The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-04-18
llIRl MlRIIiIl.

UUUnf Nl1Eell1i.
GA Court Martial, ordered by the President OF
the United States, convened r Carlisle the goth
March, 1856, for the trial of WM. A. NrwNAs, Mill
itary Storekeeper al Walertown, Mass, for conduct
.sunbecoming an officer and gentleman" as set
forth in letters addressed the Aduant Generals of
Virginia and Pennsylvania, which will be found be-
low as copied from the official proceedings. The
following named officers composed the Court, all
gentlemen OF distinction and high capacity:
Breyet Col. John l.. Gardner Lieut. Col. lst Art'y;
Brevet Col. Joseph P. Taylor, Subsistence DeP'ti
MAJOR George II. Thomas, ID Cavalry
Brevet Major VIM H. French, Capt Isl ArtltleTy'
Captain William B. Johns, Sd Infantry;
Capt. Washington L. Elliot, Reg Mt. Riiiemen;
Capt Edward e. 3eckwith, 3d Artillery;
lst Lieut.. Charles GrifIin, ID Cavalry;
q Lieut. John G. Park Corps Top. Engineers;
Brevet Major Samuel C. Rdgeiy, Captain 4th Art'y
Immediately on the receipt OF these infamous let
tiers. the officers TO whom they were addressed, cop
led and forwarded them The President oi the nj
ted States, TO the end that their author might be
brought 10 Justice. The President referred the let
ters 10 the War Department, where the matter met
with prompt aud decisive action at the hands OF the
able and accomplished Secretary, Hon. JEFFERSON
AVIS. and in the course OF few days, Nm. A..
Newmau was arralgmed, tried, convicted, and SEN
fenced s.to be dismissed the service of the United
States and s.his name dropped from the rolls of the
armyl" The accused forwarded his resignatio" the
fro1ent he received notice OF the charges preferred
against him. but the Administration refused to accept
a resignation under such circumstances determined
thai be should sntrr the penalty due the offence.
lei .,tsYrn
knowingly keep a dishonest man in ofice-and if
any such yet hold places OF trust it is because the
Administration has no knowledge OF the fact.
For the honor OF the gallant cfiasa SoiRicy oi the
Unlon sincerely hope that the orers in the
States named having taken their respective quotas
in Colts Pistols, will be able 10 show that they were
prompted by other motives than the vile and merce-
nary propositions submitted by VIM. A. Newman
GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPARTMENT
ABJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
NO. % Hashi4g,oa. iprit i, 1886.
i. At the General Court Martial which convened
Carlisle Barracks. Pennsylvania, pursuant TO 'Spe
cial Orders'' No. IS, oil March l., 1856, from the
War Department. and OF which Brevet Colonel IoHN
+. GARDNER, Lieutenant Colonel st Artillery i Pres
ient. was arraigned and tried Military Storek+-per
William A. -Neacmaa Ordnance Department, on the
following charge and specifications:
CHARGE.
'sConlact anJecoDsiug an officer and a genHr@a"."
Specification lst. ssIG this; hat he the said New
man, did, at Watertown Arsenal, Massachusetts,
the goth day of February, 1896, make the cor
rupt, dishonest proposition TO the Adjutant General
fthe State Of Virginia ia regard to the arms 10 be
issued TO that state by the United States, set out IN
the following letter from said Newman 10 said Adiu-
tant General, 10 wit:
'sU. s. Arsenal,
ssT sT7ferfo,ca, lEzss., FRI. 30, 1856.
$40 rms ApJrraNT GENERAL OF YlGGIHIa.
,.DEA. SIE Take the liberty Of addressing you
upon the subject Of ssColt's Repeating Pistols >
They aIe nom an adopted arm OF the L. s. service,
and the several States their quota of
from the General Government, III these pistols II TIE
State officers choose TO make reQuIstious Tor them.
Several or tie States have already done so, viz
New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut Rhode Isl
and. New ork, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas,
and California. Massachusetts aud Vermont. are
about make acquisitions Tor OF these pistols
Vermont has already had about $4,000 worth OF
them, and viii probably take about 81, 900 more
OF them This year | consider it far more prrlerabls
than 10 receive muskeIs and IN my candid opinion
each, and every State, should have quantity OF
lhetn III store, be used in o emergency,
pacIaliy when they be had IN lien Of old muskets
! hope Won viii conclude 10 make y0nr next requIsI-
ton for Colts pistols, the quota OF due youI
State from the General Government. ! think can
make II object for YOURSELF recn9yii4, TO 90 So
am authorized by Col. Colt to make arrangements
ot this nature; but, this ol course, mist be kept
for the good o. all concerned Il You conclude
10 make 3r3utsitoa for these pistols, and will In
form ne Of the amount due your Slate fon, the Ger
eral Government, the number OF pistols Won wish
10 have, " III then inform yoH what inducements
can be offered. Som as | learn your address, viii
! forward sou some recommendations IN the shape o.
Congressional and oiher documents in relation tc
these
..PIeasr let me have your opinion in relation tc
/ making the IequsltIon, &c. By SO doing you will
greatly obge.
"Your obedert servant.
WA. 4. NEWMAN.
''Wf II. RIcHAEusoS,
"4djnf4at Generai NJ Iiygaia''
Sprcif fcgtjoa Cd. "In this; That said Newman did
at Naterfown Arsenal Massachusetts, on the 2jif
of February, 1856, make the corrupt, dishonest
proposition he Adiuiant General OF the State OF
Pennsylvania in regard TO the TO be issued tc
that State by the United States set out in he fol
lowing letter 1ron said Newman, 10 said Adiutant
General, 10 Wt:
'sU. 5. Arsenal,
EsHl'ertosra lHrs,., Fec. -, 1856.
..DgAR SIR
81 take the liberty OF addressing you upon the
subject Of .Colt's Repeating Pistols" They-are
now adopted arm OF the service and The several
States receive their quota OF arms dne from the
General Government, IN these pistols, if the State
officers. will, only make acquisitions Tor them, IN
stead Of muskets, other arms. Several OF the
States have already done So viz: New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts. Connecticut, Rhode Island,
New York. New Jersey. Texas. and CaIiforpia Mas