The County Committee had officially informed Chase, nine days previously, that it had no jurisdiction of his case, and directed him to the Convention, {WL'stcliesier-couidy Committee U) Henry Chase, "In Com- "mittee of Safety for the County of Westchester, White Plains, "Aug. 21, in6"--Hu<torkitl 31>iiimcript.% etc. : PetUions, xxxiii, 102;) but no attention whatever was paid to the ponr man's Petition, by either the Committee of Safety of the State or the Convention to whom it wiis addreiised-- he was only "a Poor man," one of the "poor rep- " tiles," of earlier "patriotism."
On the thirteenth of September, the unfortunate prisoner again presented a Petition for relief, in these words ;
"White Plains Goal, September 13, 1776. "Gentlemen of the Honorable Provenshall Conoress.
" This my Humble Petition to Beg of your Honnours to send for me " that I may have my tryal for the County Commete and the Commete " of Safety siiys that they have no Right to try me and I have desird " them to send me to the Honnourable Provenshall Congress and they '•tell me they Dare Not send me without ordi/i-s from your Honnours " Gentfcmen so I shall be very Glad if your Honnours w ill be Good " Knouf to send for me as soon as Possible, for I have bin in Prison "Going on Eight weeks and I cant support myself any Longer,* So " Gentlemen I Shall be very Glad if your Honnours would take my "case into Consideration If your Honnours Pleases so that I may bo "clearJ or condeniJ So Gentlemen I leave my case to your Honnours " wise consideration not Douting but your Honnours will have compas- " siou on a Poor Prisoner.