Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-30

frsn Geo. Gordon.

MrssRs. EDFroRs - Ny friends may
wonder how could plead "not guilty TO
the legal charge Of aiding Captain DaFen-
por, o escape from prison, when the jury (
gave a different verdict, The testimony
was partly positive, partly circumstantial,
and the conclusion was an inference from
the two.
lst There was my own admission that /
I pitied him-had strong hopes that he .
would never repeat the ofence-did not I
consider il my duty under such circum-
stances 10 become the watchdog Of the JAIL 1
and had promised not TO interfere provided 4
he did not Involve me In the matter.
%. The three friends called 10 visit
me. One witness (by TO me, some un-
accountable mistake said that aOer they
wers in G few minutes I told Davenport 70
10 out. Hence the strong inference that /
meant to give him q hint 20 get ready 10
carry ont his plan. There must have
s0mothing occurred to give that impression
70 Ele witness, as his veraeiiy is not to be
Qz3siioned, yet / am utterly unable to ac-
count for Il. certainly never told him 70
70 dng When they, or any company we're
Wilhmel He However went out Of his own
acgoEdsH .-T ICI--
sd. ID was further testified that fol-
lowed them through the hall to the iron
d6or, struck the chain as q signal 10 call
some one to open it, and that We all stood
toqsthsr some seconds till the door was
oponsd. Hence the conclusion, as the wit
n1ssas noticed his hat and glasses, that /
must heTe,senn them and recognized them
asmy own. This inference also seemed
very conclusive, and the three together
seemed not to leave "a reasonable doubt"
Now, he facts as remember them were
those Davenport, as usual, went out OF
tbs raom amer my friends, Messrs. Spell
men. Hoyey aud Smith, came in. As they
passed out 10 the door along the hall, / fol-
loved, save the signal, and about the time
the door Was being opened, a eounterfeited
voice said, 81 am going out now too, and
Davenport came out enlarged in his over
coat j knew some person, or persons had
cone iats tie other rooms; but supposed II
was DaFenport and felt embarrassed with
NY promise MOTTO interfere with his ea-
oSpa and could not see whether 1t involved
me or not, and IN my confusion ayerted
nv ewes from him, and did not see my hat
ana glasses on him al all. Davenport
pnblisbed statement was, ~ took Mr.. Cor
d5n's hat ahd Epectscles unknown TO him,
and be. K IN no way responsible for my es-
care 10 this he would Of course have been
onaiifed, had not the prosecuting attorney
mankFsd 70 keep back my trial until he
vassentsnoed, and thus disqualified from
being q legal witness. solicited him tc
hrinE Il on at the February term but hS
deolined 10 DO SO. I have been informed
tfrf 7 could not have been sentenced until
NJ imprisonment for the y. S. oifense haC
closed but with the consent Of the Mar
shal probably might have been tried.
That the above statement is correct
mifht Be made probable by the bunglins
manner in which the escape was attempted
Bnt shall not write an argument Ny
wish Is only to make statement. VI
tIs trial I was not charged with bad mo
hxez OF evil intentions. Some Of tn
witnesses sTmpathiEed with me--and wit
fhs exception Of one individual-seeme'
candid and fair had also the sympath,
ef Tie jury, and was Recommended 70 th
rercT Of the court I don't - < th
Judee carries much Of the commodity b
ussl Recommended 10 administer. Hi
charge however was eminently candid an
Impartial. Should ever again be invite
to board at HUncle Sans" expense, hop
twill not be IN q Cleveland Jail cell
5 GEORGE GORDON,
IBERIA, May 24th, 1852
p. s. Judge spaulding defended N
with his usual eloquenee and abilit
In nv triad before the United State
court, be also argued the motion for ne
hearing. For al these services, he HOl
"a. q. Riddle and Esq Williamson, decline
compensation ItwRs an act ofgenercsit
which have no return to make, excel
LISTING gratitude. G. G.