, 1865-06-16
TIE LAKE. ERIE CONSPIRACY,
Captain Cole Endorsed By Jake
Thompson and Clay.
His States EVideuce Unre.
liable,


The case of q. 8. Va. Merrlck and Ro5en-
thall-indlcted for attempting TO seize the
steamer Michigan, il September. 1861, In
completely with the Lake Ellie Raiders-Eas
resumed yesterday morning. Tue testimony
Of Cole, who has been on the stand for seye-
ral days, WAS entirely completed during the
forenoon session, which was consumed in his
rc.examInatIon. During the examination a
letter to Col. Hill from Jake Thompson and
C. C. Clay was offered as evidence on the
part Of the prosecution, Judge Potter, Of
Sandusky, was placed upon the ataud t. les
lily as to the authenticity of the letter. The
Judge had known both Clay and Thompson
four years. he stated that the signatures
were drawn up in the handwriting Of Clly,
and that the signatures thereto were cenu.
inc. We append the letter IN question:
c9i, A!l. commsndaat OF post. Juhn:on's Island,
s1n-We have inst learned that Captain Charles
y. Cole, an escaped pEitoner. has been arrested By
is TO 10 tzed on the charge Of being publ. SPY.
Aa agents and commissioners Of Inc Copfeder-
ate States, Wo protest against h!a trial on ihis
Ines bganst his will. since bis eecsps from pri.
con Sc has never been able 10 return to bis. own
eonntIy, therefore he Was lecitimsssl, where he
Whatever deFigns he uasv have conceived, he
hld done nothing whatavet in ylols'lon Of any law
Of the Omitted Statcs, or Ecgu atoms Of tbs array.
other p1blic, common, civil o,i.tatutsry. % puu.
,sh h!m io5 his Designs Or purposes, r.ovtdet be
n,hl.S none o. '1m St 'aso e1eeanoa. "a re
b. leys ,h,t he ron,emn}.ted auy sct n1 ~" ~
fence II be faled to cary out, o. M maka sU INV
attempt looking TO that end, be cannon surely
proceed TO extrcmittes VT b Capt. Colo, Wsshoaid
ren ~ oas onE 70 eah 60 tos authorities of the
saitsttaa 2tes @ 10 saon propsr measures lor
"a nv. eyery of1cer M so5rr ~ ~ ,Ita lily
States within ihc lines OF tbe armies md ltuits of
the Conf derstn states, could be tried and cou.
dtn ned u spIes.
lnn ~. ~ nnE ~ yo'nst fnatsna na
pubiic iaw, - . N''' "AA7' ''' NV o1'"
iraty importance Ii attached to his h:In- With
~ 1nur Hnes, Without westlog hts Uniform, the
seaas7nGee i ~, saIsounuea Alm as "a escaped
G.snn IL ~ a"saJ exp'aln J.. se1 !easqn q totir
however, change hi. nstne' which "a nms, n, .neh
csece. dc has conductea h.msejf Win iha ho1d. IL
re:s, eouraec and ha.kncss Of true SOLDIER in
al bis cesoelauoa..
We ere, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedl-
eptfet'ah@' =. THOMPSON
Tho a.t,,a,,t Gala so, y. ~ y. GLAf: u.
~ i, hrasa as.,re"ae H' oe1n ene ~ ~ cneos'
IA lxn~ ~ sa1a thot I; 9,a III e1v t.n, aaness,
~ sha ~ tSoE ne says 'nas ae told nnnmen.
b"a I;sa =. aIu aasGs u nt.css, tuat nc
.iIl nau t!su - sset y'eus. LIZ toia more Imam q
hnonsuu t,'.s..';. IT, 1 Ms. Dackns asEea MN y
a,,, ng "asm sa,s y mE ~ tuc ssauo. wen,
aaiin' pa,.sa saya ns, ant responsible Tor 81"
S.,e;. az; naehos az iep!Nu {0u ave not respo1-
hlne -! wnat you stare nera under oath,
shoula ilks 9 10 kgoW Where you would be re-
speasls,.s, pHs,e,. ,a,e' VEL tnaFs your look out"
WIS Io.es feleinder.
scon after LIS capture, on the o5:h Of Sep
thinker, be had III interview with Col. Hill,
Captain Carter and others on the steamer
Michigan, at which time he told tht1n that
Mest1s. kcEenthall, MerTick. Stanley, Brown,
Strain and Williams. Of 5Andusky, were all
engaged III the conspiracy to seize the Attchi-
gan. he soon after said that hc was sha1n-
ming, and that none Of those gentlemen had
bud any thing to do with the matter Stanley,
Blown, Strain and Williams were afterwards
npconditionally discharged. Rosentha!l aud
Mcr:ck were released On ball.
Coles testimony seems to bo such tissue
of1a]sehcod that it Is ha d to CLEAN the truth
thrrrirom. lie declares that his whole con-
necttnu with the rebel agents In Cauada. was
trick on bis part to fool and defeat them
In the cs utse Of which operation he hopcd to
s..eatEer his nest" I'd much as p1ssfhie Va
haze already narrated bIa inforview .r;tb