The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-18
BENEDICT ARHoLD's GOOD DEEDS

An interesting man who has recently
visited New Haven was Charles Fenton
Crawford OF Halifax. ". s.. "A descendant
of the Arnold family of America. and "a
retired business man who spends por-
tion of his time in securing memorabilia
of the famous Benedict Arnold. Mr..
Crawford was led 10 visit this city in
consequences OF the impulsive American
generals residence here at one time. He
has found that. naturally enough per-
haps the state of Connecticut can fur
nish him more information about Bene-
dict Arnold than Is obtainahe elsewhere.
1T has been reserved" said Mr.. Craw-
ford to the New Haven Register, for
Mrs. Gilbert w. Warren, of llion. n. Y,
10 call attention 10 a good deed OF Bene-
dict Arnolds which the recording angel
has doubtless taken notice OF IT is a
forgotten fragment OF Arnold's history.
and does credit TO him.
Mrs. Warren, oddly enough. is a de-
scendant of Colonel William Ledyard.
who was killed by his own sword, after
he had surrendered IL to an officer serv-
ing under Arnold. Naturally the woman
would not be moved by any hereditary
love for Arnold to start her to digging
UP nice things about him.
1t happens, however. that Mrs. War
ren's husband is coliaterally descended
from General Joseph Warren. who fell
at Bunker Hin. This fact has led TO the
discovery Of something which may be
used as an offset to Arnolds inhuman
treatment OF his fellow citizens In the
eastern part OF Connecticut who met the
redcoats at New London in 1871. The
facts OF the burning of New London and
the massacre Of Fort Griswold, are too
wen known in this state TO require repeti-
J tion
"And now as TO the offset: General
4 W
early spring OF 1155 and had formed a
strong personal liking for him. When
Warren was killed IL was found that Il,
left no means for the support and educa-
tion of his four children Arnold became
deeply interested in the matter and
brought the children's condition TO the at
tention OF the Continental Congress-
which promised 10 do something for the
little ones, but diily-dallied over the
matter. Arnold had an idea that Con-
gress might not act quickly and so ne
wrote letter OF tender solcitude 10
| Mercy Schollay. who was caring for the
| Warren children. their mother having
died some time before. In this letter
Arnold nearly impoverished himself
sent an order for $500 with instructions
that he should he drawn upon for more
| as soon as It was needed This contri-
button Of the traitor saved Elizabeth
Josephine, Mary and Richard Warren
| from destitution. Arnold was not salts
! fled with this but he wrote spurring let
! ters TO Sam Adams and John Hancock
| of the committee which had the pro-
! posed congressional appropriation in
( hand. Then he sent home more money
! and said: Send Richard. who is now old
| enough. to the best school that can be
| found. clothe him handsomely. give him
J all that he needs and call upon me for
/ any future expense
"One of the letters written by Arm
| old" went on Mr.. Crawford, Ito Miss
! Schollay. just before his treason fur
| nshes much food for thought. lie had
sent some money and had congratula-
| ted the children on the prospect that
! money from congress would speedily be
| forthcoming. a country he said at
! that time should ever be sratefuLSo the
| patriot who lays down his life IN it's de-
| fense. Greater love hath no man than
| this What surgng thought must
1 alive passed through this mans brain
as he wrote these words. as they were
written Just az the time when he began
! the negotiations with Clinton"
J Arnold spent many Of the later davs
| of his life in ST. John. ~. u. He was
| not esteemed there, was hanged I'm cfh-
I sy, and finally his place of business was
| burned. IIc had some difficulty in col
lecting the Insurance. hut ultimately got
| the money and left the town FOR Eu-
| rope. amid general rejoicing, Il is said