Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-26
4. General Garfelds Charges Against Messrs
so % D.-, Davis and Eckles, Of Indiana.
THlLE11ERs PROVEN roBE BOGUS.
Anotier Isase Abolition SIander
o,,try Rcfuted. g.t,.

In reference to the copies Of letters recent
ly read in the House of Representatives by
General GARFIELD, of Ohio, upon which he
based his charge against Messrs. JOHN G.
DAVIS and DELANA r. ECKLEs, of Indiana,
o of reasonable correspondence with there
J el General JOHN G. BRECKENRIDGE, the In
dianapolis Sentinel of Friday has the follow
ing statement: b. -.,a tos -a s,D
Fortunately for Messrs. Davis and Eckles,
and without their knowledge, the proof
G happened to be at hand in this city, which
! Enthusiastically shows that the letters
charged by Gen. Garfield to have been
written by Messrs. Davis and Eckles, are
bogus, frauds, forgeries, and that they were
written in this city by other parties for
purposes which will appear. OliverS Ran
kin, the person introduced by these letters,
was well known in this State. In the three
months service he was employed as bugler
by Col Manson. Afterwards, in the three
years service, he was appointed Quarter
master of the 10th Indiana regiment, and
when Col. Manson was promoted, he became
Brigade Quartermaster under him. He is
represented to have been fine officer; brave,
dashlng and reckless. Subsequently, under
General Rosecrans, he was employed as q
spy. In that character he had crossed thrice
into the rebel lines and obtained valuable
information. The last time he came from
rebeldom it was in the character of rebel
mail carrier. He was tall, with an endur-
ing frame, and mentally of the kneenest
penetration. When here last July, he had
the appearance of Southern fire eater,
with long hair, planters hat and grey
suit, he looked the character well. At that
time the letters which purported to come
from John G. Davis and ID. r. ,Eckles, in
Producing Rankin to John c.. Breckinridge,
were prepared. They were written at the
clerks desk in the Office of Little's Hotel,
in this city. John G.. Davis and Delana r.
Eckles had no more knowledge of the mat
ter-had no more to do with writing or
They were not in the city at that time
Rankin was then about to start on what he
regarded perilous trip. He so expressed
himself to his friends here. He told them
that he did not expect to get through alive,
and remarked that, some day they would
read an extract from some rebel paper an
nouncing that another Yankee spy had been
hung. He knew that Messrs. Davis and
Eckles had been well acquainted with
Breckinridge, and the letters were written
with the hope they would aid him in case
he should be arrested or his character sus-
pected. And 1t was his intention, if he
had returned in safety, to have destroyed
them. He so stated to friend here.
In corroboration Of what we state, we
produce the statement of Mr.. j. Nc.
d. Hays, who has been office clerk in
Little's Hotel for two years past, and who
Is well known as a young gentleman of
strict integrity and veracity. Mr.. HAYS
had long been an intimate friend of Ran
kin's. As will be seen he was present when
the lettres were written; he read them after
they were written, and he knows them to
be bogus. He pronounces them such, and
that Messrs. Davis and Eckles had no
knowledge or completely in the matter
whatever. Other parties were present at
the time and are cOgnizant of these facts
The following is the statement Of Mr.. Hays:
"The undersigned was well acquainted
with Oliver S. Rankin. The last time saw
him was at the Little's Hotel in this city, in
July, 1863 j have read the letters read by
General Garfield in the United States House
of Representatives, dated July, 1868, pur-
porting to have been written by Hon. John
G. Dayisand Hon. ID. r. Eckels (or Eckels),
introducing said Rankin to John G. Breck-
5inridge, a General In the rebel army. To
my knowledge those letters were written at
tine desk In the Office of Iittle's Hotel. 1
they were so written. Neither John G. !.
Davis or ID. r. Eckels had any participa-
tion In, or knowledge of, the matter what
ever. The said Rankin was acting In the
capacity of a spy. He had, as such, crossed
the rebel lines three times. The, last time
his friends heard iron Rankin was three
days before the battle of Chickamauga, and
then he was at Braggs headquarters, and
they now suppose him to be dead. The OBJ
iect the said Rankin had in view in writing
the letters referred to, was to aid him In
case he should be arrested by the rebels, as
he thought such letters would recommend
him to the rebel authorities In such an event,
and help conceal his true character. 5h 7
~ make this statement as matter of ius-
tice to Messrs. Davis and Eckles, whom /
know, but with whom have no political
sympathy. 1t was the purpose of Bankin
to have destroyed the letters named above
II he had returned from his mission In
"Mr. Rankin was staunch Union man,
and an excellent officer. His daring and
bravery had received many commentators
from his superior, officers. Gen. Manson
complimented him very highly In his off,
cial report for his servicesat the battle Of
Mil Springs, IS y y = l'''''''7
Is indianapolis, April 2l, 1894"
We have made this expose somewhat
lengthy to show how easy 1t Is, and upon
apparently good evidence, too, to base
against any citizen. Rankin probably did
not intend to harm Messrs, Davis and
EclSles, although he was not their political
friend. He perhaps thought nothing be-
yond the means Of carrying out his enter
prise, but II the fact had not been known |