Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-09

We copy the following FROM the indianapolis
Journal Of Saturday in regard to the forged let
ters of DAVIS and EckLEs, evidence which that
paper is forced to admit conhrms the statement
of Mr. HAYS which we published few days ago
The Journal says as it credited the letters al
legged to have been writ zen by Judge EcKLEs and
hon JoHN G DAVIS. il deems it due to them
ito give full account of the origin Of those
letters. and the way they came to Gen GARFIELD
which Capt. OSBORN, OF our Goth Battery, who
was fully cognizint Of the progress and compile
tion of the whole affair" gave that paper few
days ago. We copy as follows:
He (Capt Osborn is resident Of GreencastIe
and we'll acquainted with both Eckles and Davis
He says while Gen. Rosecrans was lying at Tel
lahoma last summer be capt 0 was at Nash
willie, and was there visited by one Oliver m
kin OF Greencastle, with whom he had had some
previous acquaintance In the course of con-
versation during his visit. Rankin said to Capt.
Osborn that he intended TO try TO get through the
| lines into the rebel army as sort of "outside"
spy Being asked how he intended 20 do it, he
said Gen. Rosecrans would pass him through.
and once in the rebel lines he had letters that
would secure him good treatment, Aud he ex
hIbited letters purporting TO be intrOductions
u Va H.
General John O. Breckinraige If you de
pend on those letters" sa,d the Captain
"you may find yourself in difficulty. They
are forgeries I know the handwriting of
both Davis aud Eckles well. and they never
wrote them" Rankin then admitted that they
had not but that they were limitations got up in
this city He nevertheless declared his inten-
ton 10 go on through the lines. He went down
soon after to Tullahoma 10 headquarters, and
4
a pass II was peremtoriy refused, the General
saying with some warmth. II will not have your
blood my skirts" Rankin then professed to
have some knowledge Of the movements Of the
rebel sympathizers in this State, and TO have been
in their confidence. and he proposed to come back
here aud obtain evidence upon which proceedings
might be based against them AT the same time he
exhibited the letters to Breeknridge as corobora-
ting evidence OF his statement. The matter was,
il might well be deemed OF importance enough to
merit consideration, and Gen. Garfield took copies
of the letters, as be statedin the House when tbey
we're read Rankin started hack to Nashville
4 ostensihly for Indiana. on his new mission, and
tthere again called upon Capt, Osborn and gave
| him The account which we have reported of the
4 Interview with Gen. Rpsecrans. The next day,
or soon after, he went South instead Of North,
and probably passed the rebel lines, but nothing
4 has been certsiniy learned Of him since. He left
the originals of the letters with some woman in
N ashville, but Capt Osborn did not tlknow her
name or residence, .oidO Is s0tfaibasi.nY
I This ststemeat,J which cannot be questioned
so far as j, rests upon Capt Osborn's own knowI.
4 edge and the material portion OF it does. con,
Arms the statement of Mr.. Hays, and complete
lls exouerates Davis and Eckles. and also IL exon
crates Gen Garfield from any ,imputntiops el
lausng forged documents knowingly or careIessIy
j. --------->@s s------sSc, - Al d .fass
4 "A great many deaths have receutly occurred
j throughout Owen county. from dipsheria nHd
spotfsd fever. and other diseases Utmost cases
We learn. the deceased persona we'd bu a fex
hours after being attacked by disease.