Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-10
FAMOUS TRIALS
THE TRIAL OF MAJ. ANDRE.

In March, 1771, Maj. John Andre, then only 20 years old. came to America with one of the English reg iments. He distinguished himself in dict Arnold's treachery he was acting adjutant to the English commander, Sir Henry Clinton. in New York city.
 It was Andre who was chosen by the English to negotiate with Arnold for the turning over of West Point, the spondence was carried on between them under the feigned names of Gustavus and Anderson; and at length to facilitate their communications, the English sloop of war Vulture moved up the Hudson and took a station near West Point convenient for the pur- pose.
 The place appointed by Andre to meet Arnold was the house of a Mir. Smith outside the American posts. Both parties repaired thither in the night at the hour agreed upon. Mai Andre was brought under a pass Tn the name of John Anderson in a boat dispatched for the purpose from the shore. While the conference was yet unfinished daylight approached and to avoid the danger of discovery it was proposed that Andre should remain concealed until the succeeding night
 Owing to the fact that the Vulture had moved down the river to escape the American fire, the boatman refused to return Andre to the war vessel and he was finally compelled to make the trip on horseback to the British lines. Arnold gave him a permit to pass through the American lines in order to reach White Plains.
 He started for New York. as he SUD- posed, in perfect security, but when not far away he was stopped by a scouting party, who seized the reins of his bridle. For some unaccountable reason he forgot himself and declared that he was British officer on i'm portant business and begged that he might not be detained. When he dis covered too late his mistake he offered a purse of gold and a valuable watch for his release, but his offers were re- jected and the captors proceeded to search him. They found concealed in his boots the exact returns. in Arnold'c handwriting, of the state of the forces ordnance and defense at West Point.
 Andre was carried before Lieut. Col. Jameson, and, regardless of himself hold, he, nobly maintained the charac- ter he had assumed and requested to inform his commanding officer that Anderson had been taken. On receiv- ing this information Arnold compre- hended at once the danger with which he was menaced and fled to the Vul- ture and afterward proceeded to New York.
 When sufficient time for Arnold to make his escape was supposed to have elapsed Andre no longer affected dis guise and acknowledged himself to be the adtutant-general of the British army. Measures of security having been taken for the protection of West Point 1t remained to determine the fate of the unfortunate Andre. A board of general officers. of which Maj j.-Gen. Greene was president and the two foreign pnnPralS Tsafavofta ben, were members, was called to de- termine in what character he was to be considered and to what punishment he was liable.
 The candor openness and magnani- 1aity with which Andre had conducted himself from the first made a favor able impression. For this reason he experienced every mark of indulgence and from a sense of justice, as we'll as Of delicacy, he was informed, on the first opening of the examination, that he was at perfect liberty not to answer any interrogation which might embar- rass his own feelings.
 He however, Ignored this courtesy and confessed everything material to his own condemnation, while he would indulge nothing which might involve others. The board reported the es- sential facts which had appeared with their opinion that Maj. Andre was a spy and ought to be hanged as a spy. hc c4SCutl0A Ok lnlS sentence was ordered on the day succeeding that on which 1t was declared.
 Andre requested that he be shot like ] a soldier and not hanged as @ crin- inal. To obtain a mitigation of his sentence in this respect he addressed a letter to Gen. Washington. But the occasion required that the example should make It's full impression and his request could not be granted. He | met his fate with composure, dignity and fortitude, and such was his whole conduct as to. excite the admiration l and interest the feelings of all who witnessed 1t.
 Tine board that sentenced Andre wa. made tip of fifteen officers nominated by Washington. The deliberations were serious and absolutely without passion Or perJudice. On the site of the execution Cyrus Field erected a meiiuiffent. Andre was buried under the gallow8