Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-05

TRIAL OF CHARLES W HALL BEFORE A Mil
TARy Court MARITAL AT CISciSNArI The mill
tarv court martial convened on Friday morning
at 9 O'Clock in their room in Pixies Opera house.
TO continue the examination of Mr.. Charles W
Hall of Indianapolis. charged with bribery and
fraud in the purchases of horses for Government
Major Burnett the Judge Advocate read the plea
Of the accused DENYING the jurisdiction of the
Court The plea was drawn up nv the counsel
for the accused-Judees Woodruff and Tilden
The plea of non, jurisdiction in the case was
overruled or not sustained.
The accused. Mr. Hall. was then arraigned on
the charges and specifications upon which he was
to be tried. and TO each and severaly of which he
pleaded not guilty The charges and specfca-
tons in substance follows:
Charge Fraud.
Specification lin this, that Charles W Hall
a contractor for supplies for the armies of the
United States did, while such contractor to wit:
on or about the Odd of February, A ID 1863
combine and agree with one +. a. Smith and
Olnev Gould. his partners and associates in GER
tain contracts with the Government OF the United
States, to defraud the Government Of the United
States; and did. in pursuance of said combina
ton and agreement. pay, or authorized To be paid
TO one William Wood the authorized Govern
ment Inspector of horses and mules. for Captain
Jenkins, A @ NJ, u. s. A, at Louisville,
Ky one dollar per head n bribe for passing
horses. under his said contract for furnishing
supplies for the Army of the United States: and
did in pursuance of said agreement and combina
ton, fraudulently and corruptlv paw said Govern
ment Inspector or other authorized Govern ment
Inspectors the sum of 81 AS: and did. in pur
suance of a former corrupt understanding and
agreement between the parties to the said con
tracts settle with his said pa tner. allowing and
indorsing the claim of HAAS as having beer
paid To the Government Inspector or Inspectors
"a aforesaid a. bride
Charge Fraud by willful neglect of duty.
Specification lin this that the said Charles
W. HILL, while n contractor for furnishing sup
plies for the armies of the United States. did
willfullv knowingly aud corruptly and fraudu
lenty furnish the Government OF the United
States horses that were unfit for the service
quired-uusound. and not in accordance with the
specifications contained in said contracts-and
did willfulv neglect his duty in the said premises.
and has inspected and passed 20 the Government
of the United States, for the use Of the army
horses as aforesaid, and not in accordance with
his agreement.
The Court then proceeded with the testimony.
Olnev Gould was then examined for the Gov
ment Resides in ST Louis, but has done busi-
ness in Louisville and indianapolis for the past
two wears Have been partner with Mr. Hall
and Mr. Smith. in furnishing horses t. the Gov
eminent. at Louisville Bought out VIM. Leon
/ 900 head from him The whole contract was
! for 6 200 horses Smith 4 Henderson had con
tracts for 500: Leonard Gasin also for >. 500
Leonard said they would sell thousand horses
I for al 600 I bought $50 head of Leonard, for
which | paid | 800 Smith Hall had the
entire contract to furnish the Government with
horses, at Louisville. except 300. and when
Henderson was bought out they held the whole
contract for 6. 300 horses. Nv share in the bust
ness was one quarter Of Halls half Of the con
tract For his interest he was to he in Louisville
or elsewhere wherever his services were most
needed and asefn. The horses were to be fur
nished To the Government at SlO2 each tina;
was the average OF the whole contract | Wa.
authorized by Hall To pay brihes 20 the Govern
ment inspectors Wood and Taylor, the lnspec
tors. we're to receive 81 a head for every horse
passed bought OF Smith i Hall | told Wood
Of IT, but DO not think said so TO TAYLOR In
the balance sheet and settlement Of the partner
shin affairs. am charged 81 AS as the sun paid
On the Inspectors The balance sheet was drawn
nv Mr. ColehOuse the clerk 20 + A. Smith. who
was then clerk To Hall. and was clerk to Smith
4 4 Hall during their Government business. Thi,
sum of 81 AS was 81 head paid on each horS'
10 the Government Inspector. Horses that were
unsound and rejected were brought up again ans
passed nj another time. There were rejection;
every day-some,imes 900 n day-but these
horses generally. when rejected. would be kept
fes DAYS and then received. Out of the whole
do not know that se sold more than four or DIV,
at public auction The item marked dead anC
presented +" in the balance sheet, means that som'
three or four horses died. and some we're present
ed | understand. 10 a person named smith wh'
was in the Quartermaster's office told Hal
that the Inspectors said they had not received tn
money that hid been charged TO me as being giveE
them Hall said he knew 81 600 had been paid
but did not say To whom.
George Washington Roberts. a witness Tor tn
Government was then examined Resided a
Louisville; his business was riding horses; rod
horses for the contractors till the contracts ver
filed Many OF the horses that were put in AM