Judge Samuel Spencer to Governor Caswell 1777

From the Executive Letter Book Halifax, 1st of June, 1777.

Sir,
Enclosed herewith are sundry depositions of Edward Cornwallis DeBruhl, now detained in Halifax gaol (jail) on suspicion of having been concerned in counterfeiting the current Bills of Credit of this State, taken before me on oath with the greatest secrecy that the nature of the matter would admit of. His offence was committed in the District of Halifax. It was likewise committed between the third day of April and the ninth of May last, and the Resolve of Congress against counterfeiting, was continued by last Congress to last session of Assemble, and no longer, and the act for continuing the same Resolve was ratified the 9th of May following. This, according to the rule formerly pursued of making the business of the whole session refer to the first day thereof, might, by a fiction of the Law against the real fact, have prevented any chasm: but according to our present constitution of admitting no retrospective Law to operate, might have been the subject of some doubt. But to waive this point, I understood that DeBruhl would make some very ample discoveries of several companies concerned in counterfeiting the Bills of this State, and passing the same counterfeit money. I therefore had him brought to my room, and after passing my word to him, that if he would make a true and faithful discovery of his accomplices and others he might know to have been concerned in counterfeiting the said Bills and passing the same, I would use my interest and endeavor to obtain him indemnity for what he had done.