Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-06-21

north of Pennsylvania Avenue
Directly opposite stood the shoE
of an Irishman, named Michael
Foy, a blacksmith, and ''doctor of
the diseases incident to horses"
Foy had been an applicant fol
work, in the way of his vocation,
on the public buildings; and.
though often promised it, he had
never been gratifed. He was a
man of rather immoral habits, and
everything served to operate to
his manifest disadvantage.
!. When the attempt of Lawrence,
to assassinate General Jackson,
was made known throughout the
city, and the name of the assassin
was published, Michael Foy recol!-
lected that he had often seen Rich
ard Lawrence go into and come
out of PoindeXter's residence =
He forthwith communicated the
fact to a near neighbor, named
Stewart, who, on comparing notes
and overhauling his memory, re-
collected the same thing. Foy and
Stewart conferred several times on
the subject, and at last communi-
Gated all they knew to Mr.. Louis
Coltman, who was an Alderman,
or councilman, representing one
of the wards of the city of Wash
ington, in its local government.
Coltman was an active and
warm political partizan, devoted
ly attached to General jackson,
and ever ready to serve him. Be
ing aware that the General sus-
pected Poindexter, he called on
him and stated what Foy and
Stewart had related. General
jackson listened to him to the end,
and then told him that he would
have nothing to do with the mat
ter as long as it presented an un-
authenticated aspect. Co." said
he, "to these men and tell them
that if they know anything that
will lead to the detection and con-
viction of Poindexter, they must
reduce it to the shape of sworn
affidavit. Let them swear to
what they profess to know, and
hand it to me, and | will attend to
it," asa Ha--
Coltman, who was disposed to
figure somewhat largely in the
business, did what General Jack
son suggested; and Foy and Stew
art made affidavit of all that they
had seen, and almost swore away
the life and reputation of George
Poindexter. The old General had
the afhdaYits in his possession
some time, when he one day hap
pened to mention the subject, as
an implied state secret, to MIR.
Joel Mann, of the Pennsylvania
delegation, in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Mann faithfully
kept the secret a week or two,
when being one evening a little ex-
cited at a convivial party, he whis-
pered it, in confidence, to a men,
Der of the Rhode Island delega-
ton. That member, in turn, i'm
parted it to a Mr., *s;***, who
was at the time a Congressional
reporter, and Washington letter
writer, and correspondent general
ly. The story was not impaired
as a secret to Mr.. *'E*** who,
supposing the existence of the af-
fidavits was fact familiar to al
most every one in Washington,
communicated the whole affair to
one of his New York correspond
ents, with the addition of ''these
affidavits, unless destroyed by
counterbalancing testimony, must
and will convict Governor Poin-
dexter, and consign him to the
dungeons of the Penitentiary."
The letter, embracing the facts
of the case, was published in New
York without moments delay,
and produced the deepest excite
ment. 1t was at once denounced
as a falsehood, by the papers in
the interest of the opposition, and
warmly sustained by those which
advocated the Administration,
many of whom affirmed to the ir-
revocable truth Of every word it
contained; and this they did, with
out knowing one word authentic
ally about the matter.
II The published letter returned to
Washington, after the lapse of a
few days, when it was Dc denounced