The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 382

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Southwestern Historical Quarterly

ing him better than he (Childs) could possibly know him. He
persisted that Chance had been sufficiently wrought upon to
change his mind, and that he entertained no question of his good
faith and integrity. After being arrested he talked freely with Col.
Chance & appeared to harbor no ill will or revenge against him.
He made no confession of guilt, beyond a determined purpose
to resist all Confederate laws and to aid the Northern Army when-
ever an opportunity offered, let it cost what it might in carrying
out such a purpose. He indicated no disposition to communicate
anything regarding the "Order," and though positively denying
that it had signs, grips and passwords, without any interference
on the part of others, requested the privilege of withdrawing this
statement and giving an affirmative answer to the question. It had
never been ascertained what induced him to make this statement
willfully false, and afterwards desire to correct it. He died with
the secret in his soul, and is known only to the great Searcher of
all hearts.
Drawing the mantle of charity over his deeds and his life, let
his body rest beneath the green prairie sod, in peace, and let those
who cherish a memory of his faults also remember that; To err
is human-to forgive, divine.
COL. N. J. CHANCE
The testimony of Col. Chance, while applying directly in the
trial of Dr. Henry Childs, sheds much light upon the whole plot
of the conspirators.
From his evidence, it is plain to be seen that he was the right
man for the discharge of the hazardous work assigned him. From
first to last he stood by the citizens, and to his caution, courage
and integrity may in a great measure be attributed the success of
the plans to check the progress of the "Order." He was a man
of only a short residence in Texas, but volunteered in the Confed-
erate service at the beginning of the war. Possessing a sound
and discriminating judgment, he was nevertheless uneducated.
He was quite communicative in his disposition, and in his inter-
course with friends frank, open and candid. Kind in his nature
and generous beyond his capacity to give and bestow.
Many of the accused called him to their side while in prison to

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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963, periodical, 1963; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101196/m1/408/ocr/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

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