Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-06-01
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, MAY 20, 1865


The examfhation of CDR. Blackburn
before the Police Court in Toronto on
the 23d inst, fully reveals the conspira-
cy to introduce pestilence among loyal
citizens and soldiers, in aid of the
Southern rebellion. 1t was plot never
exceeded in the history Of human wick
edness, and could have been cOncocted or
connived at only by men of such stamp
as have branded themselves with eternal
inCamy by cold blooded massacre or sys-
tematic starvation of prisoners Of war.
The chief evidence was given by one
Hyams, an actor in the plot and tool
of DR.. Blackburn, Clay, HolcOmb,
Thompson & Co. This Hyams was
promised fortune for his nefarious
work, but when he applied for money
was laughed at for his pains. That
"laugh" OF "Dr Blackburn" was evi-
IDENTIFY bad one for him. The testimo-
ny of Hyams is fully corroborated by
witnesses in Bermuda where the infect
ed clothing was procured and in Cana
da where the villainy was concocted
The following portion of the testimony
gives pretty complete understanding
of the plot and its attempted execution.
Godfrey j. Hyams, sworn on a copy of
the Old Testament, with his hat on his
head, said | reside at No ll6 Sixth
street, Detroit, Michigan; resided in
Toronto previous to going there was
acquainted with DR.. Blackburn, first
knew him in Arkansas l have resided
in two or three different places; left
Arkansas in August, 1862 where knew
DR.. Blackburn: | believe that he lived
in Mississippi, in Helena, or about that
part Of the country; | came to Toronto
in 1868, saw DR.. Blackburn some time
previous to that | wrote to a Mr..
Slaughter TO get down South, Slaught-
er answered through DR.. Robinson, who
brought the letter to me; l went down
to the Queens Hotel with DR.. Robinson,
who introduced me to DR.. Blackburn; |
knew DR.. b. by sight he was in the
parlor at the time with several gentle
men DR.. Robinson told him | was the
man who wanted to go down South to
the army, which was my wish; DR..
Blackburn then asked me if was will
ing to be sUnV 49, Cos, f.Al ,..a~r. and
upon my answering that l was, he
brought me to his room and when he
had closed the door, asked me if | was
Freemason, to which | replied-no =,
he then gave me his hand, and said that
on the fellowship of Freemason, who
had never deceived any one, he would
ask me to go on an expedition, to which
agreed; he said by going on it could
make an independent fortune, and that
| could do more good for the Confeder-
ate cause than if | were TO bring 100 600
men to reinforce Gen. Lee; that | would
come to have more honor and glory to
my name than the General had laugh
ter; | asked him the nature of the eX-
pedition, when he told me | should have
quantity of clothing to dispose of by
auction in Washington and other cities,
and that the clothes would have yellow
fever in them that they were to be dis
tributed in places held by the Federals,
so that they would take sick and death
be caused by the fever, and that they
would easily be driven from the Cenfed-
crate territory held by them; that the
clothes had been infected with yellow
fever by the doctor himself, and that
they would consist OF shirts and coats;
l agreed to go on the expedition, and he
stated that by doing so | would get
100000, and perhaps ten times the
amount; he said that he had not much
time to spare as he was leaving on the
train for Montreal, but as had now un-
dertaken the expedition | was to 90
away to my work and wait until l heard
further particulars from him, and if |
changed my residence / was to send to
him word through Dr. Robinson Dr..
Ilyi,r inf ,al 4haf H,
ing to Bermuda, and then South to
make arrangements to carry on the ex-
peditloni the conversation all took
place at his private room; shook hands
with him and bade him good by; DR..
Robinson was waiting down stairs in
the hotel when | came out; | accom-
panied DR.. Robinson as far as Preston's
tobacco factory, and left him there |
continued my business as usual until
about the Sth of June 1864, when | re-
ceived letter purporttng to be from Dr.
Blackburn, dated Havana, 10th May; in
side it was directed to DR.. Robinson;
carried the letter to Halifax, but burnt
1t before l entered the States; | have
good recollection of the contents of the
letter. | read it over
Mr.. Patterson asked witness the con-
bcubS, hntu MI. CdIuGIOu ODlecteu to
anythina abeing said about the contents
of the letter
Hyams continuing went to Halifax
and saw DR.. Blackburn, who asked me
If | had received the letter the letter
Instructed DR.. Robinson to furnish me
with money to go to Montreal at that
place | was to see Mr.. Slaughter, who
would give me means TO go on to Hall
lax, where | would meet with a Mr.
Alexander II. Keith, Jr., at the Halifax
hotel the latter would take care of me
until DR.. Blackburn came when re-
ceived the letter in Toronto DR. Robin. |
son refused to give me funds, as he said
that he had never committed any overt |
act against the Federals, and would not
r. 90 SO now he told me that I could !
p.ane ppunIoW $40 from Preston / went to |
rLes.on, ,, got the $40 from him to 90 to |
montreal and stating that Mr. Sla1ebY
Ter would refund it; 1 gave him a re-.
Selpt on account Of DR.. Blackburn Mr.
n'eDonald went Co the office with mo