Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-06
TRIAL OF BREvET BRIG. GEN.
JOSEPH o. BRIsCOE, BY COURT
MARTIAL, FOR LARCENY OF U.
8. MONEYS.

The Court met at eleven O'Clock, and was en-
gagged with closed doors until the recess at twelve
o'clock. On reassembling at one O'Clock, the
proceedings Of yesterday wepe read by the re-
porter, Mr.. James Murphy. The members Of the
court were present, as follows: Brevet Maj. Gen.
O. 8. Greene, President; Brig. Gen. H. Prince,
Brig. Gen. H s. Briggs, Brevet Brig Gen. F. II.
Collier, Brevet Brig. Gen. J, N. Hedrick, Colonel
John Flynn, Judge Advocate Major II. B. Burn.
ham.
COL. c. W. hssMUsSoN,
Assistant Provost Marshal in the War Depart
ment, affirmed and was examined. Witness on
the eth day OF September received an order from
the Assistant Secretary Of War to dispatch de-
tectives to Lynchburg Did SO, Gen. Baker being
sick. On the 2sth was ordered there myself, to
report to Gen. Curtis. Met one Of our detectives,
John odeli. Went to see Gen. AIberger, and
found Cen Curtis had been Informed Of the plot
on the previous evening. Went to him for or
dsrs. We consulted, and went 10 see Capt
Alberger, who gave me some Information.
learned that Cen. Briscoe was going TO perpe-
trate the act between IL and O'clock, Friday,
Sept. %. ..
Immediately stationed the detectives around
the building aud went into Gen. Curtis room to
await the signal also sent for Gen. Curtis who
came, and about ave minutes after he arrived,
the signal was giyenj went with him into the
Quartermaster's room to nnd the key Of the safe
1t was missing and he went with me to Gen
Briscoe's room, arrested him and turned him
over to witness; ordered 0dell to search him,
and went to q chest in the room and found GER
tain packages which l took out and asked
General Briscoe where he got them. He
made no answer. Witness asked him what
hc had done with the key he said he hadn't got
II. Went to the quarternaster' room found the
key broken of In the safe took 1t out and brought
1t to Gen. Curtis. Told Gen. Briscoe to pack up
such effects as he wished to take to Washington.
Then dispatched an officer to q station seven
miles from Lynchburg to arrest man named
Lackey on the train. The officers brought him,
and found on him wax impression conforming
to the false key Of the safe. tRey and wax pro-
du ced aud identified.
Witness forgot to state that after the arrest
one Of the officers called witness attention to
certain articles burning In front Of the fire.
place. Brought them to the Surgeon Gen.
erals Office to have them anslyzed. In wit
ness opinion they were nothing but sand paper
and piece Of u coat lining. "a letter signed J.
c. B. and addressed to Mrs II. Bennett, 20 Marion
street, New York. The letter Is addressed inside
to dearest II, ~ and simply states that the writer
had been arrested; that his letters from her,
which would have to be opened, should be ad-
dressed to the care Of Gen. L. c. Baker, War
Department
The witness stated this letter was handed him
by Capt. Neyius, to be forwarded, but Con. Baker
refused to allow It to go.
Cross examined by Gov. Ford Witness hrst
had conversation on this subject on the ,2lst Of
September, dispatch having been received at
Gen. Bakers Office which had been sent to the
Secretary OF War by Capt Alberger.
Eckert, Assistant Secretary Of War, on this sub.
jectf 49,
Objected to by the Judge Advocate
After some discussion upon the admiss.b bility
Of the question, between Mr.. Pord and the Judge
Advocate, the court was cleared for deliberation.