The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-06
THE ALLEGED RECRUITING FRAUDS.
Brigadfer General SpjnOia on the Witt
ness Stand-His Evidence-Testimony
or COrn0raI Brown. 90. &c.


or Corporal Grown. &C.. Sc.
The Cour, Martial met yesterday forenoon and con.
tinued the hearing Of testimony
Cole
General Spinoa was FIRST examined as follows
q Have you recently been engaged n the recruiting
business? a. have been by special orders from the
War Department, October 10, 1868 was limited 70
recruiting thfs part OF he State, but did
bence until some time III November, being delayed and
embarrassed; my headquarters were in Brooklyn but
hal a right to establish q rendezvous In New YORK.
O. How long were you SO eneagedY A. continued
until the 10th January, when | was ordered of that
duty; at no time during my recruiting did ! find
willing scquiesccnce ON the part Of General Hays to
assist me.
O. Are you acquainted with the accused; ii So state
what relation be bears TO you in the military service.
A. lie is ad.de camp my staff but by orders from
the War Department he's recently been engaged
mastering officer at Lafayette Hall.
q How many recruits did have mustered into the
service during the time you were engaged in recruiting
servceS A. think in round numbers 900, perhaps
few more or less.
Q. How long was Lieutenant Cole engaged rs mastering
oicer at Lafayette Hall, under your supcrncndenee A.
think two or three weeks
.. Did you ever give Lieutenant Cole special instruc-
tons in reference 10 his duties as mastering officer A.
did give him the usual Instructions to observe the
regulations in regard to eniistments ne had already
experience, he had mustered formerly 900 men
tor my brigade.
Q. Was lieutenant Cole complained 0. you for
violating the recruiting resuis.oos2 A. He was not
q. Fnw much time drring the day did You usually
spend At Lafayette HaS A. generally clisd there
at two O'Clock p. H. and remained from seven to twelve
O'Clock at night.
O. bid you eser know Lieutenant Cole to muster men
into the service improperly, without their knowing the
nature % The service they We're 70 Dc engaged M
tered IN my presence unless the nature OF the service
man or man apparsDtly over the age Of orty. i've
there any doubt as 20 the age. the
TO his age; there were about two hundred men, ap
pearug to over age aud drunk. turned away; The
guard bad also Instructions TO that effect
Q. Was you engaged in recruiting service prior
the time first mentioned A. was when recruiting my
brigade. in 1862.
O. Is IL an unusual thing enlist men partly uni
formed-hat is 10 say, with overcost jacket blouse
aud pants A. IL not unusual you canoot scarcely
find any carmdn stage driver or aborng who does
part OF = Uniform
q We're you ever present when men were mustered in
by any other officer than Lieut.. Coley was, good
many times.
for the thai he did not possess complete
knowledge OF the English langnages 4. never did.
q Did you ever know mastering officer to examine
recruit 20 10 what country no owed allegiance a.
never did.
o DO you know OF any recruiting regulations to the
enec. that mastering officer is to Ak recruit 10 that
eeccB A. do not.
Q What is the general character as to sobriety hon
esty and fathfuness or the accuscdy A. lie is strictly
temperate and truthful in every particular aud is
good oer as there is IN the service, both in battle
and IN al other duties which he had TO perform while he
oss-exRmined-o. Have there not many complaints
been made you the accused eniisrng improper
Beurcn complaining Of carelessness in enlisng men at
my headquarters think received letter from Gen
esl Hays stating that great frauds had been committed
IN both cage was NJ loss 20 im9giBe
communications referred, my officers using all
diligence 10 prevent such complaints.
@ Have You ever received written complaints spe.
cfyng the recruit and the accuser? a. think never
have.
@ Might not the accused have mustered in men m.
ct for service unknown TO your A. Not while
present
am not here 20 testify rs 10 belief but TO what
Captain Rives, the Judge Advocate here appealed to
the Court to make the witness give direct The
question was linslly answered by 81 do not know be
Q. We're men ever mustered into the service your
absence. A. Yes, sir.
o. Might not the persons, with which The accused is
charged, nave been enlisted during your abecnce2 A.
They might have been.
Q. is it NOS the duty OF mastering officer 10 md out
whether the person he 10 about 10 enlist allegiance
70 foreign Power, by being in tho service Of that
Power A. know Of no way by which mastering Off.
ger ain .nat iact nor have ever heard that
question asked since the war broke OUT there resu.
ation requiring that question.
The General .. the close Of his testimony added
was engaged up 70 twelve or harpast twelve O'Clock ~
nv Brooklyn office, and In the evening when NOT nj
Lafayette ilal: was at the Brooklyn oilce.
Q. During the time Lieutenant Cole was on duty at
lafayette Hal Was there any other recruiting officer
there mastering in? A. There another officer present.
Leuensnt Williams do not know whether he mustered
fne ncxt witness was Corporal John Brovn, OF the
EehtyseconI New York Volunteers lie testified thst he
was 90 deacnea service AZ lafayette Halt that he was
there from Daccmper il 70 December TO- 1862 that he
acquainted With Lieutenant Cole who rss engaged as
nhet'lbs, vh.cil uNWeon tneso dates, tnab ne saw
French sailor lafayette Hall who was mustered inio
the ssrsceo The United states; that he not drunk
whcn no w's mnstercd In next morning when The
guard vas taxing him to the boat TO have
him conveyed 70 Riker's Island, two Of his officers
met nan .. castle arden that no threw them gold
ani the oncsrs saiu thsy would him all right he the
wtncssl dd NOT Know the sailors name remembered
os ireee. tna, 20 made ~ remonstrance to 30 TO Ri
ksr's sau1 lni no the officer; that he was asked
~ rgual Questions when no vas mustered IN that he
knew he fren imam dd not understand tho language
the officer spose n there officer az heaoqusrers,
however, Who sp,ss little French he (the winess)
was uslaly ~ ncsdlesr from one TO daily
q, iaieyeWo las .nat no never saw drunken nor
aan sno was oyes iortytye years Old mustered In BY
Lieutenant COLO Inas ihe ea,enan: tSd them tshe
cruhs) bei?re tney we're mustered N that they
sog 90 soldiers and were 70 get three hundred dollars
aud ths. 10 ono instance no turued asn away 30 sup
|. posed he was beng engaged as an hosBer.
After the examination OF ,hs s.tne.. tre .oert al
iourncd IN Monday next.