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12

X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

our daguerreotypes taken but left
before the pictures were finished ;
and it was arranged that Gordon,
on his return, should take one to
Wentz's office, at St. Charles, and
Sheerbarth would take the other.

‘We reached Huntsville, Ran-
dolph County, on the evening of
Sunday, January 20. Next day
we left Huntsville, Mr. Gor-
don, parting with us, to go alone,
direetly to St, Lonis, while Mr.
Sturgeon, myself, and Mr. Pratt
went on to Jefferson City. Mr.
Sturgeon and I arrived in Bt.
Lonis on the evening of January
26. Found, to my surprise, that
Mr. Gordon had not yet returned.

Several days passed and I be-
came uneasy} but es the weather
was intensely cold and stormy,
thought Gordon’s absence might
be attributable to this cause, La-
ter I heard that a man named
Ferguson had seen Gordon.
Found him in bed; he told me
that Gordon was aceompanied by
two strangers, whom he described
(here the witness was stopped).

‘Well, from the statements of
Ferguson, I suspected foul play.
Directed McDonald to go on a
search. On Toesday morning, 1
went on a locomotive over to St.
Charles; there was informed by
Wentz’s negro boy (witness was
here stopped).

At St. Charles then I received
information which convinced me
that Gordon was murdered. Took
Mr. Pratt with me in a buggy.
‘We passed up the Boonslick road,
making inquiries, without hear-
ing anything of Gordon, until,
late at night, in a enow storm,
we met McDonald and Wentz
near the spot where we after-
wards found Gordon’s body.
From there I Jearned that Gor-
don and the two men had

stopped at Hutchinson’s (witness
stopped).

‘Well, then, I received informa-
tion which convinced me that
Gordon bad been murdered be-
tween Hutchinson’s and St.
Charles, Hutehinson keeps Pri-
vate Entertainment, about four
miles east of Warrenton. We
all returned about five miles back
to Kenner’s Tavern, where we
stayed till morning. After break~
fast Messrs. Wentz, McDonald,
Pratt and myself turned west-
ward toward Hutchinson's to
search. We found a gentleman
(whose name, I believe, is Ste-
venson), who told me a saddle
bad been found by his mother’s
negro man (objected to and ob-
jection sustained by the Court).

Saw the saddle at Mrs. Ste-
venson’s; a dragoon service sad-
dle, with initials on the pommel.
‘Went to the spot where it was
said to have been found, in a
thicket, and about half a mile
south of the road. The snow
was very deep, We searched un-
sneceasfully.

Decided to go to Warrenton
for help. On my return the body
had been found. Recognized it
as the body of Basil H. Gordon.
Tt was between the traveled track
and the fence, in a gulley. Think
the body had been carried forty
feet. Discolored snow (red) was
near the traveled road, within
two or three feet.

His gloves and fur enffs and
cap were not found with the body.
His overcoat waa tnbuttoned, ex-
cept the two top buttons. His
pockets were turned inside out.
Hlis breastpin was the only thing
of valne left on him, and was
concealed by his coat. Captain
Couzins and Mr. Wentz went in
pursuit. On their retum Cap-

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