Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-07-08

mounted, e0NeOpeQ IN an Olu CLOAK, Dut
otherwise well dress sed and well appointed.
There was something incongruous io his
appearance. He had military air and
some military equipments, without being
in the uniform OF either army.
There comes trader going to New
York" said one of the card players.
"There comes gentlemnn-lke look
ing man." said another, speaking to
Pauldng, who was decidedly the leader
Of the party and the only one of them
who could read. Z" He appears to be well
dressed, and hss boots on. You had bet
ter step out and stop him, if you don't
know him"
As Andre had quickoned his pace, he
was soon up with them, aud all three pre-
sented Themselves in the road with their
weapons. He reined up his horse and
said
MY lads, I hope you belong to our
party"
Which party do you mean ?" asked
one Of the scouters.
"The lower party" was the reply.
+" We are Of the lower party" said one
Of the men.
Thank God :" exclaimed Andree, 81
am once more among friends" and as he
said these words he glanced at the royal
uniform coat which Paulding wore.
" am glad to see you," continued An
dree. am British officer out in the
country on particular business, and hope
you won't detain me a minute"
BY way Of proving the truth Of his
words, be took out his gold watch, an ar
ticle then seldom possessed by American
officers.
" You are our prisoner" said Paulding.
" We are Americans, and you must dis
mount"
Upon hearing this he laughed and as
sumed an air of unconcern.
My God - he said still affecting to
laugh, "I.must do anything to get slong."
AS he said these word, he produced the
pass which Gen. Arnold had given him.
Pauldng looked at it, but remem beling
the iiHnkness Of Andres first avowal, ex-
claimed:
" Confound Arnold's pass !"
Paulding always said, afterward, that
If Andre had shown Arnold's pas; first,
he should have let him go. They now
took him aside to ah immense tree, hearty
nine feet in diameter, long land mark
in that section, aud under its shadow they
began to search him.
my lads" said he, "you will get
yourselves into trouble"
Garment by garment, his clothing was
taxed oil, but nothing was found till one
of his boots had been drawn off, when it
was evident that something was concealed
ut the sole of the foot, inside the silk
stocking.
Here it is" cried Paulding.
The stockings were instantly removed,
and several folded half sheets of paper
were found in each.
Then it was that Andre offered to pay
them II sum Of money (valiou.ly stated
from hundred to a thousand guineas) if
they would conduct him safely to the
Harlem River. Paulding swore he would
not release him for 10000 guneas, and
they conveyed him to Col jameson at
North Castle, whence they had STATED
the day before.
This is the substance Of the story as re-
] af ht-t hn Ill. ! |.
Gen. Washington, and by the army and
country at the time. We are asked to
reject it on the authority of two officers
who heard Maj. Andres version of the
story; which was, that the three men
were robbers, WHO took from him money
and his two watches, and would gladly
have conducted him to New York, if he
could have secured them the payment of
the promised sum without their entering
the British lines. | cannot reckon this
testimony as OF much value for, in the
first place, it is second hand testimony ;
and, in the next place, Andre was labor
ing at the time under the most intense
excitement. He WAS n sensitive, nervous
man. Great drops Of sweat" as an
witness records, rolled from his face
on that fatal morning.
Against the impressions of Mai. Andre.
we have, first, the deliberate judgment Of
4 Gen, Washington, after most attentive
consideration Of the case secondly, the
verdict Of Congress in regarding the men
with medals and pensions OF $500 zach ;
thirdly, the high character borne by the
three men during the rest of their lives.
Paulding died in 1918, aged ffty-nine !;
Williams in 1881, aged seventy-eght
Van Vert in 1888, aged eighty all highly
respected in their native county, and were
followed to the grave by n concourse Of
their fellow citizens, and their remain.
honored by public monument.
Many Of their descendants and connsc-
tions are still living in Westchester coun-
ty, with two of whom | was once we'll
acquainted, and was familiar also with
the names and regulations Of many others.
They were the last people in the world
whom we could believe to be descended
from liars and robbers. give up Poca-
hontas ; | surrender John Smith; but [
hold fast to the " three militia men, even
though they were not militia men.-Jas'
Parton IN N. Y Ledger.
A CLERGYMAN who was invited to
/. /