The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 2

LOS ANGELES TIMES: APFJL PAGES. Bank. Staggering, or rather rolling, over the csiHliier's desk, he stated that he had lng but kindness. Ills course in the matter to depart this day. and whenever it shall please the powers that be to permit me to depart, such shall be my course I trust a wiser and a better man." Cole was not tried until some time afterward, and was acquitted.

Thus he and Finley escaped, the latter giving entirely different testimony in the two trials. with having said that the Indictments against William Kissane for forgery were twlVd when Drew was Prosecuting Attorney. I did not say or Intend in any way to intimate that you nad anything to do with the matter. It is my best recollection that yon had not I am Sure it must hav hMn t.h rodiinilannv cargo and thirty-one cabin passengers. On the night of January 14, ISM, I he boat was burned to the waters edge at "Island Sixty-five," near Helena, Ark.

Sixteen lives were lost, among them many women and children. At the time there were no suspicions of any fraud or other crime. In connection with the loss of the boat and, when the proper proofs were presented, a part of the Insurance companies paid up their risks to the amount of $00,000. The next spring Mr. Burton met one of the Chaplins In New York trying to collect a $10,000 policy from one of the companies.

Chapin said he was having trouble with the company, and that if Burton would assist him the collection, he would pay Burton's claim. Burton went to the company, and on being shown the application recognized the fact that the policy covered the sheepskins, which he knew were In store In Cincinnati after the steamer sailed. He at once saw that a part of the cargo was simulated, and concluded that the rest of it must have been fictitious. He reported his information to the insurance companies, and they engaged him to hunt up the evidence. So successful was he that on the 20th of December, 1852, nine persons were arrested by the United States officials on the charge of conspiracy to burn the steamer Martha Washington.

Among those arrested were the Chapin brothers, Lyman Cole and Will-Win Kissane. A preliminary examination was held before Hon. P. B. Wilcox, United States Commissioner.

The result of the examination was that all the parties were held for trial at the October term following of the United States Court, to be held at Columbus, O. The defendants were all re-lAflraii nn bail. The nreliminarv examina placed his Irish hands In the farmer's houses, and for a number of years they were his mostdevoted slaves. Hart spent his time between the grant and San Francisco, where he had an office, in which gigantic schemes were laid by the loug-headod firm. They dealt in Mexican land grants, and the Santa Clara outrage was repeated In various porta of the State.

Hart became very wealthy, but his ability for getting money was overbalanced by tne extravagance of himself and his large family of who were brought out from Ohio soon after he got control of the grant They traveled in Europe when they were not lording it over their poor Irish servants, on the grant and money was never squandered with a more lavish hand. During ail of this time Hart and his pals were working the Spanish grant scheme. But land was cheap in those days, and In keep-ing up the extravagance of his family he soRl and mortgaged land right and left could not furnish money fast enough, so he went into wheat speculations on a large scale. He chartered seven or eight ships, and sent them to Liverpool. This business he did not understand so well as the land grant schemes, and a big crash came in 1871 or 1872.

He failed for large sums, his Irish tenants were left without a cent, and again Hart was afraid to show his face on the big ranch. He moved his family to San Francisco and opened a little office 'n the old Montgomery block, on Montgomeiy street Hart had managed to raise two large families, one in Ohio and the other in California, where he was married a second time. When he failed at San Jose, the children by his first wife among whom was the notorious Sally Hart, who created such a stir as an advocate of woman's rights and temperance ten or twelve years ago, and was dubbed by the San Francisco press "the red-headed platform terror" brought suit for the grant, on the grounds that the money used in securing the immense tract came from Hart's first wife. The children-five or six made It quite warm for the old man, but before the suit came to trial, Hart's oily way overcame the children, and the suit was dismissed, and, for a time, the first children lived in clover. It was always a mystery where Hart got the money to settle with them, for he was living a retired life, and his second wife and her children were not having a very easy time.

But they had never lived in Ohio, and probably did not know as much about Hart's partners as did the first children, who threatened to expose some great mystery during the trial. The bar of San Francisco never looked upon Hart as being possessed of even ordinary legal knowledge. It is certain that he was not doing a practice large enough to keep up the wants of his second family of children. But they managed to get along until about a year ago, when his first children again pounced down on him and he made a trip to Ohio in August of last year. Up to this time he and his partner of early days were the best of friends, but they were not seen together after that time, and, bn Hart's return, he visited Sonoma county.

What transpired there Is not known, and the writer lost track of Hart until the Kissane matter was brought to the surface by Hart. Hart is a man well past 80 years of age, and is in his second childhood. Further than, that, he is not a lawyer, and never was; hence the question, Did he go East as Kissane's attorney, or was it to force a settlement for his first wife's children, who know too much? The whole affair is a mystery that will never be unraveled until Hart's first children push their claim, whatever it is. This affair is liable to bring to 1 ht some of the schemes resorted to to secure a number of Mexican erants. and has been manly, and shows him capaoie oi loyal friendships.

The first of the matter was printed hereby the Examiner, before it was Known wno the connections were. As soon as young Hearst learned the true Inwardness of the matter he refused to have one word of it printed in his paper. That the policy of the Chronicle and Examiner (as well as the other papers) was a mistake, the sequel has proven. If they had Minted the whole story at once, it might fcave been a sensation of a day, and the Acrnnv of his kinsmen would not nave peen prolonged for weeks, and intensified by coupling their names with his and with all manner of falsehoods about their efforts to shield him. There has been an effort made to connect Kissane's younger brotner wiin of the 00 of Chemical Bank notes to ill-iam while the latter was in hiding near The forgery was committed in August, 1854; the money was sent from Cincinnati in October of that year, or just about the time Mrs.

jussane aim uer kuu-dren landed In California. Jayiiawkeh. KISSANK'S CAREER. Some Preliminaries-The Widow KIs- sane and Her Five Hons. In 1846 there resided at Grand Cave, an old-time Mississippi Kiver steamboat captain named Cummings.

lie had married Miss Chapin a southern lady, who had two brothers, ratner recmess ana uissipaieu young men. Capt Cummings was one of the most popular river men, and with his trusty mate (first officer) was known from Pittsburgh to Mobile, and around up to bt. Louis. When the troubles began with Mexico there went down the river one Lyman Cole, whose home was at Oxford, thirty miles from Cincinnati. Cole was accompanied by his wife, a most beautltul and fascinating woman.

Cole was a magnificent physical specimen, and the pair were the most remarkable-looking people on the boat, and soon made friends of all the officers. The captain of that boat was Cummings, the first clerk was. James Godfrey Nicholson, and Holland was first mate. Before the boat reached New Orleans the two Chapins (the brothers-in-law of Capt. Cummings) came on board, en route to New Orleans on a gambling expedition a practice they frequently indulged in on Capt.

Cumming's boat. Before that trip had ended at New Orleans a partnership had been formed between Cole, Cummings and the Chapins to take a cargo of sutlers' supplies to the Rio Grande and traffic on the blood-money of the soldiers. During the entire war these parties plied the Rio Grande with a floating hell, of the infamous character, and also owned and carried on a vile den at Brownsville and another at Matamoras. When the war ended these worthies returned with their spoils to Cincinnati, and Cole resumed his residence at Oxford, O. Shortly after this the Chapins made the acquaintance of a young man from New York State, named Filley, and they finally induced young Filley, who was a practical man, to join them in establishing a boot and shoe manufactory.

In two years the firm had come to be known as the leading one in its line in the West. THE WIDOW KISSANE. In 1843 there came to Cincinnati an elegant and cultured, widow named Kissane. She had five sons and two daughters, to whom she was devoting her life with the earnestness of a Christian mother. She came from Ireland, thougfi she had resided for a time in Canada.

Her oldest son, Henry, was a sturdy, plodding fellow, Industrious, while William, the second son, was an exceptionally bright boy of 16. His brothers, George, Ralph and Reuben, were mere lads, the latter then too young to cuter school In a little while William found employment with the venerable and respected Lot Pugh, then the first merchant of Cincinnati. oHis sons, George E. and then young men, while his younger son, William, was a babe if in fact he was born. Mr.

Pugh was also the father-in-law of the late Judge Samuel Hart, brother of Jesse B. Hart, an attorney in San Francisco. Young Kissane remained with Mr. Pugh until the latter part of 1848, rising by degrees until lie was the practical manager of the entire business. Shortly after the fall season opened in 184S the of Mr.

Pugh caught fire and was almost totally destroyed. Mr. Pugh never resumed business, but the next spring made a practical transfer of his custom to young Kissane, who had formed a partnership with another young man named Smith, under the firm name of Smith Kissane. All of the influence of Mr. Pugh was given to aid the young firm, and by 1851 they had come to be regarded as the leading candle-inakers and pork merchants of Cincinnati.

YOUNG KISSANE. Young Kissane lived at home with his mother, but In the business season spent his earnings at the Walnut-street House, then the rendezvous of the "hog droters" and river shippers, for the pork and candles put up by his firm found most of its market down the river. The Chapins, Capt Cummings and their friend, Lyman Cole, were habitues of the Walnut-street House, and here they became acquainted with Kissane, who made himself agreeable to all of those with whom he had any dealings. In the fall of 1851 the firm of Chapin Filley failed, making an assignment to Lyman Cole, who claimed to be their principal creditor. Capt.

Cummings also claimed to have been a creditor to the amount of nearly all of his savings. Among the creditors of the firm was Sidney C. Burton, a respected merchant of Cleveland, O. Young Kissane had been quite Intimate socially with the Chapins, and naturally felt quite a sympathy for them, but especially for the weather-beaten but genial Capt Cummings, who said that the failure would drive him to seek employment on the river, and as he had not the means to buy a boat would have to take such work as lie could set. Shortly after this he proposed that if young Kissane would lend him $2000 he would buy a boat and repay the loan In freighting.

To this Kissane consented fladly, and in December, 1W3, Cummings ought the steamer Martha Washington, an old boat which had seen much service. About this time Mr. Burton came to Cincinnati to try to secure a settlement of quite a large claim of sheepskins, which he had sold and stored with them. They refused to pay him, and the assignee, Mr. Cole, declined recognizing his claim.

Thus was Burton swindled out of his skins, and he left for his home about the middle of January, feeling very bitter on account of the injury done to him. INCENDIARISM AND FORGERY Burning of the Martha Washington-Daring Forgery Kissane's Trials. After Cummings had purchased the Martha Washington, Cole decided to close out the stock of Chapin Filley by sending the manufactured goods via the isthmus to California, and the rest of the stock to such markets as would furnish buyers, In the South. Such was the public announcement made. By the 7th of January, 1852, the boat was laden with an Immense cargo, mainly shipped by Cole for Chapin Filley, but a portion of the cargo was shipped bv Smith Kissane.

On this cargo for bills of lading signed by Cummings and his clerk) the various consignors took out insurance to the amount of while Capt Cummings Insured the boat for $4500, the policy being in the name of Lewis Choate, the pilot Cummings was Indebted in New Orleans, and he resorted to this trick to swindle his creditors. The boat left Cincinnati at midnight, January 7, 1852, with its immense (reputed) been out with the boys buylug hogs and had drank a little too much, and asued the cashier to verify the totals of some bills of hqgs which he had purchased. The cashier made the additions and found them correct Bishop then asked hlra to fill up a check for tne amount which tne casmer am. Bishop then signed the check and took it to vnirt if a1 likt with Mmnnot that li a give him small bills, as he had to pay different people. As the cash had been made up for trie day the teller could give hlin only $870 in small bins and gave him in $500 notes of the Chemical Bank.

The forgery of the two certified checks was discovered the next day, hut no trace of the forger could be found. It was nearly a week before the bank allowed the press to Know oi tne case. KISSANE ARRESTED AGAIN. In Manacles Escape and Recapture with His Rooty. When the details were printed Mr.

Ellis, a Cincinnati banker, who happened to be In New York, recognized the description of Bishop, and knowing thatJCole and Kissare were In New York with him In business, lnformed'the bank of what he knew. Telegrams were sent to Cincinnati at once and the parties arrested. Kissane had but a few dollars on his person when arrested, and none of it was recognized as part of the funds procured from the bank. The same was the case with Cole, while a part of the identical money was found on Finley. An officer went from New York with a requisition, and in company with Capt James L.

Ruflin and Thomas Logan, of Cincinnati, attorney for the bank, started to return to New York by the Erie Railway. Kissane was handcuffed to the New York officer and Cole to Capt Ruflin. When the train reached Hornellsville Cole and Finley were handcuffed together, while Ruflin took the place of the New York officer in the manacles with Kissane. The officer went out to get breakfast leaving Kuffln in charge of the prisoners. What took place between the prisoners and Ruflin will never be known.

Just as the train was starting Kissane asked to betaken to the closet of the car. Ruflin unlocked the handcuffs and stood in the aisle while the prisoner went in and closed the door. Alter waiting a reasonable time he opened the door and at once shouted that the prisoner had escaped. The train was stopped and Ruflin left behind to search for Kissane, while the others went on to New York, where Cole and Finley were locked up for the time, but Cole was soon released on ball. About two months after the escape Kissane was discovered at the house of a farmer named Sparrow, who lived at Clarence Hollow, fifteen miles from Buffalo.

The farmer and his wife stated that a Mr. Lynch, of Buffalo, an acquaintance, had brought Kissane to them and had introduced him as a relative named Lynch, and that they did not know him. To snow their good faith the farmer and his wife produced a package which the prisoner had given them for safe-keeping, and, when it was opened, wa round to contain ttuu or tne souu notes oi the Chemical Bank and a letter from Cole to Lynch, telling him to help Kissane in any way that he could. Lynch, it should be stated, was the barkeeper of the Martha Washington on her last trip. Mrs.

Lynch afterward testified that she and her husband went to Cincinnati with a note to some person there, whom she thought was Mrs. Cole, and that that parson sent the money, done up in a bottle of powdered magnesia, to Kissane. KISSANE'S CONVICTION. His Remarkable Speech to the Court Sentenced to the Penitentiary. Kissane was returned to New York and finally tried under an indictment which had been found against him and Cole, the man Finley turning State's evidence.

Kissane was sentenced to the Penitentiary for two years and nine months. Before he was sentenced he made the following address to the Court: "May it please Vie Court: 1 shall avail myself of the opportunity now offered (it being the last I s'-iall probably ever have) to make a few rem ks, and I wish it distinctly understood what I am about to say is in no way whatever intended by me as suirig for mercy; on the contrary, I feel that 1 deserve any penalty which the Court may deem proper to inflict. My life, sir, has not, as some of the public prints set forth, been one continued succession of crime. "Two years ago I was living with my family in Ohio in peace, contentment and hapoiness, known and respected by a large circle of acquaintances and friends, without one blot one stain upon my name. But in an evil hour there came about my dwelling those who had blighted and blasted many a home before.

I snail not enter into the details of the wretchedness and desolation they have brought upon me and mine, and which, sir, have been the means of bringing me before you this dav: also of sending my family, houseless, homeless and penniless wanderers on tne iace oi tne eann, asnamea of the very name they bear a name handed to me unblemished and untarnished as the driven snow. "May God forgive them I I never, never can. And yet, sir, was my own fault. Endowed with all the feelings and senses of manhood, I should have known that to have been breathed upon by them death; that the very atmosphere that surrounded them was poisonous as that which surrounded the upas tree. I should have Indignantly spurned them from me, as you would, sir, the most loathsome reptile that crawls upon the face of the earth.

Had I paused, nad I pondered, 1 had not been here. I must have been in a dream, a sort of spell, when I permitted the ignis fatuus to lead me to destruction; and though I stand here charged with and convicted of crime, yet my heart tells me, and I feel it and know it to be true, that I have no sympathy with it; that I have no feeling or emotion in common with its perpetrators. "Had I paused, had I pondered, you, sir, would have been spared the disagreeable duty which devolves upon you this day; and I can fancy no duty that Is more irksome to an enlightened and humane judge than that of consigning a fellow-creature to a living tomb. But the edicts of the law must be fulfilled. The consequences must fall on those who come antagonistic to it; and cheerfully, gladly, yes joyfully, would I go hence, to wherever it may please you to consign me, did I feel that I might yet live to return regenerated, untarnished; that I could once more take that proud station among family and friends which I then hol.l "But alas, sir, this cannot be, and the.

nverwhelmlue consciousness of it inflicts more misery and wretchedness upon me than any penalty that the law cau Inflict. There is no escape from one's feelings, except through the portals of the grave. I could escape from the railroad cars at the risk of my life, as has been given in testimony, and I could lie out in the wild woods night after night with no covering but the canopy of heaven; but there was one ever-watchful companion which 1 could not avoid it was the constant prompting of the heart 'What have you been, what infamy and disgrace have you entailed upon yourself I' I could hear it in the leaves that rustled over my head. I could hear it in every sound that was borne upon the breeze. The whole world may forgive me, but I cannot forgive myself.

I had hoped, sir, to reach some distant country, where those who had known me could know me no more where I could have settled down among strangers, and once more have been a man among men. The ever-present memory of the past would have been a bright light to guide me in the path of rectitude in all the future, and would have illuminated the rock upon which I was cast away. Providence has otherwise decreed, and I am here; but were I permitted of language on the part of the writer of such, liltiuuuucu IUIAJ lb tuts wuiaa quoted. I do not believe that you were in the courtroom during the time that this occurred, and I am positive that I never consulted you or in any way informed you that any such application was going to be or had been made. I never made mention of this matter to you in my life.

Very respectfully, ROHERT C. PUGH. Probate Court, I Hamilton County; Ohio, Cincinnati, April 8, H. Drew: I was clerk in your room, No. 5, Common Pleas Court during the last half of your term of office as Prosecuting Attorney and am positive that during that time there was no indictment or indictments noll'd against William Kissane.

Charles H. Fox. A KENTUCKY MAW'S LOSS THROUGH KIS-' SANE. Gallatin: Anril 8. There is man here whose father knew Billy Kissane to the tune of $10,000.

Capt Samuel Lyon, the present owner and proprietor of the Gallatin flouring and saw-mills, stated that his father, Hamilton Lyon, of the firm of Lyon Bell, Cincinnati, lost a large consignment of machinery, valued at $10,000 on the ill-fated Martha Washington, which everybody believed Kissane burned at Helena, on the Mississippi River, near the mouth of White River. On the same vessel Kissane had a large cargo of boxes marked "valuable merchandise," which had been heavily insured previously. When the remains of the burned vessel were raised some of these boxes that had not been destroyed by the fire were discovered and opened. In them were nothing but rubbish, such as ravel, stones and sawdust. Mr.

Hamilton is still living in Johnson comity, Ky. A LAND ROBBERY, In Which Kissane Figured and Hart Prospered. The investigators of the record of "Bill" Kissane, alias Rogers, the Sonoma millionaire, have evidently overlooked Jesse B. Hart, the man who has kicked up the biggest scandal that has been unearthed in several years. In their haste to unearth Kis-Kine record, they have evidently lost sight the fact that Jesse B.

Hart, the San Fran-ciso lawyer, has a record almost, if )ui quite, as romantic as that of Kissane. begin at the beginning, Jesse B. Hart car. to California in the early days of '49, and, in his language, he has "lived every day since he arrived on the nigged banks of the little village of Yerba Buena, now the great city of San Francisco. There were but a few tente on the western shores of the bay when Hart landed, and the characters who inhabited the pueblo in those days were of the toughest that ever congregated in any mining camp.

Jesse's leather bag, which supported two or three big pistols and a long knife or two, also held a large sum of money, and he lost no time in putting his coin to use. He was a young man, smart, energetic, and full of that push which made men rich in a day in those times. Jesse had spent a few, months in a law office in After looking around San Francisco for a few months, he took the steamer for Alviso and from there made his way to Jose. Here he became acquainted wi Frederick Hall, who had just made his xrr from Mexico. While in that country JJa.t had tnoroughly mastered the Spanish language, and the law of Mexican grants.

He also had a smattering of legal learning that he had picked up in some law dfflce. He and Hart at once formed a combination with several San Francisco parties, among whom was one Rogers, supposed to be the present Bill Kissane. The firm entered into ttie Mexican grant business and in a few years they all become very wealthy men. A number of large giants were secured by the firm by fraud or otherwise, and the celebrated Cebolla grant, of over 50,000 acres, lying seVen miles East of San Jose, and taking in seme of the finest land in Santa Clara county. Before Hart secured his patent almost every acre of land had been settled upon by poor but honest farmers.

They believed it to be Government land, and had not only paid Uncle Sam for the land, but they had improved it and built themselves fine houses. Many of them had raised large amilieb and had spent every cei of their earnings in improving their homes. They employed the best lawyers in the State, and paid them -large sums to fight the Rogers-Hart gang: but after Hart was granted a patent, what was their surprise and horror to learn that the lawyers they employed were In the pay of Rogers, Hart Co. This so enraged them that they made up their minds to hold their land at all hazards. They built a fort, and armed themselves to the teeth.

They secured two or three cannon in San Jose, and prepared to do battle to the bitter end. Hart was housed up in San Jose, and for months he dared not show his face outside of that city, and it was over a year before he dared set foot on land he claimed to have purchased from an old Mexican named Jose Cebolla, who never knew that he owned a foot of land until the gang got him in San Jos6 and made him give them a deed for the finest tract of land that was ever surveyed in the State. He was living in absolute poverty in a little shanty on one end of the grant, and for all of the broad acres which the gang said he owned he only received a few hundred dollars. But to return to th9 settlers. They sent word to Hart and his pals that they were welcome to come out and take possession of the grant whenever they felt so inclined.

The letter was signed by several hundred men and the usual skull and cross-bones formed a bloody seal. 'Hart applied to the Sheriff, and two or three hundred citizens were called together by that offlcjal. They were ordered to arm themselves and meet at a point about a mile from the fort the next morning. The Sheriff his deputies were there on time, "but what was their surprise to find that the Sheriff's posse was armed with nothinz more formidable than brooms and flags of truce. The men who had been summoned by the Sheriff to assist in dispossessing the settlers were friends and neighbors of the persecuted farmers.

The day, which the evening before promised to be one of bloodshed, turned out to be one of the happiest ever spent in the beautiful Santa Clara Valley. When the warlike settlers learned that the supposed enemy's camp was composed of friends, they set to and killed the fatted calf, and a grand barbecue was in order. A consultation was held in the afternoon, and, under the advice of some of the cooler-headed ones, the farmers consented to give up their beautiful homes to the robbers, for they saw that the whole United States army would be called out to dispossess them. This occurred just before the sad news that the whole country was about to be plunged Into a civil war reached California, and a large number- of the settlers made their way to Texas by the southern overland route, thoroughly disgusted with California and California laws. Two or three of them settled around San Jose and are still living in the valley, old gray-headed men and women.

Jesse B. Hart, the man who broke up three or four hundred happy homes and sent whole families of women and children adrift on a cold, heartless world, did not even pay them for the thousands of dollars' worth of improvements which they had put on the land they had every reason to Delieve belonged to them. He did not show his face on the grant until some time after the last sad-hearted farmer had taken his departure. He then built for himself a castle In the centerof the grant and surrounded himself with poor Irish tenants whom he brought to California to act as his slaves, lie HIS PARDON AND FLIGHT. How the Pardon Was Procured Official Documents.

-Shortly after Kissane's conviction the insurances companies, which had taken the risks on the cargo of the Martha Washing' ton, became satisfied that Cole, and not Kissane, was the inventor of the scheme, and J. W. Hartwell, of the Cincinnati Insurance Company, visited Kissane in prison, and offered to procure his pardon if he would aid them in securing evidence by which they could defend the suits Instituted on the policies. To this proposition Kissane assented, and told them of the facts to which he could testify. Armed with this statement of wl they expected to prove by Kissane, the surance aompanles appealed to every Infl ence within their reach to aid them wil tlij.

then Governor.Hon.Myron H.Clark.to secure his pardon. Many letters were sent to the Governor, most of which asserted that Kissane was innocent of the crime of which he had been convicted. Others, written under other influences, urged the Governor to refuse the pardon. An investigation as to the source of the protests developed the fact that they were all Inspired by Cole, who had not been yet tried for the Chemical Bank forgery, and those interested with him In collecting from the insurance companies the $240,000 of unpaid risks in the Martha Washington. These facts became so apparent that A.

OakeyHall, District Attorney, who had prosecuted Kissane, joined in the appeal for pardon, and sent with his.request to the Governor the following letter from Prosecuting Attorney (now Judge) Joseph Cox; "Prosecuting Attorney's Office, 1 "Cincinnati, Sept. 21, 1855. Oakey Hall, District Attorney, New York Dear Sib: J. W. Hartwell, gentlemen of influence in this city, have called on me, requesting me to use my in- the pardon of William Kissane.

who was convicted last spring in your city of forgery, and sentenced to Sing Sing for some two years. 'i have given tne subject some thought and the only ground upon which I coula, say anything In favor of his being pardoned would be that such a course would be more promotive of public justice than his further Incarceration. The unenviable position which he has occupied in public estimation for. the past two or three years of being the leading tnniKer, not actor, in tne martna Washington tragedy is well calculated to make me hesitate long before taking any step to release from confinement so active a spirit for evil. "Mr.

iiartweu nas snown me Kissane's full confession of that Infernal plot to destroy the Martha Washington, and he, with others, who have visited Kissane in prison, have every confidence that if pardoned he will give the full benefit of his testimony to substantiate the facts he has communicated to them, whenever his services may be required. I understand that in the case in yon city against Lyman Cole (another Martha Washington conspirator) and others every exertion is being made to prevent the pardon of and drive you to trial while he is the penitentiary, so that you cannot avail yourself of his testimony. His testimony is undoubtedly of great importance to you in those cases, and also in cases pending against the same parties in Boston and In diana. Suits are also pending in this city, as 1 am credibly informed, to recover some $40,000 of insurance effected upon bills of lading on the Martha Washington, and the underwriters seem determined to prosecute the parties here under our statutes for uttering false bills of lading a penitentiary offense. "in these prosecutions the testimony oi Kissane if it can be had will be of ere Importance in settling whatever of doub may be in the public mind as to the guilt oi" the whole party.

"Kissane has perhaps a year and a half or two years yet to serve, and at the expiration of that time will be at liberty, when he may, and undoubtedly will, reiu, v. to render that evidence which he now offers. Will not the satisfying of the public mind, to the guilt of these, bring the rest of them to just punishment, and the prevention the payment of such large amounts of in surance oe or greater oenent to society tnan the incarceration of one individual for one or two years? My opinion would be most decidedly that if you are satisfied (and those who are acting with you), after mature reflection, that Kissane will render you the testimony and services as he proffers, a pardon should be extended to him. "it is a delicate point, but not to act is shutting your ears to important disclosures and throwing away the possibility, to sy no more, oi uoiug a great puuuu service. "His pardon, I doubt not, will raise a great clamor, but if those who are active in it proceed with proper discretion they will have the consolation, which is, after all, the best recompense of official station the self-consciousness of having tried to serve the community.

"If you deem this of sufficient importance to communicate to the Executive of your State, you are at liberty to' do so. "Respectfully, Joseph Cox, "Prosecuting Attorney Hamilton county, "Ohio." KISSANE FLEES. The Governor finally yielded to the pressure, and on the 0th of December, 1855, Issued the pardon. Then Kissane realized that he had jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire. The friends of Cole and his confederates notified him that he could voluntarily leave the country or be assassinated.

lie communicated these things to the authorities and asked protection, but they told him they could give him no real protection. In this state of dread he remained six weeks in New York, when the thing became unendurable, and in very terror he fled the country. It should be stated, however, that the Insurance companies promised him that all the indictments against him in all the various cases should be nolVd. These promises were made while he was a prisoner, but those making them did not keep their faith. Since leaving New York his career in Nicaragua and California is well known.

Whether he deserves to be tried on the old indictments is left for the reader to decide after reading the foregoing unvarnished facts. THE KISS AN INDICTMENTS. Ex-Prosecuting Attorney Drew Had No Knowledge of Their Nollying. Cincinnati Commercial, April 9. Ex-Prosecuting Attorney S.

H. Drew was in the city yesterday and had his attention called to the statement that the indictments on record in this county against Kissane had been nolVd during his term of office by Judge Fayette Smith, and that the "prosecutor interposed no objections." Mr. Drew said he had no knowledge whatever of the nollyinQ of the indictments during his incumbency of the prosecutor's office, and that whoever it was that interposed no objections, it was not he. In substantiation of his denial he submitted the following letters from Robert C. Pugh, afterwards Assistant Prosecutor, and who acted as attorney for Kissane in the matter under discussion, and from Charles II.

Fox. Deputy County Clerk for a part of Mr. Drew's term as Prosecuting Attorney: Hamilton County, 1 Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Cincinnati, April 8, 1887. Samuel H. Drew Dear Sir: I see by this morning's Commercial Gazette that I am accredited tion was concluded on the 15th day of January, 1853.

A DAKINO rUKUEUI. In the early summer of 1853 a daring forgery was perpetrated on the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company. Bank fot $14,800. Suspicion pointed to James Godfrey Nicholson as being the forger, as he had disappeared. His office was broken Into and evidence found which connected with him In the crime William Kissane, who was arrested on the charge.

It should be stated that in tne preliminary trial on the conspiracy charge Kissane was defended by Hon. George E.Pugh and Hon. George II. Pendleton theformer a true and tried friend, who, just before his death some years ago, asserted his belief In the Inno cence of Kissane. iiewasnis attorney at the trial at Columbus, as was Mr.

Pendleton and Hon. Thomas Ewing, Sr. Kissane demanded an immediate trial on the charge of complicity in the forgery trial, and, owing to the fact that he was under bail for conspiracy in the Martha Washington case, was found guilty. The injustice was so palpable, on the testimony, that the motion of his attorneys for a new trial was granted, and a change of venue allowed to Warren county, the next north of Cincin nati. Here he was tried attain and con victed, when the Court set aside the verdict of the jury and ordered a new trial, and Kissane was released on bail.

THE GREAT CONSPIRACY. The Trial Before Judge McLean -Kissane Acquitted. In October following, at Columbus, occurred the great conspiracy trial for burn ing the Martha Washington. The insurance companies had employed Hon. Henry Stan-bery and other eminent lawyers to assist in the prosecution.

Four hundred witnesses were examined ana the trial lastea iour weeks. The proof showed clearly that the consignments made by the Chapins and Cole were fictitious, but no evidence was given connecting young Kissane with the conspirators in any criminal way. When the testimony was all in it was -apparent to the detense that the prosecution naa utterly failed make a case. The District Attorney presented the case to the jury and the defense submitted their side of the case without argument The Court (Hon. John McLean) charged the jury to bring in a verdict of acquittal, which it did on the 14th of November, A full report of the trial can be seen in Fifth McLean, United States Court Reports.

All aUUtUf iuixt luuivtiiioiiwj A'Ji luuiuvi and arson were found against the parties who had been charged with conspiracy In Phillips county, in connection with the burning of the Martha Washington. They were arrested and taken to Arkansas, and released on bail, and though the other persons indicted returned for trial and were acquitted, Kissane was never tried, as will be explained further on. By this time Kissane was bankrupt financially and ruined in his reputation. His elder Henry, had gone to California in 1850, and the widowed mother was left in poverty with her little ones in a community which had come to look upon her son as a felon. There were so many evils threatening the young man that he must have thought the hand of every man was against him.

In the hour of his trouble one friend seemed to remain true to him, and that was his associate in trouble, Lyman He seemed to have an almost mesmeric influence over the young man. Kissane had no money and he could not ask employment of those who yet trusted him, for his connection with the various criminal charges had been heralded alf over the country, and he had become an object of suspicion. ANOTHER FORGERY. Dealing in Uncurrent Money Lyman Cole Kissane's Confederate. At this juncture Cole, his evil genius, suggested that they go to New York, in company with James Finley, a fancy tailor of Cincinnati, and open the business of dealing in uncurrent money that is, the money of western banks, which was then at a discount in New York, though worth par at home.

Cole agreed (as shown in the testimony of the Chemical Bank trials) to furnish the capital, and Kissane and Finley were to do the work. Western merchants then bought the bulk of their stocks in New York and carried their local currency with them to make payments. While engaged in this business Cole was not known as a partner, his object being to get the Information upon which to carry out his scheme. In the course of the business he succeeded. In the early part of August 1854, James Finley appeared at the place oi business of Van Brunt Watrous and presented a letter purporting to have been written by Joseph Hughes, then a famous stockraiser of Kentucky and a man worth an immense fortune.

The letter of introduction was as strong as language could make It and established at once the standing and credit of Mr. Bishop, the name Finley sailed under. Bishop told the firm that he was a stranger, and asked the firm to introduce him to a safe bank in which to open an account. The firm, only too glad to serve their friend and customer, Mr. Hughes, at once introduced Mr.

Bishop, "hog drover," to the Chemical Bank, where Bishop made a deposit of $2000. Finley next called on Very Gwynne and presented a forged letter of introduction from White, Cunningham of Cincinnati. He was received kindly, but when he asked about a bank they proffered to become responsible for his money. As that was not in his part of the play, he made no deposit with them. The next morning Bishop (Finley) went to the Chemical Bank and drew out $1950 of his deposit stating that he was going to the stockyards to buy hogs.

A SHARP TRICK. Just before the close of bank hours that evening Bishop entered the bank, apparently under the influence of liquor and deposited two certified checks, one on Very Gwynne for $6018.50, on the Continental Bank, and one of John Thompson for drawn on the American Exchange some of the settlers, who were wrongfully ousted from their homes, twenty odd years ago, may yet get their rights. Nicaragua Script. Col. Morford, of this city, is in possession of a certificate issued by the Nicaraguan government, in 1857, and which bears the signatures of William Kissane Rogers, and also that of the filibuster leader, William Walker.

Following is a copy of the cer- titicate: No. 1380. Twenty-flve Dollars. 1 125. The Republic of Nicaragua is Indebted to John V.Hooff In the sum tf Twenty-five Dollars for military services to the State.

In witnets whereof we hnve hereunto get our names and affixed the great seal of the Republic at the city of Granada, this 9th day of March, 1857. Wm Walker. President of the Republic Wm. K. Hooep.s, Minister of Hacienda.

The certificate is countersigned across its face, "Registered, R. W. Luke," and it also Dears, stamped deeply in the paper, the great seal of the Republic. On the back are Indorsed the names of John V. Hooff and F.

W. Jones, showing that the soldier of fortune, to whom it was issued, was wise enough to set rid of it and the second holder probably worked It off on a third uiau. The Highland YIew Tract Is eliciting much inquiry of late, and some good sales have been made there. Persons looking for bargains are much surprised at theN comparative advantages for investment there offered. The office for the traot is at No.

8, More building, Court street. Much the Largest Stock of pianos and organs can be found at Gardner's, the only large and exclusive piano and organ house in Southern California. No. 212 S. Spring street Gardens, Ten miles from Los Angeles, offers better inducements for investments than elsewhere.

For particulars inquire of Pomeroy Gates, 16 Court street. The old-established Fire insurance Agency of William J. Brodrick has been removed from No. 6 to No. 10 Commercial street.

0. Donahne, 205 South Spring street, for finest groceries, lunch goods, teas and coffees. Dnarte. For sale thirty acres, covered with large orange trees: thirty shares of water stock. The finest location in the Duarte.

Elegant' chance for subdivision. Parties understanding subdivision cannot fall to see the advantages offered. Will sell the whole or a part. Terms easy. This is offered far ten days only.

Apply by letter or in person to A. C. Thomp son, Duarte, CRJ- Wall paper, In endless variety, at the Boston Wall Paper House, 32 South Spring street I Goods at factory urices at Eacrleson's. 58 North Spring street Shirts made to order at Eaglcson 50 North Spring street. Boston Wall Paper House, 33 South Spring street.

Every well-dressed man should wear EagleJ own a RiiGviruvuug duui, VUUtl ttQu From $25 to $50 Per Lot Discounted to cash buyers at Mondonvllle. New goods received daily, at the Boston Wall Paper House, 33 South Spring street. CMh Bnyerof Fire LoU At Mondon ville will get one lot free. Reasner's Corn RIdder. a guaranteed cure for corns.

EUig 4 Co. BeU it. kuuaw btrt branch of the great furnishing goods man-I ufacturing house of San Francisco..