The Hillsborough Recorder

From the New York Gazette.

Three persons have been tried at Utica, as having been concerned in the abduction of Morgan. Their names are Eli Bruce, formerly sheriff of the county of Niagara, John Whitney and James Gillis. In the case of the last mentioned, the jury being unable to agree, they were discharged. The two first were convicted. Bruce was sentenced to imprisonment for two years and four months, and Whitney for fifteen months.

Bruce was tried first, and after his conviction, was produced as a witness against the other two. He testified that on the evening of the 13th of September 1826, he was first apprised that William Morgan was coming on from Canandaigua, on the ridge road. He was told this by Burrage Smith and another person then living at Lockport. Some six or eight days previous to this, he had been informed by a gentleman from Batavia, that Morgan was willing to go away from Miller, and the witness was requested to assist in his removal, which he declined. He, however, had been requested by another person, to prepare a cell for Morgan, in the jail at Lockport, in contemplation of Morgan's being carried directly across from Batavia to Lockport, and thence to Niagara.

Smith, and the person who came with him, told witness that Morgan had come voluntarily, and was willing to go into Canada; they said he had come peaceably, and wanted witness to assist him in getting him on. Witness declined at first, but finally agreed to do so, and between 9 and 10 o'clock went to the house of Solomon C. Wright, living on the ridge road, 5 miles north of Lockport, where he found the carriage, and got into it. William Morgan, or a person called Morgan, was in it, one Hague, who is now dead, and himself, and no others were in the carriage. It was driven by a person of his acquaintance. There was several persons at Wright's who did not belong to the house; and on his way there he met some strangers on foot going towards Lockport. He never saw Lawson, until he saw him here in jail. He did not see Whitney, and did not know him. He afterwards stated that he saw Whitney at the installation at Lewiston.

He went in the carriage from Wright's to Lewiston, where another carriage and horses were procured; the same passengers got into that carriage and drove to the ferry near the fort. On their way, they took in another passenger. The testimony of Corydon Fox is perfectly correct. Witness did not see Morgan until their arrival at Lewiston, when they came to the ferry, and got out of the carriage—Morgan locked arms with the two who accompanied witness. Morgan was blindfolded in the carriage, which was kept perfectly closed, the curtains down, the windows up &c.

Witness and his companions, four besides himself, crossed the river to Canada, having Morgan in the boat. Their object was to get Morgan away from Miller, into the interior of the country, in Canada, and place him on a farm. The expected arrangements for the reception of Morgan in Canada had not been made, and it was thought best to wait a few days. Morgan was accordingly brought over to this side of the river, and was put into the magazine in Fort Niagara, to await the preparations on the other side to receive him. It was past midnight and before daylight when they put him into the magazine. He has never seen Morgan from that day to this; and has never had any communications from any person respecting what was ultimately done with him.