The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-11-05
Correspondence of the Conspirators.

The following Is a portion OF the cores
pondence and papers found on old John
Brown after his capture at Harper Ferry
1t may help to elucidate the mystery that
at present overhangs and enshrouds the
affair, and possibly be the means Of aiding
the investigations and bringing 10 justice
the dastardly miscreants who have been
engaged in assisting and abetting this wild
and tanatical scheme, and also of showing
the completely of men occupying respecta-
bic positions in society in the North and
West 1t is clear. from the correspond
ence. which dates back for many months,
that the objects of this movement were
we'll and extensively known throughout
the North, The names used 10y the par
ties engaged to designate the movement
are in most instances fictitious. Sometimes
it is characterized Mining operations,
then Missionary work" Stock opera
tons then again as Kansas work. &c.
But the correspondence below speaks for
itself:
"OuR MUTUAL FRIEND, ISAAC WHO rs HE?
WEST ANDoAER, OHIO,
Saturday July 80, 1859.
J HENRIE ESQ. Chambersburg. Pa
DEAR SIR: yesterday received yours of
the 25th inst together with letter of in
structions from our mutual friend Isaac,
enclosing draft for Sl00 Have written
YOU as many as three letters, think, be-
fore this. and have received all you have
sent probably.
The heavy freight of fifteen boxes
sent off some days ago. The household
stuff. consisting of six boxes and one chest,
! have put in good shape, and shall, |
think. be able to get them on their way on
Monday next. and shall myself be on my
wav northward within day or two after.
Enclosed please find list of contents of
boxes, which it may be well to preserve
All we'll The drouth we are now hav-
ing in this region is fast finishing all
that has started since the frost The grass
crop is so light that people are becoming
alarmed now, especially since the corn
crop is most likely to be total failure
Shall write often. Respectfully, &c,
j. SMITH
PRE-EvESrFUI. SHADOWS, AND CURIOUS e.
Pliers.
WEST ASDovER, AsHTABrLA Co, O.,
Wednesday, Sept 2l, 1859
FRIEND HESRIE: Yours of the l4th inst,
I received last night-glad to learn that
the Wire has arrived in good condition,
and that our r. friend was pleased with
a view of those pre-eventful shadows. y
Shall write Leary at once, also our 9th
er friends at the North and East Am
highly pleased with the prospect of doing
something to purpose now, right away,
here and in contiguous sections, in the
way of getting stock taken. | am devot-
ing my whole time TO our work Write
often and keep ME posted upciose Here
follow some Photographic characters, which
| may be read: | have learned phonogra-
| phy, but" not enough to correspond to
any advantage. Can probably read any
| thing you may write, if written in the
corresponding style Faithfully yours,
.JoHN SMITH
| Please say to father to address phono-
! graphic characters which might rea'l
"John Luther when he writes me. 1
wish YOU to see what have written him.
j. S
FRIEND ISAAC AGAS-NEErISG OF srockHoLp-
WEST ANDovER, AsHrABULA Co., O.,
| tuesday Sept. 81, 1859
! FRIEND HENRIE-I have just received
friend Isaacs of Sept. Goth, with one from
yeu and an enclosure per Anderson |
much regret our friend Isaac did not send
me any means AS l shall make no effort to
raise anything in that way through the
public to meet my private expenses ]
never have done SO, and l cannot now be
gin
Since / became aware that you intended
opening the mines before spring, l have
| spared no palms. and have strained every
nerve to get hands forward in season
do not, therefore, feel to blame for any er
ror in respect to time Ihad before never
heard anything else than that the spring