Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-13
MILITARY TYRANNY AND CORRUPTION.


from time to time within the past few months various
charges of military tyranny preferred against Gsn E.
Paine commanding the military dstrict Of Paducah, Ken
lucky will be grafed to learn that he has lately been
eved from by Gen Solomon Meredith of Indiana
and that the charges against him have been the subject
investigation by military commission The result of the
inquiry made known in the subjoned exposition copied
from the Louisville Journal Of Tuesday last. Is I
From the Louisville Journal of September 9Th.
Some time ago Col Craddock, of the Kentucky service
was called by business into the district Of Western Ken
lucky, then commanded by Brig. Gen. Il. A Paine. The
Colonel found the people completely cowed not daring to
utter word when every day their most sacred rights by
itary force, were fagranty violated. BY close obser
walton he became convinced that Gen Paine and his subor
dnaes were exercising the iron rule of despo per-
scouting and robbng tho people under various nsy pre-
texts and that the worst corruption prevailed in his Office
and characterized all Of his official acts Being convinced
Of these facts he sought Major Gen. Burbrdge, at his
headquarters Lexington, and fully stated the
him. The General 10th to believe that crimes 30 enor
nous a. Represented by Col Craddock coud be openly
practised by clothed with the authority and honor
An officer of the United States Government but on the
soemn assurance of the truth of the statement concud-
ed to appoint commission to investigate the caie.
On the 9th of September an order made detailing
to Paducah and fully investigate the conduct Of Gen Paine
while in command Of the Western District of Kentucky
Col Craddock appointed to accompany the commis.
zion and assist them in their abors just before the arr
command by Gen Meredith Paine ordered to remain
at his headquarters and meet all charges that might be
preferred against him before the commission This be
fused to do. When Gen. Fry and his associates arrived
they found that Gen. Paine had fed to Illinois, where he
still absent without authority All Of his subordinate
officers also took French leaves" Gen. Fry found it
very difficult to operations, the main parties
were absent and the clerks and ordees with whom they
had surrounded themselves and possessing knowledge Of
their transactions had been previously sent out Of the dis
trict The citizens completely cowed that they
would not open their lips with, word of complaint
against the policy pursued by Cen Paine Acting the
authority of Generals Meredith and Fry Col Craddock
publicly proclaimed the object of the commission visit
ing Paducah and assured the people that if they would
come forward and testify 10 facts they should receive full
protection from all The parties who might be implicated by
their statements This had the desired effect The peo
pie threw of their restraint Gen. Meredith with the
feelings Of true soldier afforded every facility 10 bis power
to aid tho commission 10 their labors
All of the evidence taken before the body m in the form
of aidavit, and the record quite voumnous. 1t was
found that Gen Paine had exercised the most arbitrary
will and that the worst corruption prevailed 10 his office
Citizens had been arrested and thrown into prison without
show OF trial. and no record OF single charge preferred
against them could be found among any Of the official
papers 10 the Office Prisoners were executed wthOuta
hearing and often without any definite charge being pre-
fsrred against Them Fythres graves said to be those
Of executed prisoners were counted at Paducah Among
this number were two men, named Nolin and Taylor Of
weknown loyalty who by some act offended The General
the in which the executions were made, we have
statement from ths evidence given by Hiram r. Enoch,
The q ssso. ssss
Gated without shadow of tria-Kestertop, Taylor,
Mathey and Hess Col McChesney, commanding at May
field BY the spponent and acting under the instructions
OF Gen. Paine told him, about the LIST of September 1864
that he had shot seven men Msyfe aud had one more
In the guard that he nteaed 10 execute the next
day He said that he them trial. and boasted that
Of the prisoners was shot and covered up his grave
in forty Eve minutes from the time that he was rst re-
ported by scout at his headquArters - ssaft.A,4
The whole Of Gen. PAines official carser n the District
Of Western Kentucky was marked by the coasest brutal
60 the rebel army He would order citizens his head
quarters, and without provocson wonld abuse fhem. Ap
plying tho most offensive terms to them Tho people OF
Padncah were driven from their homes without any jnsf
cause, and their houses turned over to negro families for
occupation.