The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-27
BATH, THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL &c. is4s,
The Court of Inquiry.


shall endeavor to give such portion as shall
give our readers clear idea of the state Of the
case. The last report is filed up with the ex-
animation Of Major Burns, who testities fol
Pillow, acknowledging himself to be the au'
thor of the Leonidas letter, part of which
he copied from paper which he found in Pill
lows Office. Gen. Scott manifests degree Of
skill in the cross examination that would dc
credit to the best lawyer in the country. He
bids fair to show Burns up as the mere tool OF
Pillow, altho' the Court intericres to prevent
Scott from asking such questions as may tend
to draw out the evidence of Burns corruption,
as may be seen by the following extract from
the reports:
Question By Gen. Scott-Has the witness.
since the printed copy of Leonidas appeared
in this capital, ever denied the authorship Of
it, or any knowledge Of it
Al never have; if have, it has been in
jocose way.
Q-What hand has the witness had in GER
tain papers got up for signature in the late
third, or Pillows division, for presenting a
sword to that general or in another Taper in
relation to personal conflict between Next
can officer and the said general, in the battles
of Contreras and Churubusco, or in paper
concerning general address to the said Pill
low, in reference to his conduct on those fields
and at Chapultepec'
Al had a hand in that paper. drew up
that paper for presenting sword to General
Pillow l know of no paper in relation to q
personal conflict between that General and a
Mexican officer I know of no general adj
dress respecting his conduct in the battles oi
Mexicos
Q-Was the paper alluded to submitted to
Gen. Pillow Has not the witness written a
letter or letters, other than Leonidas, for pub.
LEGATION, as highly laudatory Of Major Gen.
Pillow, and has not the witnass shown one or
more such letters to the said Pillow in manu-
script, or forwarded, open, one or more such
letters through him for publication at home
with or without his, the said Pillows, correc-
tons or appreciation:
The witness declined to answer the cues
ton, and appealed to the court.
Gen. Scott rose and said, in substance =
The court will see the bearing of this questions
| am sure it is pertinent, and l am willing tc
state in the court, in the absence of the wit
ness, the full bearing of the question. The
witness has shown no hesitancy IN acknowl-
edging the authorship Of one letter, with the
regulations staring him i'll the face, for the
benefit Of the defence.
Gen. Pillow rose and said, in substance-
That the court has seen the latitude given to
this examination, and | rise to make no objec-
ton but it would be apparent to any man not
blinded by passion, that many questions have
been asked the witness highly rejecting upon
officers of the army. He said he hoped he
was not to be held responsible for all the let
tiers written by Major Burns during the cam
paign.
Major Gen. Scott then said, in substance
He had now to state to thu court that it wa;
his design to iinpeach the testimony of the
witness, by showing that he had been in the
habit Of writing letters highly laudatory o
Major Gen. Pillow, and transmitting then
open through Gen. Pillow; and that the prob
ability was he had done so in the case Of this
the most important of these letters. Tha
this was Court Of Inquiry, and required tt
ascertain facts bearing on the case and he ap
pretended that the witness would not be more
criminal by acknowledging having writer
several letters of Mandatory character. thar
by having acknowledged this one, the "Leoni
das."
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