Letterbook copy
http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/?documentId=1752
To the Board of Treasury
Augt 3d 1786.
✓
Boston
Gentlemen
I have this moment in the evening arrived from New Hampshire Morrill & Gray mentioned in my last letter were apprehended. and no discovery was made in consequence of the search of their papers. [Editor’s note: inl bled through the entire next line] Exeter several of the Justices there domiciled on [Editor’s note: except? the last few words of the sentence were illegible due to ink] Sherriff as Morrill had confered [Editor’s note: confesed?] to them that there was insufficient evidence suspicion [undecipherable] over, used it was thought un
the queries of the court prior to his knowing what evidence could be produced against him, with frankness
and confidence, and had requested the court with
that they would hear every thing that could be alledged
against him - which circumstances were very much
the appearance of innocence — that there might not be
sufficient evidence to convict him before a jury in that [State - that the people might be uneasy to have]
him imprisoned for suspicion only, and that this
commitment might subject him to be conveyed out of the state which might be disagreeable to the inhabitants
As I had no evidence against Gray, except a similarity of hand writing and his connexion with Morrill he was of course acquited.
Had I not happily proceeded according to the advice & opinion of the President of the state and the principal characters in it, I should undoubtedly been arrested for false imprisonment of Grey or been otherways personally insulted, and it was with some difficulty that their influence prevailed to prevent it.
I shall stay here until monday, my reason for which is that I shall most probably collect information which may be of service, which I have not been able
[which I have not been able to do so fully as I kept myself unknown as much as Possible when] in Town before.
[I hope] Norris may be kept from receiving directions [from] Morrill, who undoubtedly will attempt to [prevent his deposition], for he appeared on his examin[ation more] Solistous about this than any other [evidence] which might be produced against him,
I have the Honor to be with
great respect
Your Obt Servt
Jno Pierce
Honl Board of Treasury
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[undecipherable] [undecipherable] government [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
[undecipherable] during the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Boundary and Plans to explain —
Gentlemen
I do [undecipherable] had been [undecipherable] persons in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] arrived [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] New Hampshire — Morrill & [undecipherable] mentioned in [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] letter, were apprehended, and on alleg[ing] [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the cancelling this [paper] —
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] —
Morriss or Morrill had confided to them that [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] required and [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] him on [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] him [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] only, but the [undecipherable] shall, with great difficulty mov[ed] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] —
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] appeared to me and then, [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] long —
[Having?] determined that there was not [undecipherable: probable reading "sufficient"] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] exhibited [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] as Morrill had taken or [undecipherable] being taken and while told as [undecipherable] great apprehensions for the [undecipherable] as the evidence which I had the honor to introduce to the Board, which was [undecipherable] [undecipherable] except [undecipherable] himself, [all] stood full against him; I must own that I was astonished at this decision — the principle [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I [procured?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] law, that Morrill [undecipherable] before was unexpected — had he [asserted?] [undecipherable]
the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to his knowing what evidence could be [procured?] against him, with frankness and confidence, and had requested the [court?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] thing that could be alleged against him — in this his [undecipherable] tones were [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] disposing in that [undecipherable] him [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] only, and the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] him — to be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] agreeable to the [undecipherable] —
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] against [undecipherable] request to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to found writing and his connexion with Morrill he was of course acquitted —
Had I not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] according to the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] opinion of the President of the [State?] and the principal characters in it, I stood undoubtedly [undecipherable] for false imprisonments of [undecipherable] or been other ways personally insult[ed], and it [undecipherable] with some difficulty that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] influence [undecipherable] to prevent it —
I shall, [try?] [undecipherable] until Monday, my remembrance which is that I shall most [undecipherable] [undecipherable] this information which may be of service, which I have not been able
[undecipherable] may [h]as kept from receiving [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with all [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] about this [undecipherable] may [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] might be [produced?] against [undecipherable] —
Your Mo[st Ob'd?] Serv[an]t
[undecipherable: signature]
[undecipherable] Secretary
