Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-28
coURr.MARrlAL.
Detail Of the Court-Trial OF Provost
Marshal John Mills-His Pleas
TO the Charge and Specifi-
catiODs-Testim0nyo of
Three Witnesses,
&C.. &c.

Inc detail OF the General Court-Martia
convened in this city is as follows:
l. Lieut-Col. G. X. West, 37th Iowa vi.
2. Capt. Joel Storer, 37th Iowa VI.
! 3. Capt. j. Nichols, SSth o. vi.
| a. First Lieut.. j. V. Cluxtou, SSth o. v. /
| 6. Second Lieut.. f. Zinn, SSth O. V. |.
Major James M. Nash, 18th o. vi, Is
Judge Advocate, and Reuben Daily, Re-
cOrder. I
/ The Court met yesterday morning, pur-
suant to adjournment. Present-all the
members of the Court, together with the
Judge Advocate and Recorder. The Court
proceeded to the trial of Capt. John Mills,
Provost Marshal of the Third District of
Ohio. TO the charge of malfeasance in of
flee and conduct preiudicial to good order
and military discipline, the defendant plead
"Not guilty."
To the LIST specification, of receiving from
certain persons, engaged in obtaining re-
cruits, extra fees for favoring such per-
sons In mastering their recruits into SER
vice, the defendant plead YNot guilty" ,
To the I'd specification, similar to the
lst-same plea.
To the 3D. specification, of having furn-
ished certain persons, engaged in recruit
ing, with money for the purpose of shar-
ing In the profits of their business-same
plea.
I To the 4th specification, of receiving
from Samuel Billings twenty dollars tor
taking his name from the enrolment list
same plea.
To the 9th specification, of Issuing GER
tificates to certain persons to enable them
to secure the Government reward for ar
resting deserters, when some of the ar
rests were made by another party-same
plea.
TO the 9th specification, similar to the
foregoing, the defendant plead "Guilty."-
He admitted that he had received at Day.
ton in person, and examined deserters ar
rested in that vicinity, while his headquar-
ters were at Hamilton, and transported
them at the expense of the Government,
denying. however, that 1t was done in con-
travention Of good order or military dis
cipline.
To the 18th specification, of transferring
recruits from certain townships to others,
the defendant plead guilty" The trans
fers, he alleged, were made, but not against
law and order, at the instance of several
townships, without reward.
To the Sth specification, of allowing his
clerks to receive extra compensation from
certain persons. engaged in furnishing re-
cruits and substitutes, the defendant plead
mot guilty"
Peter Odlin and John Howard, Esqrs.,
were introduced as counsel for the accused.
Frank Grammar, a witness produced by
the Judge Advocate, testified that he had
been engaged in furnishing substitutes and
recruits for several townships in Montgom-
cry county. He procured the men for the
townships and Capt. Mills kept the money.
He never paid Capt. Mills any money for
favors shown him in business. Sometimes
there would be an odd dollar, and he would
shove it back to Capt. NJ; but he would not
take 1t, and would tell him that he was not
allowed to take money. Witness would not
the table. He did this because Capt. nj. had
been obliging to him, as to everybody else.
He did not give it to him as bribe or re-
ward, but merely as a present.
l.. woodruff, produced as a witness by
the Judge Advocate, testified that he was
doing business in Dayton over year ago;
that he was appointed chairman of com
mittee to get recruits to fill the quota of his
township; that he was successful; that Gus
toners of his store who lived in the coun-
ty, requested him to get their quotas filled,
and that he agreed to do so, and was sue
cessful. His partner was also successful.
He remembered they ought to give Capt.
Mills present. as he had been so kind to
phVh' 4uCy 81. OHt tNcIllUR dUOuU
year ago, they inclosed one hundred dollars
in an envelope, and witness took it to Capt.
MS house. He asked what it was. He was
told it was present. He refused to take
1t, but 1t was not taken back. Some time
ago, Capt. M. returned the money, but the
though closely questioned, could
not state the time when it was returned.
Frank II. Scoby, produced as a witness
by the Judge Advocate, testified that he has
been employed in the office of Capt. Mills
at Dayton as a clerk for nineteen months.
No clerk ever received any compensation
from substitute brokers with the consent
and knowledge of Capt. Mills. Sometimes
persons bringing recruits from distance,
IN consequence Ofthere being SO much rival
" among the brokers, would be anxious to
get their papers made out; and when the
clerks had nothing to do in the office after
office hours, the brokers would.get them to
make oat the enlistments, and take the re-
fruits to Justice and have them sworn in.
This was an illegal and illegitimate pro-
,edure, as the recruits were not actually
enlisted until examined by the Surgeon of
The Board of Enrolment. For doing this,
The clerks would receive sometimes a dol
ar, or two or three dollars. 1t was always
gift and never demanded.
The Court adjourned until ten o'clock
his morning. EEHEEe
G. G. ADAMS & Co: are positively retailing
heir wholesale stock of Clothing, Hats,
Caps, and Furnishing Goods at cost