The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-10-12

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Your humble servant,
AARON b. CEESsHAw.
CALcrT1A. British india, March 20, 1867.
Cel. aaron D. Crenshan, Hafamoras, Ne1fco:
DEAR slE:-Your communication,
dated New York, Jan. I5, has been re-
ceired, and contents noted and IN re-
sponse to your request, viz: "That /
should make some inquiries here con-
ccrping the final disposition made Of
the money stakcd OF the wager laid
by Capt. VIM. TOlbert, in June last,
that J. Wilkes Booth was still living" !"
| take pleasure in forwarding you the
result Of my Investigations.
Il so happens that the parties inter
ested in this strange affair are person
ally known to me /: they are respec-
lively w. Martin Tolbert, captain Of
the ship Bird Of the Ocean, and win
ner of the stakes; DR.. Jas. +. Brown,
formerly Of Boston, Mass, the contest
ant and loser of the same; Samuel L.
Craw ford, resident, holder of the
stakes, and William Miller, resident
Of the city, and Theodore Campbell,
ofLondon, witnesses chosen by Brown
10 accompany Tolbert on voyage by
sea to point or port unknown. | was
not present when the bet was made
and the articles drawn up; but was
fully posted concerning the conditions
Of the same, by Dir. Brown, on the
following morning. They were sub
stantially as follows: ToIbert and
Brown each staked $500 in the hands
of Crawford, 10 be held by him till
the expiration of six months, and sub
iect Mt such time to the order Of which
ever party should be declared fairly
entitled to it by Judge Knowles
Miller and Campbell were chosen by
Brown to go on n cruise with Tolbert,
in his vessel, their sworn affidayits to
be duly presented to Knowles upon
their return; the loser to pay their ex-
penses while on the voyage, and 82o
each per month additional
The bet was made and the money
stalled OH the 2Sth Of June, 1866, and
two days hence the Bird of the Ocean
sailed ostcnsibly for Hong Kong, Toll
bert being in command, and the two
gentlemen above referred to passen-
gers. The last seen or heard of the
Bird of the Ocean was on the nth of
July, when she was spoken by the
ship Winged Racer, Capt. Hayes, off
the coast of Java, bearing south
Weelssand months elapsed, and no IL
dings reached here other having made
q port, when friends finally become
uneasy, and many suspected she had
gone to the bottom. Bets were made
of ten, and even rs high rs twenty to
one, that she would never return to
this city, and DIR. Brown felt certain
of winning the stakes; when, to the
amazement ofall parties, the announce
ment was made that the ship Bird OF
the Ocean had arrived at San Francis
co in ballast. This was the evening
of December 25th. The notorious pi-
rate, Tolbert, soon made his appear
ance, accompanied by Miller and
Campbell, and wonderful to reflect,
these two gentlemen swore ''that j.
Wilkes Booth was really alive; that
they had seen him." etc. Judge
Knowles rendered his decision in favor
of Capt. Tolbert, and the latter, upon
going to the hotel of Mr.. Crawford,
was made the recipient of GI,o00.-
DR.. Brown expressed perfect satisfac-
ton with the result; said 'she now
fully believed that the Z, S. Treasury
had been basely swindled out of $780,
600 by Col. Baker and his accompli-
cos in palming off a spurious body
upon the Government for that of j.
Wilkes Booth, and claiming the re-
ward offered for Booths capture. p
The Doctor cheerfully complied with
the full conditions of the agreement,
and paid the two young men their re.
spectiye salaries, viz: $120 each, and
their expenses during the voyage,
which amounted TO about 92o0 addi.
tional. DIR. Brown is a gentleman Of
good standing, and has amassed con,
siderable wealth in the East Indies
He says he is satisfied that Booth is
alive, as he has known both Miller and
Campbell for years. and has ever found
them high-toned, truthful. men. He
tried to induce Mr. Miller, who has
been his bosom friend, to divulge the
great secret, viz: where he had been,
and also Booths place of concealment:
but Miller positively refused to do so.
stating that che had taken a solemn
oath never to betray Booth, and could
not be tempted to violate it if the
wealth of the Indies were laid at his
feet"
This singular affair has created
quite sensation in our city, and il