The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-19
The Lake Erie Conspiracy.
.ErTER PROM JAKE THOMPSON AND CLEMENT O.


From the Cleveland Herald, June 49,
The case Of United States Merrick and Rosenthall
indicted for attempting to sieze the Michigan
September 1884 in completely with the Lake Erie raid
ers, resumed yesterday morning The testimony Of
Cole who has been the stand for several days.
entirely completed during the forenoon scss on which
consumed In his examination. During the Z
animation letter to Colonel Hill, from Jake Thompson
and G. Clay was offered evidence on the part Of the
prosecution. Judge Potter, OF Sandusky, placed
npon the stand to testify to the authenticity of the let
| ter The Judge had known both Clay and Thompson In
Congress- where he sat them for four years
lie stated that the signatures up the hand
writing Of Clay and that the signatures thereto
genuine We append the letter In question:
Co., ToRosro, 2 W, Sept 22 1854:
Colonel Hill, Commandan OF Post Johnsons Island, Ill
sRwc have just learned that Captain Charles IT, Cole
an escaped prisoner has been arrested by the military
Confedsrat states we his trial on s ebarn rn
a. prisoner he was brought into your lines against his will
Since his escape from prison he he's able
was taken Whatever designs he may conceyed he had
done nothing whatever IN violation Of lay Of the United
every principle q law either public common civil stu-
had carried OF them execution On the Hypothesis
any act Of Violence II he failed 70 % cay ont or nse
any attempt looking to ,bat end, he cannot surely
proceed o cEgeias with C1rtan Cole should iee i
To- ADOPT proper measures for rctaton II yon cam Hst
condemn Cap ain Cea asa sPy every odcer and soldier y
speS VIZ a voar ri.ht W ri m i ana y, cptea ~ M as
epre ponsr b S other ponme1t @ s1 wons + he % %
Judgment against justice and public law II any npor.
ing his uniform hv circnmsisces that surrounded him
an escaped prisoaer'h readily explain the OF It's
absence lie had uniform 10 wear. lie did not, how
ever, change his nfne which Is usa in such lie
franknes- Of soldier IN ali lis nocetons We are
J. THOMPSON.
Tho defendant, Cole, TO be curiosity in brass
assurance Coones shrcWdness and lying He says that
he told innueabe lies before and after his arrest that
be had lied to everybody; had told more than thou
sand lies &C. Mr. Baokus asked him IL he wasn't living
on tho stand. "W,ll, If am, says he, II ain re-
sponsibo for n Mr. Backus replied, III you are not
Responsible for what you state here under OATH should
like to know whore you Id be responsibcib s'WclL
that's your looko.t," was Coles reioinder.
Soon "a ter his capture, tho 18th OF September he
had an interview with Col Hill Capt Carter ana others,
the steamer Mich gan. which time IA, told them
that liossrs kosentall Morrck, Stanley, Brown Strain
and Williams, u Sand sky all engaged In the
spirly 20 1eiz3 the Michigan He after said that
lac was shammng aud that or those gentlemen had
had anything TO do with the matter. stanley, Brown,
Strain ana VIII ans afterwards uncondtionay dis.
charged Rosenthall and Morrick released bail
Colo testimony seems TO be such tissue OF false
hoods that IL is hard TO CLEAN the truth therrom He
dc ares that his whole connection with the rebel agonts
In Canada trick is part fool and them
IN the course OF which operation he hoped 30 "fcathcr
bis nest as much possible We have already narrated
hs interview with Coary al the Clifton House. Niagara
Falls, at which no told him that a number OF American
naval officers at the Cataract House. and that they
were willing 10 negotiate for the sale OF the Michigan at
S4b, 900 IN gold He that there n
the Cataract House. and that his whole story TO Cloary
was lie told simply 10 entice the latter 10 The American
side, when he Cole could hand him " the Union
authorities.
The defendants, Mcrrick and Roscnthal are residents
OF Sandusky Tho latter extensive Wholesale dealer
In clothing in partnership with his brother The firm Is
styled Rosentha Co. Mr. herrick is architect aud
builder hs principal employment being tho construction
Of bridges. Tho swing bridge tho river near tho
Cuyahoga works. was erected by him.