Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-03-22
tFrom the Raftmsns JournGi]
THE OLEARFIELD COUNTY GASES
BEFORE THE MILITARY COMMISSION AT
HARRISBURG, Pa.
CASE OF JACOB WILHELM.
HARRISBURG, PA.

|
We have been furnished with the full
notes of the evidence taken before the Mill.
tary COMMISSION, at Harrisburg, in the cases
from this county, We intend to publish
the proceedings in each case, commencing
with that Of Maj. Wilhelm, the frs. ono
tried. Ta
The Commission consisted Of Col. Ew.
ING President, Col. ZINN, aud Carr. HAP.
PER, and CApr. II. j.. JOHNSON Judge Ad.
vocate. The perons tried were all defended
by eminent and distinguished counsel, and
all tho witnesses they desired were brought
at the expense Of the Government.
Maj. Wilhelm was defended by Senator
FLEMING, Of Dauphin County. The or
der convening the Court was first read to
him, when he was asked if he had amp OBJ
lection to be tried by the Court as censtitu-
ted. He replied that he had NOT. He was
then arTaigned, and plead mot guilty" to
the several charges and specifications, Of
which the following is an abstract;
! GRANGE l.-Entering into, confedera-
ting and assisting in forming combinations to
resist certain provisions Of an 'act for en-.
rolling and calling out the national forces,h
and the several supplements thereto.
Specification Limiting, confederatine,
and combining with Patrick Curley, Jacob
Huber, aud other disoyal persons in
Clearfield county, to resist the draft, and
prevent persons who had been drafted from
entering the service resisting and cyading,
and couuseling Others 10 resist and eyadc
the execution OF the act of Congress. All
this. about the Sd of Oct, 1864, and at 9th.
er times aud places.
Specifcatiaa 2.--Unitiur, confederating,
and combining, with Huber, Curley, and
! other disloyal persons in a society by tirp
name Of Democratic Castle" the object of
which organization was and is TO resist tho
draft, and prevent persons drafted from en-.
terlng the service.
The sections of tho Act Of Congress, Of
(which these specifications constitute q viola
ton provide, as follows; r..
9lf any person shall resist any draft of
men enrolled under this act, or shall coun-
sci or aid any person to resist such draft, or
shall counsel any drafted men not TO appear
at the place Of rendezvous, or wilfully dis
suade them from the performance of militia
ry duty, &c, he shall be punished by fine
not exceeding $500, and Imprisonment not
exceeding two years Again nny person
who shall lorcibly resist any enrolment, or
shall lhcite, counsel, encourage orshal con-
spre or confederate with any other persons
to resist or oppose such enrolment, or shall
assault, obstruct hinder, impede or threat
en- any officer or other person employed in
the performance or in aiding in the perform
ance OF any service IN any way relating
thereto, or IN arresting or aiding TO arrest
any spy or deserter, shall be punished by
fine not exceeding IS, 900, and imprison-
ment not exceeding five years
Before commencing the testimony, It is
proper to explain, that in Military Courts,
all the witnesses are excluded from the room,
and are called in and examined separately.
Each witness is therefore ignorant of what
has been stated by the Others. l .-
Jacob Rinehart, was the first witness cal
led for the prosecution He testified as
follows: .... --
| reside in Graham township, Clearield
county; am a farmer, and know Jacob VIII
helm, the accused. On Monday before the
State election last fall, attended secret
meeting, at the Polk School Houss, in Gra-
ham township. Jacob Wilhelm, Samuel
Lansbe Henry Huber, Patrick Curley,
William Wilhelm, and others, twenty or
twenty-five In all, were present. Jacob
Wilhelm was President, went there little
after dark, | live a few rods distant. sup
pose there were dozen or more there when
arrived. Officers were first appointed.
Jacob Wilhelm was President, and Amos
Huber Vice President, aud Patrick Curley
Secretary. Then all the men except VIII
helm, Huber, aud Curley went out. -Four
were admitted at time. | was admitted
with three Others When we got in Patrick
G1ltey read the papers to us, and we then
had our choice TO sign or not. His instruc-
tons, as far rs | could understand them,
were to the effect that those drafted men
who chose to go to the war could do so, and
those who did not choose to co. would be
protected by the other members. We wore
to stick together and help each other Cur
ley said those that chose TO report could do
so, and those who did not want to 60 could
join. Wilhelm said the same thing. Cur.
ley said if any Provost Marshal come to ar.
rest drafted man and member of the club,
the other members were to 6cmand his re-
lease, but they were not to kill anybody.
| believe it was considered desirable TO get
all the drafted men in the club. The idea
was that the club would be stronger so that
in case a member was arrested there would
be more 10 secure his release. We were
sworn to help each other, Patrick Curley
swore US Jacob Wilhelm stood in front Of
the desk, and Patrick Curley stood ut the
side when tho papers were read TO me.
There were several mon present who bod
been drafted. so
attended a meeting at Jacob Hubler's
/ think Wilhelm was there. ! do not re-.
member who was President. There were
probably twenty or thirty persons pres.
ent. Idid not hear the objcct Of the meet
ing stated. was sworn III. The obliga.
tion was to stick TO the Democratic party, !
believe that was all | undrrstood this