The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-05
Case Growing Out of the Late Rebellion

A CANADIAN COMMISSION SITTING IN NEW YORK.
During the last ten days a commission has
been sitting in this city taxing the evidence OF
witnesses on behalf of the United States in a
suit instituted in the Court of Ohancery at
Toronto, Canada West, against Jacob Thomp-
son, George L. Denison, and others, to recover
a steamboat called the Georgian, which, 1t ap-
pears, was purchased by Thompson for the Rebel
Government in the month of October, 1864. The
testimoney given by the witnesses clearly shows
that the object in making the purchase was to
arm the vessel with guns, and man her with
Confederate soldiers who, after capture by our
troops, had escaped into Canada and then to
employ her in expeditions on the lakes against
our shipping and frontier cities.
In a despatch from Thompson to BENJAMIN,
written about that time, he says, in allusion to
the vessel:-
she had scarcely been transferred before the story
went out 1nst she nSq oeen pSrchased and armed tor
prisoners Johnson's Island, destroying the ship
Widest consternalion prevailed In ali the border
cities, Al Buffalo two tugs had cannon placed on
Ofthem are represented to have been drawn tom the
churches were broken up on sunday. The whole lake
shore was a scene OF wild excitement"
No expense was spared in procuring the can
non and other war material; but notwithstand-
ing the utmost caution and secresy on the part
OF the Rebels, the vigilance OF our Consul at
Toronto David Thurston) aud the detectives of
the Canadian authorities discovered their opera.
tOns before any damage was done.
Thompson, II Is alleged, apprehending a
seizure by the Canadian Government, made a
fictitious sale OF the vessel to the defendant
Denson, with whom he had become acquainted
in Toronto as a Rebel sympathlzer; but the
Canadian Government Notwithstanding the pre-
tended sale, at the instance of Mr. ThurstOn
seized the boat on charge OF violating the neu-
trality laws of the province, whereupou Mr..
Denison applied TO the Court of Queens Bench
for her release alleging that he was the rightful
owner, aud that there was no ground for the
seizure. The Court, however, delivered unani-
l Dfaaua
Government.
Mr.. Thurston, fearing that the decision would
be otherwise, and that Denison and his friend
Thompson would become possessed of this boat,
instructed Messrs. George and II. B. Morphy,
the solicitors of the United States in Canada to
| file bill 10 the Court of Chancery for recovery
| OF the vessel and for an Injunction to prevent
| any disposition of her in the meantime to defeat
| the rights of the United States.
| The Canadian Judges upon argument granted
| the Injunction which is still in force, and the
| evidence IS now being taken to prove the claim
| of the United States. So far the case seems
is taken that decision for delivery of the vessel
| to'our Government will be given.
| The Georgian has been chartered at the re-
| ouest of the Consul, and the charter money maid
| into the Court to abide the event of the suit
/ The commissioner appointed by the Canadian
| Court of Chancery TO take the evidence is Peter
1 j Gage, of this city, counsellor at law. The
/ parties to the suit are represented by Mr. George
/ MOrphy, of Toronto, counsel for the United
/ States; Daniel McMlehael, LII. D., for Jacob
/ Thompson; Mr.. John Balm for the Attorney
/ General Of Canada, and Mr.. DenlsoA appears In
peEson,-M Y. Herald