbery; for robberies com
mitted by Townsend, the man he had
Just been declared not to be! He was
released on f700 bail. This case never
came to trial and probably never will
He was confined IL months in the Cana
da gaols. His trials cost the province
about $4,000. He asked redress of the
province in the shape OF compensation
for his sufferings and hardships and how
personal interview with the Governor
General, who told him that 'notwith
standing the verdict Of the Jury the ey'
of the law looked on him as Townsend,
and no compensation could be allowed
him. The description Of Townsend a
given in the handbillls put ont immedi
ately after his flight from CANADA bear
no more resemblance to that Of McHcnr,
than the portraits of Martin Luther d.
to those Of the Benicia Boy. Ccrtainl
'the eve of the law" alluded to by hi
royal highness the Governor General
was sadly cooked, il not stone-blind, il
the case of II. j. McIIenry.