The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-08-07
From the Boston Pest, July 24.l
Freedom Of Speech in Boston.
Persecution Of Democrats Rebuked,


Persecution of Democrats Rebuked,
U. s. CoMMIssroNER's COURT
ednesday-Befure Il. Merwin.
U. s. Us. II. S. Gordon ct al.
charged with being Secessionists
with giving aid and comfort to tn,
enemies of the United States
7. K. Lathrop for U. S.; Georg,
Sennott and Ii. M. Parker tol
IL Dana, jr., the Districl
Attorney, appeared and said III
substance that there was no statute
OF the United States under which
the Gordons could be held merely
for expressions Of hostility to the
Government, or for receiving in.
telligence from the South that
such things were not actually trea.
son, there being no overt act
proved; that the line must be
drawn somewhere, and that, al.
though the conduct of the Gordons
was pretty close up to it, he must
enter nolle prosequi in the case.
II. M, Parker, Esq, replied that
after what had been said by the
attorney, it was his duty to protest
against any disposition of the case
now except by hearing and de-
termination by the magistrate. lie
said that no one of the five Cor
done had been shown to be guilty
of even improper talk, except
Harry, the youngest, and then
under the influence of liquor. He
also warned these self-constituted
committees that the community
would not tolerate such interference
as they had been guilty of. He
thought the counsel foT the de-
PENDANTS ought to have an oppor-
tunlty to vindicate the character
of these men. He had not himself
prepared to argue this case, having
from the beginning left that to Mr..
Sennott, the junior counsel.
Mr.. Dana said that an argument
in the case after the Government
had abandoned it would be useless
But if anything could be said in
vindieation of the Gordons, il
would be quite fair to allow it.
Mr., Sennott was obliged to the
District Attorney for that. lie
said that after what the Gordons
had suffered, it would be no ad.
vantage to them to argue theiI
case. What they wanted theft
counsel to do was to vindicate their
character, and expose the mean.
hess of the prosecutors. This he
proposed to do now. He then ad.
dressed the Commissioner as fol.
lows: .
Charles P. Gordon is sixty years
old. He has four sons. They are
all natives of New England, and
silversmiths by trade. They reside
in the suburbs, and do business
here. on Washington street, in the
building of deacon Palmer. They
are men of respectable standing,
and as to their political sentiments,
they voted for Douglas. They are
the parties prosecuted.
Mr.. Peter Hobart is a honse-
builder, and deacon of Park
street Church. Mr.. Haves is a
Superintendent of the fremont
Temple, and was member of the
Church of Mr.. KaIloch. Mr..
Thrasher is an acquaintance and
sn associate of theirs. Mr.. Pal
mer is another deacon, in whose
building committee met to try the
loyalty of these suspected persons.
Mr.. William Washburn is an
architect-formerly a member Of
the City Council. These persons
are of Republican politics, and are
the real prosecutors.
Mr.. Thrasher complained to Mr.
Hobart that the Gordons were dis
affected people, who sympathized
with the South. Mr.. Hobart, act
ing rpon that information, wrote
them a letter, which, with its an
swer from the Gordons, is in the
case. The next day, by the invi-
tation of Deacon Palmer, the above
named persons met by concert i'll
his basement, with q number oil
others; elected Deacon Palmer
chairman of the meeting, and then
called the Gordons before them.
The eldest son being asked by
Mr.. Hobart, the letter writer, if he
would satisfy them of his loyalty
by putting out flag, replied in an
outburst of passion that he would
not be coerced, especially by his
enemies. Mr.. Wasliburn attempt.
ing to interfere, was interrupted
by this Gordon, to whom, for some
reason or other, Mr.. Washbnrn is
odious, and informed
him that from him nothing woulG
be heard. From this violent scene
the son was drawn away by the
father, end the strange committee
dissolved aud disappeared Cd; through |
Deacon Palmer's pacH do door. TheI
Assistant district Attorney was |
then informed that the GOrdons
i .s..n,, did and cnmfnHk To the |