Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-05-05

"There comes a trader going TO New
York, !" said one of the card-players.
"There comes gentleman-like looking
man." said another, speaking to Pauld-
ing, who was decidedly the leader of the
party, and the only one of them who
could read. "He appears to be well
dressed, and has boots on. You had bet
ter step out and stop him, If you don't
know him"
As Andre had quickened his pace, he
was soon up with them, and all three pre-
sented themselves in the road with their
weapons. He reined up his horse, and
said:
"My lads, hope you belong to our
partyl"
(Which party do you meanS" asked
one of the scouters.
"The lower party" was his reply.
we are of the lower party" said one
of the men,
"Thank Godp' exclaimed Andre, 81
am once more among friends" and, as he
said these words, he glanced at the royal
uniform coat which Paulding wore,
2" am glad 10 see you" continued
Andre "I am British officer out ia the
country on particular business, and hope
you won't detain me minute"
BY way of proving the truth of his
words, he took out his gold watch, an ar.
ticle then seldom possessed by American
officers.
"You are our prisoner" said Paulding.
owe are Americans, and you must dis.
mount"
Upon hearing this he laughed, and as
sumed an air OF unconCern.
"My Godr he said, still affecting to
laugh, II must do anything to get
along"
AS he said these words he produced the
pass which Gen. Arnold had given him
Paulding looked at it, but remembering
the frankness of Andres first avowal, ex-
claimed:
Confound Arnold's passl"
Paulding always said, aiterward, that II
Andre had shown Arnolds pass first, he
should have let him go. They now took
him aside to an immense tree, nearly ninC
feet in diameter, long a landmark in tha
region, and under its sh adow they began
to search him"
"My lads" said he, "you will ge
yourselves into trouble"
Garment by garment, his clothing was
taken off, but nothing was found, till one
of his boots had been drawn off, when II
was evident thgt something was concealed
at the sole of the foot, inside the silk
stocking.
Here it is" cried Paulding.
The stockings were instantly removed
ana several folded half sheets of papel
were found in each.
Then it was that Andre offered to pay
them sum of money (variously' stated
from hundred to thousand guineas) i
they would conduct him safely 10 the Har
lem River. Paulding swore he would no
release him for TO- 900 guineas, and they
conveyed him to Col. Jameson, at Nortf
] Castle, whence they had started the day
before.
This is the substance of the story rs re
lated by the three men, as believed by Gen
Washington, and by the army and coun
try at the time. We are asked to reject i
on the authority of two officers who heard
| Mai. Andres version of the story whicl
was, that the three men were robbers, whI
took from him his money and his two
watches, and would gladly have conduct
ed him to New York, if he could havt
secured to them the payment of the prom
| ised sum without their entering British
lines. l cannot reckon this testimony a
of much value; for, in the first place, i
is second hand testimony; and, in the mex
place, Andre was laboring at the time un
der the most intense excitement. Ill
was sensitive, nervous man, "grea
drops of sweat" as an eyewitness re
cords, rolled from his face on that fata
morning
Against the impressions of Maj Andre
we have, first, the deliberate judgment o
Gen. Washington, after II most attentive
consideration of tie case; secondly, tn
verdict of Congress in rewarding the mel
with medals and pensions of 5000 each
thirdly, the high character borne by tn
three men during the rest of their lives
Paulding died in 1918, aged titty-nine
Williams In 1881, aged SeVenty-elgnt; va
Vert in 1928, aged eighty, all highly re
spected in their native county, and wer
followed TO the grave by a concourse {
their fellow citizens, and their remain
honored by a public monument.
Many of their descendants and conneC
tions are still living in Westchester COun
ty, with two of whom was once well az
quainted, and was familiar also with til
names and regulations of many Others
They were the last people in the worl
whom we could believe to be descendet
from liars and robbers. l give up Poct
hontas; / surrender John Smith but
hold fast to the three militia men,
even though they were not militia men,
James Parton, in N. Y. Ltdger.
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