John Andr矇 (May 2, 1750 - October 2, 1780) was a British Army officer hanged as a spy by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War for assisting Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British. To aid Andr矇's escape through American lines, Arnold provided him with civilian clothes and a passport where he traveled under the name John Anderson. Hidden in his stocking, he bore six papers written in Arnold's hand that showed the British how to take the fort. He was captured by John Paulding, David Williams and Isaac Van Wart, at Tarrytown, New York, September 23rd, 1780. The negotiation papers, intended for Benedict Arnold for betrayal of West Point to the British, were found in his boot. He was found guilty of being behind American lines "under a feigned name and in a disguised habit". He appealed to George Washington to be executed by firing squad but by the rules of war, he was hanged as a spy. According to witnesses, refused the blindfold and placed the noose around his own neck.