f they had
felt disposed.

"But I am an invalid, and God knows I do not deserve such treatment."
(The reader may think it strange that such a man should call upon his
Maker, especially when he reads the constitution of the secret conclave,
of which he was a member. The phrase "God knows," was used often in his
private conversation.) "These persons I have always considered my
friends, and have never given them occasion to be any thing else.
Finding, however, that I had no hope from them, and that I must stand my
trial, I was willing to make use of other means. I therefore agreed to
proposals made by the most wealthy of my friends, and yielded to their
arrangements, in order, if possible, to escape punishment. There was a
man by the name of Taylor, the same whose trial is now pending, whom
they feared, and who was known to community as an accomplished villain.
He was the person selected upon whom it was designed to heap the burden
of the guilt. By that means, the attention of our prosecutors would be
diverted. The plan was set in operation, and soon the infamy of Taylor
was sounded from Maine to the confines of Texas. They had their agents
in almost every city to help on the work. From the first, I had but
little hope of success in this manoeuvre, but consented reluctantly to
the trial. I was confident he had many enemies, and not without cause.
Having been foiled in all my former plans, I now experienced the deepest
anxiety. I was especially solicitous that as long a time should elapse
as possible before he was arrested. Some time after the report of his
guilt he was arrested, and my brother promised to secure evidence to
prove him guilty, and likewise to establish my innocence. It was also
agreed by the committee of arrangements at that time, that I should take
medicine upon a feigned sickness, in order to secure a change in my
situation. In this way I could be removed to the Marine Hospital, when
reported by the committee of health as being in danger. I was to appear
ignorant of my brother's design, of which in truth I was. I took
medicine, which had the desired effect. It made me desperately sick,
producing excessive prostration. Application was made for my removal to
the place where you now see me. Being conveyed hither, arrangements were
made for my bail by my supposed friends. I was persuaded that I should
continue in this state of unnatural disease from that time till the
present. My brother carried on his treache