Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-10-29

Detectiye) to mark these coins. Davis
did not tell me that my Testimony would
need confederation. Did not know that
Mr.. Davis was employed as detective by
the Spanish government. He was de-
tective in the United States service. The
witness could not or would not reply to
toe question edo you charge the United
States with working out it's justice with
the dirty tools of spies and informers ?
Mr.. Starbuck did not regard the question
as proper. The Government was obliged
to employ detectives, and did so to ferret
out counterfeiters, &c.
Mr.. Davis said if it was O necessity Of
the times it was one to be deplored But
surely the Government was not forced tc
the necessity to employ men to spy upon
and betray their comrades for money. This
was not the business of q detective, and
he asked the question out of respect to the
Government, to free it from the implica
ton made by the witness.
Judge Person said that the witness had
said that Mr.. Davis was in the employ Of
the United States and the opinion of the
question.
Commissioner Rutherford thought that
the opinion as to what the Government did
or did not do was of no consequence, and
he would not insist upon the witness an
swering the question.
Gordon-I was employed by Davis, who
said he was in the United States. The
schooner Petrol was two miles out when
we went on board of her. Don't know
the coast from the Narrows to No-Man's-
Land. Was told by Col. Munro that it
was No-Man STAND. It was about three
miles from Gray's Head Light. Don't
know whether it was North, South. East
or West from No-Man s-Land. (The wit
ness could not give an intelligent account
of the localities or directions there j.
Didn't know whether it was morning or
afternoon when they reached the steamer
Hornet. Distance at sea was very decep-
tive. My impression is that it was about
two miles from land to the steamer. It
might have been more than three miles.
but I don't think so. This was on the 18th
September. After taking the men, arms
and supplies from the Petrol the Hornet
went nearer shore and anchored. Don't
know how far it was to shore. When the
Charter Oak came to us we're about fifteen
miles from shore. Mr.. Dornin came on
steamer from the Charter Oak. Am posi-
tive that did not hear the Captain of
Charter Oak ask the Captain of steamer to
go nearer shore as it was too rough to dis
charge cargo. It was about dark Saturday
night when unloading began-arms, shot
and shell were first taken on board and
then guns-after that saw smoke of steam
er supposed to be Revenue Gutter, and
weighed anchor and made for Fire Island.
The Smoke and Fire Island were both to-
wards New York, but the steamer seemed
to be going in the sound. During all this
time Mr.. Esling was Captain of the Hor
net. The name Of the steamer had been
pointed out Steamer made Fire Island
Monday morning. The Martha Washington
came along side Monday afternoon-took
men and stores off her. This was about
TWO miles from shore according to my best
impression. The examination was continu-
ID in regard to taking in men, money, arms,
and coal, but nothing new was
elected.
Court adjourned until 10 o'clock to-
morrow.