Contemporary Copy of Letter

Suspicions Surrounding an Official

Letter from the Commissioner of Army Accounts concerning a particular official and suspicions surrounding him.

Suspicions Surrounding an Official

1786

09

22

New York

This letter is not signed but is likely written by John Pierce.

Robert Treat Paine

John Pierce

John Phalon

Plalor

brother

Captain Bliss

New York

Boston

Rhode Island

Concord

Lake Champlain

Canada

released

inquiries

trial

depositions

duties of the office

capacity to do mischief

baggage

guilt

journey

description of his person

letter

considerable property

1786092221101

1

New York September 22d 1786
Sir
I am informed that John Phelon, the person, or
I was in pursuit of has returned and is taken up
in Boston — as his return may be a concerted measure
to brave any inquiries or evidence trial which may
be made respecting him. I have taken therefore
the liberty to inclose you the depositions on which
the suspicions of him arose, and tho' they do not amount
to such evidence as will convict him; yes I am of
opinion that his knowledge of the checks of the
office, and his capacity to do mischief is such that
as to will inclose your [g]over[n]ment to take exceeding good care
of him, to prevent the in ill Consequences which in
case he is guilty may require the public — [Editors note: the following phrase not in letterbook copy] as he
could have no reason [uncecipherable] in proper one, to have
the paper in his baggage, and out of the office I
conceive that this circumstance is a sufficient assessment
of his guilt — [Editors note: resuming alignment with letterbook] and the his hiding the papers in his mattress evidences the fear of a search — a Letter was
sent to him from some unknown person at New York
within three days after the discovery was made there,
which Letter was [inclosed in a] blank cover to Lieut
Howes of Boston — and was received by Phelon on
the Saturday following the time it was written
on which Phelon the Saturday packed up his
whole baggage of every kind, and prepared the
same day to set off on his journey as he said to
Rhode Island he was however persuaded to stay
until sunday but set off on sunday before day
and passes thro' concord where he was seen by one

[Marginalia]
30012
Sep. 22d 1786
Rob. Treat Paine Esqr.
Copied
Capt Bliss early in the morning — at Littleton a town
about twelve miles from Concord he tarryed that day &
the following night, to get his Horse shod, but discovered
the greatest anxiety to get forward pleading for an excuse
that he had a brother sick at Catross, who requested his
immediate presence, and it was thought from the description
of his person, that he had passed over Lake Champlain
for Canada — and but it now appears I am informed
that he has returned from the province of Main,
is it not extraordinary if he is innocent, that, that Letter
should cause in him such an agitation — that he should
take such care to prevent a pursuit and such a Circuitous
rout for the Eastward — if he was going for a few days
is it probable he would have loaded himself with all his
papers and baggage? and can it not be known where
he has been, his business and whether he has returned
with his whole baggage and where [undecipherable] if any not
if not [indecipherable] he left it were he has left it?
I am informed also that he has considerable
property, and that he has said had in money about
three thousand Crowns, it this is the case he could not
have acquired it by honest means, as any pay or
emolument reced for his services, has not been
more than sufficient for his support.
I hope sir you will not come within pardon
the liberty I take in requesting you to attend to his
examination and afford your assistance & advise to
the authority of the state, in the further steps that shall
be taken respecting him.
3-012
[to] Robert Treat Paine Esquire