Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-22
General GarfEetdfs Charges Against
ue.srs paws aud Eckies-Ihe let
ter. Proven To be Bogus-Another
Islander Refufed-

ue.srs paws and EckIcs-The let
ter. Proven To be Bogus-another
Siandcr Refuted-
We yesterday copied from the Cincinnati
Gazette the letters read BY General GARFIELD
In the House Of Representatives upon which he
based his charge against JoHS G. DAVIS and
DELAxs r. EcxLFs. of this State. Of treason
able correspondence with the rebel General,
JoHS G. BRKDxiSRIDeE. The special Washing
Ton dispatches 20 the Cincinnati Commercial.
dated the 18Th. under the head of "Copperhead
letters OF introduction 70 a rebel General" CON-
mcnts as foIlows.
Mr.. Garfield caused the letters. to which he
referred in his speech in reply 70 Mr. Long. 10
be read in the House to-day One was from John
O. Davis. while 10 Congress, the other from
Judge Eckies. also Of Southern Indiana. each
introducing the bearer 10 General Breckinrdge
as one Who was Disguised with his experience in
the Union army or with he party ia power, and
wishing enter into the Southern services; all
fayors rendered 70 whom would be gratefully re
ciprocated By the writer.
These letters were procured by young man
whom Garfield sent South as a spy with them rs
credentials. The letters read 10 the House were
copied carefully, and traced on tissue paper.
The Terre Haute Express. edited by some fel-
low destitute alike of brains, decency and integ-
rity. in commenting upon the matter. under the
famiag caption of 1.-The traitors in Indiana"
says:
John G.. Davis and Judge Eckles then are the
recruiting officers Of JEFF Davis. in the Seventh
District Of Indiana. What a chapter; what
truthful comment on the Democracy of Indiana.
The villains deserve condign punishment; they
will receive the eIecration Of all loyal men
What double dyed villain the fellow must be
who would thus seek to iniure the reputation OF
honorable men and good citizens-assassin-lik like.
before an opportunity was given them TO show
the falsty OF the charges brought against them,
or expose the plot by which their good names
we're TO be blasted
And the Indianapolis Journal, in similar spirit,
exhibits its chronic hatred of Democracy by
vouching for the eenuineness o. the letters and
making Il the occasion for repeating upon such
hmsy evidence its ISLANDERS upon the Democratic
party generally.
Fortunately for Messrs. DAVIS and EcxLEs.
and without their knowledge. the proof happened
to be at hand in this city. which crcumstantIally
TO have been written by Mes~rs DAVIS and
EcKLs. are bogus. frauds. forgeries.
and that they were written in this
city by other parties for purposes which
will appear. OLIVER s RANKIN. the person in
troduccd by these letters was well known in this
State. In the three months service he was en-
ployed as bugler by Col MASsos Afterwards,
in the three years service. he appointed
Quartermaster of the 10Th Indian, regiment, and
when Col. MANSON promoted. he became
Brigade Quartermaster under him. lie is rep
resented to have been a fine officer brave. dash
Ing and reckless. Subsequently. under General
RoskcRASs. he was employed a spy. In that
character he bad crossed thrice into the rebel
lines and obtained valuable information. The
last time he came from rebcldom il was in the
character Of a rebel mail carrier. He was tall.
with an enduring frame. and mentally of the
keenest penetration. When here last July. he
had the appearance of Southern fire eater.
with long hair. n planters hat. and grey suit. he
looked the character well. At that time the
letters which purport to come from john G. DA-
JoHS @. BREcKiSRipek. were prepared. They
we're written at the clerks desk in the Office Of
Little's Hotel. in this city. JoHS @ DAVIS and
DKLASA X. EcKLEs had no more knowledge Of
the mstter-had no more to do with writing or
suggesting them. than ABRAHAM LIscoLS.
They were not in the city at that time. RANKIN
was then about to start on what he regarded
perlous trip. He 40 expressed himself to his
friends here lie told them that he did not OK
pee, 10 get through alive. and remarked that
some day they would read an extract from some
rebel paper announcing that another Yankee spy
had been hung He knew that Messrs DAVIS
and EcKLEs had been well acquainted with
BREcKsNRIDsE. and the letters were written with
the hope they would aid him in case he should
be arrested his character suspected. And il
vas his intention If he had returned in safety. to
have destroyed them. He so stated 10 friend
here
fn.coroberstion of what We state. we produce
the statement OF Mr. J. Nc. ID. HAYS, who has
been office clerk in Li'tles Hotel for two years
past. and who j. well known young gentle
man OF >ttlCt Integrity anu NcraCltf- Mr. RAYS
had long been intimate friend of RANKINs.
As will be seen ne was present when the letters
were written; he read them after they we're writ
ten. and he knows them TO be bogus He pro-
pounces them such. aud that Mcssrs DAVIS and
EeKLKs had no knowledge or completely in The
matter whatever olher parties were present at
the time aud are cognizanI OF these facts. The
following Is the
STATEMENT on Nh HAYS.
The undersigned well acquainted with
Oliver ). Rankin. The last time saw hlm Was
al the Littles Hotel in this city. in July, 1868
1 have read the letters read by Gen. Garfield in
the Uaited States House OF Representatives,
dated July. 1868. purporting To have been writ
ten by Hon. John G. DAVIS and Hon d. X
Eckles. Tor Ecksls,) introducing sad Rankin to
John L. Breckenridge, General in the rebel
army. To NV kuowledge those letters were
written at the desk the oifice OF Little Hotel
| saw them written. aud read them after they
were So written. Neither John u. Davis or d.
X Ecsels had any participation in. or snowl ledge
OF. the matter whatever The said Rankin was
acting IN the capacity OF a spy. de had a.
such. crossed the reoel lines three times The
last time MS friends heard from Rankin ~ls
three days before the battle OF hickam.u.a
and then he WAS at Braggs heidquarets. and
they nov suppose him 10 be dead lhe object
the said Rankin nad IA view writing the letters