Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-09

ANiDASch of HIS INNOCENCE foRTdC DINING.
The New York Herald OF to-day says: In the
court OF oyer and terminer on the a2i OF MAY.
1879, William E Gray was convicted OF forgery
In the first degree, having. as alleged, uttered
and published counterfeit certin cafes of STOCK
issued by the state OF New York for the nav
ment OF vouchers OF volunteers under the pro-
visions OF the law OF 1865 and 1866 They were
originally printed for $1,000 each, but were
altered and counterfeited TO SIC, 900 each. These
certificates were handed 10 the Mechanics Ma
ticnal Bar * as collateral for money that Gray
had borrowed. the amount loaned bsing put
$4,000 Gray went to Europe, wlere be re-
sized for some years He was tried before
Judge Barrett, being defended by ex-Judge
was sentenced TO ten years I'm prisonment
counsel got out a writ OF error and the case
c Ssn 10 Chine ne general term OF the supreme
Gray has remained In the city prison
ever since. On the l4th ult- Mr.. Charles Steck-
Ter, VINO had oeen retained by Gray after hts
conviction. made motion In the court OF over
and termtner, before Judge Brady, for a new
trial. supporting his application by a number
OF aihdasits setting forth that the accused did
not Know that the certificates were forged at
the time they were presented In delivering
his opinion yesterday granting a new trial
Judge Brady said That careful examination OF
the application AID q due consideration OF the
legal value OF the affidavits had led 10 the con-
clusfon that a new trial should De given TO the
accused His counsel Will now move 10 have
the prisoner released On bail pending the new
trial
EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A PARDON.
Gray claims that he has sufficient evidence
10 his pos essioh TO establish his innocence be-
yond question. Before this last application
was made Gray'5 friends made an apple alton
to Governor Cornell for a pardon, which was
signed by Judge Noah Davis, Judge Charles In
gals Mr. Marshal q. Roberts, Col. Frederick
A. Cenklng, the Rev. DR.. Parker (of Washing
Gopl MI. Chauncy Nj. Depew, Pos master L. l..
jamesond Others and also by the entire Jury
upon whose verdict the prisoner was convicted
put IL has not been decided as yet. One OF the
jury men. julius Rosenberg. OF No. 429 Broome
street, made an affidavit In which he SAID
81 do not think that this verdict was sup.
ported by the evidence adduced at the trial
lnasmuch as the said Gray had been sentenced
10 ten years Imprisonment. 1 lay awake two
nights thinking on his conviction. When /
learned that stay OF proceedings had been
Obtained l felt easier, as Ii seemed TO NE that
an unGeSeryed punishment was about TO be
inflicted on Gray" The late District Attorney
Phelps, on whose prosecution the prisoner was
convicted. Wroe under date or september :.
1850, TO Governor Cornell, a letter In which he
SAID, when alludiDg TO The Few statements sub
mltted by his counsei:-''lf they are true Gray
was certainly the victim OF another person.
had these statements been laid before the jury
az the trial In way satisfactory to their min Is
tne verdict would undoubtedly have been a
different one" Judge Barrett. who presided at
the trial, also wrote favorable letter TO the
governor, Ia Which he recommended the priS-
Oner's pardon.
Gray is well connected; his father. who was
chaplain or the u. S.'Senate under President
LtncOln's administration, is nov pastor OF a
Presbyterian church In San Francisco. When
Gray came TO New York aid engaged In the
banking business he was well recommended
Wbfle Ia England the L. s. government Tried
to have him extradited, but the English gov
eminent refused TO give him up by reason OF
a question Which then arose regarding the eX-
tradition laws. But few Yeas later Capt.
kealy, or the central Office detectives went
after him, and Gray, waving all techn1calities
came TO this country to stand his trial.