Confession of One of the Thieves who Stole Powder from West Point
Item
Type
Letterbook
Title
Confession of One of the Thieves who Stole Powder from West Point
Description
Mr. Cooper returned from Newburgh and told Price that he suspected Jones of having got and sold powder from West Point last fall. Price followed up on Cooper's statement and found evidence to support it, on which basis he had a warrant issued for Jones' arrest. Jones confessed before Justices of the Peace that he bought two barrels of powder from Welsh and helped Duane carry off four barrels. Jones did not describe how the thieves had gotten into the magazine, which was locked. The Justice, Benjamin Carpenter, set bail at fifty pounds but no one stood bail for Jones, and he was ordered to be transferred to jail the next day. Jones managed to escape that night.
When Price returned, he asked the guard of the magazine about the thefts, describing Jones to him. The guard made a candid confession to Price, enclosed. Duane, mentioned in Jones' confession, lives above Albany. Benjamin Hudson lives on Long Island. Isaac Ford, a soldier also mentioned in the confessions, is a deserter, whereabouts unknown. Neither Welsh nor Wiat, charged with the thefts, have been tried because Captain Burbeck cannot form a court martial without Moor and Luse. Price asks for directions on how to proceed.
Price also asks whether he should the casks purchased to hold powder should be paid for on delivery or afterwards.
When Price returned, he asked the guard of the magazine about the thefts, describing Jones to him. The guard made a candid confession to Price, enclosed. Duane, mentioned in Jones' confession, lives above Albany. Benjamin Hudson lives on Long Island. Isaac Ford, a soldier also mentioned in the confessions, is a deserter, whereabouts unknown. Neither Welsh nor Wiat, charged with the thefts, have been tried because Captain Burbeck cannot form a court martial without Moor and Luse. Price asks for directions on how to proceed.
Price also asks whether he should the casks purchased to hold powder should be paid for on delivery or afterwards.
year created
1787
month created
10
day created
20
author
sent from location
West Point
recipient
in collection
notable person/group
Henry Knox
William Price
Mr. Cooper
Jones
Justice of the Peace
Welsh
Duane
Doane
Doone
Benjamin Carpenter
bondsman
constable
guard
Benjamin Hudson
Isaac Ford
deserter
Wiat
Wyatt
Moor
Moore
Luse
Lun
Captain Burbeck
General
notable location
West Point
Newburgh
river
gaol
jail
magazine
New City
Albany
Long Island
notable item/thing
powder
last fall
information
inquiries
warrant
examined before two justices
confessed
bought
barrels of powder
examination
false key
bail
mittimus
secured
escape
rocks
candid confession
deserted
tried
court martial
casks
payment
document number
1787102040055
page start
25
number of pages
1
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Letterbook No. 2, West Point 1786-1790. | P:22 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | William Price | West Point | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |