Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-22
,o.isn"mnd ,s,y no ~ account ou

n.se communicated by Mrs. al pb"n,G-'
saw -gs-"1 e m tI ther u lie sandl .
t'Is NeIe resc. ~ q I vas IolI icy as 80
IA NIX snt dittnctiou, ns ar Gen. Was In on
al a In his c, a rUeIce'
SonIt-' c9Dld on d I'd cut who he was
Court-"By whom wss this intelligence
communicates"
savsge.-aBy Mr.. vsndenberrh"
Oo1rt,-,.You cannot give any reason To
Ssvage.-~No. L could not learn who it
Was; but was often told that he was gentle
man In whom Gen. Washington place great
confidence and relied much upon"
The court ordered him 10 withdraw and the
room TO be cleared.
men, we had better defer exam ming any more
witnesses till we can con suit Gen. Washing
ton and some other officers upon what has
Mr.. Scott think we have no time for
delay; We may run through an examination
OF The witnesses, as this COURTS an indepeud-
time should be lost in coming AZ the bottom
OF this horrid affair"
Court.-"It would be justice 20 the General,
az ne Is some way affected by the last wit
ness, 10 apprise him OF 10 and consult with
nini In the mean time the other suspected
persons should be seized as speedily as pos
The court accordingly adjourned until TIE
TN OF June. During this interval the COM
mltiee had many conferences on the subject
with General Washington aud many oiher
officers. They had also private exsmtua-
lions of the prisoners. Orders were issued 10
seize the persons OF John Wiley, Norman
Ptoiemy, Totten and Crossfield, and fnforun-
alton thai number OF the conSpirators were
concealed at ana near Jamaica, Long Island,
party OF horse were ordered 20 take them,
under the command OF Capt Willet. When
they reached Jamaica they found the con-
spirators, TO the number OF etgh teen. had
retired 90 wood on top OF a bill. determined
q fh.nWra 1s~aac al a
small reinforcement, and then surrounded
the eminence where they were posted. a
brisk IRE ensued as orr people approached,
ana they Oostinately continued 10 resist, till
having lost one man, and others bslng dam
gerously wounded aad disabled, they thought
proper To surrender, aud were brought pris-
oners 10 New York June -. The Congress,
taking into serious consideration the num-
Der OF disaffected persons In the province
and the danger OF keeping them In the city,
tnought Mt 10 send two hundred Of them into
Connecticut, TO be kept In the different
prisons TIL they could be brought conye-
niently to trial.
and many circumstances that David Msth-
ews, esq, mayor of the city. was an alder
and abettor Of the conspiracy, and also the
principal manager OF an illegal correspond
ence, he was seized by order of the Pfoyin-
cial Congress, and committed TO the new
jail; on the Sd of July the committee again
met, and ordered James Clayfori TO be
The prisoner being at the bar and sworn,
Mr.. Mott said 10 him, by order OF this CON-
mittee: 81 inform you that we have the
clearest evidence OF you having been treach-
erously engaged In obtaining information
and papers relating To public affairs, which
you delivered to certain persons 20 be con-
veyed 10 the enemy; that In privacy and In
covenant with Mary Gibbons you feloni-
ously and secretly copied writings OF the
commander-in-chief, which were afterwards
sent TO be communicated 70 the foes Of
America; that you in your heart conceived
and proposed plan to seize on the person OF
al n~l.T l..
prisoner TO the mercenary army. What have
you TO answer TO these charges, or to say
why you should not be made an example
OF ?''
Prisoner.-''I labor under every disadvan-
tage, having no one 10 speak for me, and not
being tried by jury; but have confidence
ia the humanity OF this court. Do not be
severe with me, gentlemen, nor shed the
blood OF an innocent man. / beg that may
hear the evidence against me examined be-
fore my face"
Court.-"It is our opinion that you are
guilty, and you are To be remanded 10 the
jail from whence you came, and we recon-
mend you 10 prepare for that death you de-
serve, and TO which you are condemned by
the authority OF your country"
The prisoner was very abusive, calling the
court tyrants and murderers, but the guard
The evidence was sent to Congress and &C.
ton upon IL was taken Immediately.
The evidence taken before the court led 70
the arrest OF Thomas Hickey, who was tried
by court martial, and ordered TO be hanged.
The sentence was later approved by Wash
ington. On the morning of the 2Sth of July,
1TI6, all the officers and men on duty In this
city, belonging TO the prigades OF Heath,
Spencer, Sterling and Scott guarded the
prisoner to the place of execution, which was
near a field near the Bowery lane, in the
vicinity OF City Hall park. There he was
hanged In the presence of 10000 persons.
Thomas Hickey, It should be said, was a
deserter from the British army. II Is I'M
necessary TO pursue this strange narrative
further, and therefore we draw IL 10 close.