The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-09
GOMEZ APPEALS FOR JUSTICE
He was Imprisoned In Fort Lafayette OH ,
Charge or Aiding tho COnTedrrncy.

He Was Imprisoned In Fort Lafayette OH 4
Charge or Aiding tho Conrederncy.
Edwin Gomez. the inventor OF a waterproof
safety fuse or electric fuse train, tho manu-
facture OF which was suppressed by tho Gov
ernment during the war, has prepared mr.
appeal to Congress for justice. He was ar
rested upon charge Of supplying his fuse tc
the Confederate Government and imprisoned
In Fort Lafayette He was discharged by q
military commission which investigated his
case there. and afterward discharged in civil
procedure against him. But his reputation
and business were ruined. and he now claims
exemplary damages" without, however. es-
dmating these damages in cnsh. Ho pleads
poverty as an excuse for not having hired
counsel to push his case before.
Tho fucts, as set forth in his printed appeal.
arc these: Ho invented the submarine fuse in
1855. and sold considerable quantities Of it to
tho United States and Prussian Governments
and to individuals In October. 1853. he was
arrested upon the order OF the War Depart
70 ths rebels. contraesnd tfafiietins, furnish;
Phiiip Groos. New York com s ssos m me
oss he esteS New VI York ana
%a sohe New Yk
Sssed that they had eonspr ea1 wsish domea
The following February a military commits.
them the fS 'f ths e ap
peared that man who called himself Owens,
AGENT wn9 o arp to be
+ Smith had spgroaeked Greot With li istter
Of Introd9ction from a Baltimore merchant.
s asked I b whs wsn BE- could TO- a RsS & %s
Sooy isst from omes u ' This aA Vas ss'a HeSt
IN nm Hoo f.Nr
according to Groot's testimony. Groot asked
RslbRE hsSs Il w h Asked Spe Isl n
ssd thssss Sotss wsfs sess t. hi%: These Ssts
shall Gomez denied any but siight business
esHpaintapHSS;s with GrSot. and did not know
he had no idea why he was arrested. but he was
told that he furnished. materials to. blow up
the 1ronsides. which. he said. was false. All
Mag GSmea was before
Unit Vnited states ,st Commissioner OshSrn In New
Smith, os o%ens hs caa n
there testified that no had represented himself
e Gomez as as rebel and proposed buying OF
and they settled on, $225; 900 as the price. Ho
ssy Ts r tint Si h
Osborn diseharsed him on the groand that
warrant his commitment
In his appeal. Gomez claims that desper-
ote attempt was made by the Government to
prove a conspiracy which did not exist,
and that thereby he and his family were
ruined. He holds that Smith. or Owens, perse-
cuted him with the purpose of exalting him
self as clever detective. In those days" no
saya, the political atmosphere was lurld with
hates: accusation and condemnation
wore as twin furies to harass, annoy. trouble,
or destroy tho accused Men wore as babies.
seeing ghosts OF treason and gobelins OF re-
bellion everywhere; distrust had smitten the
public conscience with u very leprosy Of fear"
:, The object sought by Mr.. Gomez in placing
these facts before the Senators and members
Of the House Of Representatives Is to evoke
such q sense Of justice. on their part as may
lpduce them TO grant him. even at this late
day, at least o fair hearing.
He appeals to them for some equitable no.
Of his losses and OF hls wrongs"