The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-09-24
ARNULD'S TREASON.

The Traitors Wife Defended From Compiled
ty in His Crime.
From the Boston Advertiser
has written life of Benedict Arnold,
which is shortly to be published in that
city. The author is a very prominent
Chicago lawyer and an ex-member of
congress, a personal friend of Abraham
Lincoln, and author of life of Lincoln
and the do Hnfall of slavery. He is a de,A
scendant of a common ancestor with Ben
edict Arnold, and while as much as any,
one else he despises the latter's treason,
he admlres and is not afraid to do Justice
to his namesake's patriotism and bravery
before he was led to commit his disgrace
full act. the motto which the author has
placed on the title-page-
He will give the devil his DUE
And the closing sentence of the "Intro-
duction''-
"For Gen. Arnold, the patriot and SOL
der, I ask fair hearing and justice; tor
Benedict Arnold, the traitor, I have no
plea but Guilty." ..-.- ......
Will show the spirit in which the work
has been writtan.
The Chicago Legal Meas publishes ia
advance chapter from DR.. Arnold 8 book
on the subject of Mrs. Benedict Arnold,s
connection with her husbands treason
and the guilt of Maj. Andre. The author
refers to the as pensions On Mrs. Arnold's
character by Matthew L. Davis in his life
| OF Aaron Burr, in witch Burr is made to
allege that Mrs Arnold was not only privy
| to her husbands treachery. but that she
'induced him to do what he had done.''
"This CHARGE" says Mr.. Arnold, "made
| by Burr to Davis, rests upon his statement
alone, and 1t entirely without corrobora-
ton. After describing the arrival OF
Mrs. Arnold at the house of Mrs Provost,
on her journey to Philadelphia, Mr.. Da-
Wis says: GAS soon as they (Mrs. Arnold
and Mrs. ProvosD were left alone, Mrs.
Arnold became tranquiized, and assured
Mrs. Provost that she was heartily tired
Of the theatricals she was exhibiting.
Stated that she had correspondent with
the Brstiah commander, and that she
was disguised with the American cause
and those who had the management of
public affairs, and that through great per.
suasion and unceasing perseverance she
had ultimately brought the general into an
arrangement to surrender West Point
Mrs. Provost afterwards became the wife
of Col. Burr, and repeated to him, as Da-
Wis states, these confessions Of Mrs. Ar
mold -. Col. Burr and Mrs. Provost
were married IN July, 1889. The case
then, is this: Mr.. Davis says that Col.
Burr, told him that Mrs. Provost said
l +hof IJro Arooll 1ooloroI che ho1 eoi,,o
ed Gen. Arnold from fidelity to his flag
and his country. Sometime after this
marrlage-how long we are not told
Mrs. Bur repeated ths conversation t.
her husband, and Burr sometime within
\ the halt century following repeated thu
!. conversation to Davis. It is hearsay ev
idence, three times removed. and repeat
ed with years Of intervals between the re
petitions. AS such, il is is worthless, in
4 dependent of the notorious character o.
. Burr. ,.-..st.-
Il "Mrs. Provost may have misunderstood
Mrs. Arnold; When detailing the CONVEX
| sation to Col. Burr and may have give1
her own impressions instead of the facts
Burr may have done the same when re-
peating it to Davis, Everyone at al
familiar with the juoicial investigation
knows by experience how utterly relia
bic this sort Of evidence is. Parton, III
restating the story, does not claim te
have any additional evidence but repeat!
the tale of Davis with embellishments.
APPROPRIATELY OF MRS. rARNOLD's GUILT
"This story is extremely improbable
Her youth, being then only twenty year
Of age, renders such completely very un
likely. Arnold himself entirely exoner
ates her. The mistaken vengeance o
my countrymen,' says he, in his letter t
washington, ought to fall on me. Sh
lis as good and innocent as an angel
This testimony must be taken cautiously
for whatever it is worth. But it seem
rather the passionate and impulslve dec
lara ton of her innocence than an artfu
attempt to screen her. Besides, Hamil
ton and Washington both believed he
innocent, and their opportunities 70
judging were bettor than those Of an,
others, except Maj. Franks" The write
produces Maj. Franks statement as mad
with great cxplicitness to Mrs. Jane
Gibson and published in the Shipper pa
pers. Maj. Franks, it seems, was oftel
!, one Of Arnold's aids and assigned tn
, duty of acting as Mrs. Arnold's escor
! and protector, and SO had peculiar facili
t ties Tor becOm ny intimately acquainte'
with her character. His testim my is full
and explicit, and, utterly Mt var1anc
with the theory Of 8 Mrs. ID Arnold
guilt: Sd The il possible animue 81 Q
I Burr's aspcrsions on Mrs. Arnold's in
tegrity IL limited at in these same Shippe