Hamilton Gray to Lieutenant Governor Gordon, December 31, 1863

Mr. Gray to Lieutenant Governor Gordon.

May it please your Excellency: Two persons named David Collins and James McKinney having been arrested under warrant issued by the police magistrate, Mr. Gilbert, charged with piracy and murder in the matter of the steamer Chesapeake, which warrant recites a previous warrant issued by your excellency on the requisition of Mr. Howard, the American consul at this port, against the said persons and other persons named therein, and Mr. Weldon and myself having been retained to defend the prisoners, we have to request from your excellency, on their behalf, copies of the requisition made by Mr. Howard, and of any other papers, depositions, documents, or warrants laid before your excellency under the extradition treaty with the United States, on which your excellency’s warrant was founded. I conceive the parties arrested are legally entitled to this information.

If not requesting too much, as the parties are to be brought up on Monday, the 4th of January next, I should feel obliged by your excellency’s permitting me to have the copies before that time, and also that they may be certified as copies by your excellency.

I have, &c.,