The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-10-19
Astounding Developments of
M; ;fitary Rule in Kentucky.
The Pirates Own Book Out
done.
PAINFUL PARADE OF BEAsTLY BRUTAL
ITY BY GENERAL PAINE. "
"LOYALTY" LET LOOSE.

From the Louisville Journal September 81. ]
Some time ago Colonel Craddock, of the
Kentucky service, was called by business
into the District of Western Kentucky,
then commanded by Brigadier General
II A. Paine. The Colonel found the
people completely cowed, not daring to
utter word, when every day their most
sacred rights, by military force, were fla
grantly violated. By close observation
he became convinced that Gen. Paine and
his subordinates were exercising the iron
rule Of despots, were prosecuting and rob-
bing the people under various fimsey
pretexts, and that the worst corruption
prevailed in his Office and characterized
all Of his Official acts. Being CONVINCED
of these facts, he sought Major General
Burbridge at his headquarters in Lex
ington. and fully stated the case to him.
The General was 10th to believe that
crimes so enormous as represented by
Colonel Craddock could be openly prac
ticed by a man clothed with the author
ity and honor of an officer Of the United
States government; but, on the solemn
assurance of the truth of the statement
he concluded to appoint commission
to investigate the case. On the 9th OF
September an order was made detailing
General S. S. Fry and Colonel Brown as
a commission to proceed to Pa6ucah and
fully Investigate the conduct of General
Paine while in command of the western
district of Kentucky. Col. Craddock was
appointed to accompany the commission
and assist them in their labors. just be-
fore the arrival eff Gen. Fry at Paducah
Gen. Paine was relieved OF his command
by Gen. Meredith. Paine was ordered to
remain at his headquarters, and meet all
charges that might:be preferred against
him before the commission. This he re-
fused to do. When Gen. Fry and his
associates arrived, they found that Gen.
Paine had fed to Illinois, where he is
still absent without authority. All oi
his subordinate officers also took "French
leaves knowing that their conduct would
not bear investigation. Gen. Fey found
it very difficult to commence operations
as the main parties were absent, and the
clerks and orderlies with whom they
had surrounded themselves, and possess
ing knowledge Of their transactions
had been previously sent out of the dis
trict. The citizens were SO completely
eowed that they would not open their lips
with one word of complaint against the
policy pursued by Gen. Paine. Acting
on the authority of Generals MEREDITH
and Fry, Colonel Craddock publicly pro
claimed the commission in visiting Pa
ducah, and assured the people that if the.
would come forward and testify to fact
thew should receive full protection all tn
parties who might be implicated by thei
statements This had the desired effect
Gen. Fry was received with the creates
enthusiasm. The people threw of thei
restraint and extended the warm hand o
welcome. They greeted him with cheer
1 and smiles upon the street, and thronge
his headquarters during the day, shown
him every kind attention in their pewel
Gen. Meredith is also very popula
with the people. We published an ez
tract from the Cairo papers some tim
ago of the cheering demonstration tha
marked his advent into office. With th
feelings of true soldier, he afforde
every facility in his power to aid the CON
mission in their labors. All of the ev
dence taken before the body is in th
form of affidayits, and the record is quit
voluminous. 1t was found that .Gener,
Paine had exercised the most arbitrar
, will. and that the worst corruption prt
vailed in his office.
, Citizens had been arrested and throw
into prison without a show of trial, an
no record of single charge preferre
against them could be found among an
) of the official papers in the Office. Pri
: oners were executed without hearin
and often without any definite charge b
ing preferred against them. Forty thr
graves, said to be those OF executed pri
oners. were counted az Paducah, Amor
s this nu ber were two men named Mol
8 and TAYLOR, of well known loyalty, VIII
! by some act, offended the general In po'
i er, and "a tragic death was their doom.
) To show the manner in which the ez
: cutions we're make, we have stateme
a from the evidence given by Hiram
h Enoch. Quartermaster of the One Hu
g dred and Thirty7second regiment Illinc
a volunteer infantry. He says that
g heard of four citizens being execut
e without a shadow Of trial--Kesterte
Taylor, Mathey, aud Hess. Colonel N
{ Chesney, commanding at Mayfeld,
the appoin'm Mt aud acting under t
: instructions of General Paine, told hi
about the 1st of September, 1864, that
had shot seven men at Mayfeld, and h
" one more in the guardheuse that he
at tended to execute the next day. He ss
that he gave them no trial, and boast
that one of the prisoners was shot a
L covered up in his grave in fortyfive nj
,e utes from the time that he was first
r. t ported by a scout at his headquarte
u The whole of Gen. Paine's official care
lin the District OF Western Kentucky "
I'd marked by the coarsest brutality, ealc
- -..,arofn the neanla and ca