Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-19
Reported


Reported Arrest Of Hon. Joshua R.
A dispatch Of yesterday, from Buffalo,
announced that Hon. J. R. Giddings had
been arrested in Montreal for kidnapping,
and held to bail in the sum Of $50, 900.
Mr.. Giddings published a week ago the
following explanatory statement:
ITO the Editor Of the Montreal Herald.l
o. 6. CONSULATE GENERAL.
MONTREAL, Nov. IL, 1868.
SIR: l have read your article entitled
kidnapping" in this mornings paper.
and although prohibited by cur reguls-
tons from appearing in the public press,
feel 1t due to myself as well as the COM
muuity, to state what know of that trans
sction.
Une day last week q man called at my
ONCE, announcing himself a. " one Of the
detective police" in the employ Of the
Grand Trunk; said he wished 10 start with
G prisoner by the care Of that afternoon,
for New York, and as he was S dangerous
man, thought 1t proper to employ an assist
ant, but was apprehensive that they would
not pay the assistant at New York. an
swered that when he would deliver him to
the United States Marshal that officer
would see him conveyed. He replied that
It was arranged that he should 20 through,
and wanted a note from me advising the
payment Of the assistant. replied there
would be no doubt Of such payment, and,
without OBTAINING him, addressed note to
Mr.. Kennedy, recommending the payment.
csnnot repeat the words, kept no copy /;
but think Iststed that, in my opinion, an
assistant in such cases was proper.
This was in midday. The man appear
ed gentlemanly, was q Canadian officer, as
supposed, with whose duties 1 possessed
no right nor disposition to interfere. On
the contrary, l felt that delicacy forbade
either inquiry or counsel to any officer Of
the Canadian Government Had he re-
quested secresy or reserve 1 should have
suspected him, and would have hesitated.
But asking no word or hint from me to any
one save the Chief Of Police in New York,
had no deiicaey nor hesitation in saying
to that officer what wrote.
had not the most distant idea Of writ
ing or saying anything that could in sny
wsy Affect the rights or liberties Of any
person further than related to the pay.
ment, nor could my note or my words have
furnished any pretense for such charge
What Jones or others may have said in
regard TO my note, cannot tell; nor an
/ responsible. How he should have impos
ed upon Redpsth or the people ct the wharf
on board the boat, or on the cars, is mys
teriousi but presume they were deoeiv
ed, as l was, by the cool, frank, and sppar
emily honest bearing Of the man.
JOSHUA R. GIDDINGs.
P. S.-I should have said that .hst
never heard of the prisoner, nor that AM
person in Montreal was suspected or ohsrg
ed with the crime, nor Of the man cslle'
Jones, until he presented himself in m,
Office. Nor was il possible for me to enter
tain any feeling Of unkindness toward an,
person Of whom had neither heard no
rsad. J.RG.
The Montreal Witness has the fOllswinI
statement:
The MONTREAL KIDNAPPING CASE
Matthew HaWEins, tavern-keeper, yelling
ton street, lately member Of the Govern
ment police, is charged with being one @
the men who some days ago illegally al
rested in Montreal, and took to New Yorl
3 person named William Rsdpath. H'
Hawkins, asserts strongly that Redpat
left here Of his own free-Will, but if th
latter had attempted to escape, he, Hawk
ins, would have considered it his duty
hinder it, on the belief that The prison
er stood charged with murder. 1t will ;
remembered that on arriving at New Yorl
Redpath was discovered to be the wroD
man. The other party charged as bein
implicated in the Kidnapping, is the ThomG
Jones, who was, last winter, employed b
the customs authorities here, in obtainin
evidence Of the sale Of immoral photograph
in the city. Hawkins will be cOnmitte
for trial at the Quarter Sessions, but heav
bail for his appearance will be taken Il
morrow morning, should he be able to pr,
vide such. Jones is still at large.