The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-11


der false pretences oi the purpose Of swindlng him out
OF It forever Has any such intention been proved
agsinst me Not at all On the contrary, The evi
denre shows that have used every means in my pow
20 discharge the debts owed, fast possible Aud
what saws my in his letter Mr. Deblos, Of
The 9Th OF February IN speaking Of the drafts drawn on
him He says this-tha previous TO his (my) lesv-
ing my command for Phladelphis, the Is, December,
he had obtained money credit In settling demands
against him by giving orders" Does this look like
fraud, settling my debts Docs look like fraud
my part Ia authorizing the endorsatIon OF my pay check
for the month Of December: and giving order for
my allowance OF fuel for November here the Quar-.
ter Master, and directing that the same for the month
Of December in Philadelphia should be forwarded here
TO Col Freeman, to be appropriated towards the dis
charge OF my debts My pay check had been received
by Col Freeman as early the 9th day Of December
Sometimes Il was IN his hands and sometimes IN The
hands OF Mr. Boles as appears by the evidence was
not III my power TO use therefore. Did ever refuse
to endorse H. so that It might be applied towards the
extngushment Of my debts! There is evidence
that did.
1t is that on the "a December, did make sppi-
cation to Col Freeman 10 raise money my pay check
IN anticipation Of its receipt by writing to HIM note
under that date as follows
would you be pleased to add to your numerous
iavors, one great and last one My pay accounts not
having arrived, and being much in want Of at
this time, would most respectfully ask the favor Of
you, II you can make 1t convenient 20 let me have the
amount Of the account and you take the account its
arrival Thursday. But should It not be convenient
tie you will you consent to hand the TO any
who may be SO willing as to let me have IT,"
To this Col, Freeman replied under date as
follows:
! Dear Sir
II have just received yours of this mornng-my
own funds too short make the advance you
quest II twill be an accommodation, however, will
give your account, when received with draft to whom
i mi to pndO / for
you. Give me the name Of the other individual beside
Mr. Carleton and Sergeant Collier, to whom you wish
payment from the proceeds Of fuel and house
the last Of this month, and the amount due him"
Was there any thing like fraud herel any secresy
any deception Was not the request made open
frank and candid If such rot the case, why was
not then adnonshed by Col. Freeman Without
any hesitation he granted my request. The permission
granted was not awaited Of
On the 9th day Of December Col Freeman wrote
me- the records show, that he had received check
for Ga dollars 80 cents, for my pay the preceding month
&c. On the l3h OF the same month, wrote to Col.
Freeman the records show, follows 'My object
in writing TO you is to ask you to be kind enough TO
send me at your earliest convenience, my pay check,
which am led to suppose, has been sent to YOU IL
has not been received here; am in much want Of 1t,
the persons TO whom wish the money paid which is
left in your hands, Sergeant Collier, Mr.. Carleton,
and Mr.. Bolles, the attorney. The amount will be suf
cient cover the demands Of the above named per-
4
justified in making the request by the permission grant
ed by Col Freeman in his letter only eleven days
! previous! Had circumstances changed IN the mean
time! Not at all excepting that the letter signed g.
w. Davis, had been written TO the Secretary Of the
/ Navy. dated the Sth Of December ia the interim
! During the trial. Col Freeman has produced cory
OF letter. which he says was an answer to the above,
dated l7lh December. but which letter
ceved by me, in which he says, II received yesterday
with surprise yours Of the l3lh requesting
forward your check Philadelphia" and adds, .'when
ind you have drawn orders which have accepted
and thus enabled yon to obtain the or settle
ments therefor lie then enumerates the ORDERS Eve
in number, amounting to IsI dollars 65 cents Bot
Of these orders not due I'LL the month follow
ing, (January,) the amount Of which was S43 10;
making the amount s 80 4G.
He closes the letter follows "The check referred
to payable to your order only, and shall hear
from you again for its further disposition whether be
applied as above or enclosed to you at Philadelphia"
What was the situation of Col Freeman at the time
he wrote this last letter. Why, the same when he
wrote the dated the Cd Of December, authorizing
me to raise money on my pay amount.
The amount OF these acceptances. deducting there
from the one that was not due, was $l3S 46 Colonel
Freeman had already in his hands, my pay check for
1854 80, and orders and directions to the Quarter
Master to place in his hands, which he received 70
dollars l6 cents; making together the sum Of 1877 dol
lars 46 cents Just dollar less than the amount of
the acceptances.
In relation to the amount Of debts in the FIRST second
and third specifications the aggregate Of Them for which
drafts had been given Col. Freeman, l0s dol
lars being 20 dollars AZ less than the Of
my pay check and the amount forwarded to Col. Free
man by the Quarter Master.
Under those circumstances and this state Of the
facts, what there to cali for the pecpitae action
of my accuser! Why that he prepared the three
first specifications before he instructed to make
inquiry by the Department into my conduct! Was il
because he knew OF the G. W. Davis letter "of Bos-
ton, having already been forwarded to the Secretary
Or it that the pledge, which that letter contained,
should be fulfilled, that inquiries ought and shall be
placed before you, (he Secretary and giving coHeet
account Of his my) conduct while here, that
my accusers and enemies painted for the speedy mmo
ation Of their victim?
Where is the original Of this letter signed G. w.
Davis Why is it withheld Why has 1t not been
produced, that possibly the writer might be identified
by examining the handwriting
In all that has occurred, what has been my crime
Why that have not been able to meet my engage
in the manner, fast as could wish. And
have my creditors complained 10 the Secretary OF the
Navy But Of them and he by the proof
tanned in his letter. at the suggestion Of Col
Freeman and late the Sd day Of February and
that, too, relation TO the draft referred to in the third
specification, in which fraud is alleged against by
my accuser But what is the testimony Of the gentle
man holding the draft, and who made the complaint
given by him TO this court in to the following in
terrogaiory propounded TO him What is the charac-
oil Lieut.. Whitney far your knowledge ex- |
tends I" The answer was, al know him well has
visited at my house. always considered him high
minded honorable young He conducted in a
genemany manner at my house"
In relation to the debt owing to Mr.. Lausanne in the
fourth specification has he ever made complaint! Not
all Does he not show by his testimony that in place
OF attempting swindle him out Of the money, pro
missed him long time after obtained it, to pay him as
speedily possible And was he not satisfied So
with the draft referred in the fifth specification.
There is evidence that the draft ever presented
TO Lieut. M'Neil; but says Mr. Riddle, when heard
Lieut. Whitney was az the Philadelphia station, |