Here is some more "St. Albans"

[Gene C]

More from, "The Civil War Years" by Robin Winks, page 311.

Prior to the St Albans Raiders release by Judge James Coursol (Police Magistrate of Montreal) we have this

"....Sanders retained three prominent Montreal attorneys to defend the raiders. Soon the proceedings were transferred to Montreal, as Coursol felt the tension was too great so near the border for a fair examination. Bennett Young penned an eloquent open letter to an anti-Northern Montreal newspaper, explaining that the raid was undertaken in retaliation for Sheridan's activities in the Shenandoah Valley. He declared that he was commissioned to act as he did and that raiders had violated no Canadian laws. Young pointed out that he was captured by Vermonters who had violated the Canadian border. 'Surely the people of Vermont must have forgotten that you are not in the midst of war, and ruled by a man despotic in his actions, and supreme in his infamy', he wrote"

"The proceedings (against the raiders) was slow, for evidence taken was to be taken on each of six potentially extraditable charges: assault, murder, attempted murder, robbery, attempted arson, and horse stealing. The prisoners were housed in the jailer's own home and were well fed on expensive delicacies supplied by Sanders. He provided wine at each meal, and it was said that those who felt the need had the solace of female company at night. Young carried on friendly chess games with the jailer and read of his exploits in the St. Albans Messenger, to which he had subscribed. The prisoners were carefully guarded, but not so much as to prevent escape as to forestall possible kidnappers from the United States. Outside, tight little knots of noisy Southerners and their sympathizers milled about, singing. The law's slow course and the favorable treatment that the prisoners received soon turned Northern gratification at the speed of the original arrest to annoyance and exasperation."