Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-08

First Day Of the TriaI-..Rea.::. TN.
utes Of I'recedlag PrelimimH = Meet.
tng--sTbree Witnesses SwOrn--.Testf-
mOny Given.
As we noticed in our last issue, the pre-
liminary meeting of the Commission or
dered to try Captain F. A. Nash, Provost
Marshal of this District, was held in the
q, s. Grand Jury room on Wednesday
morning. In the absence Of certain wit
nesses and the counsel for the accused, the
Court adjourned to meet at ten o'clock yes
terdsy morning.
At that hour the commission met pursu-
ant to adjournment. The Recorder called
the roll, and proceeded to read the minutes
of the preceding meeting, including the
reading of the general order to the Court
to try the case in hand, and the charges
and specifications on which the accused
was arraigned. Three charges, with sPeci-
fcations, were preferred against him. OF
these the following is the substance:
Charge 1st. Procuring substitutes for
persons drafted into the military service of
the United States.
Specification 1st.-That Captain F. A.
Nash, being Provost Marshal, in violation
of the Esd section of the act approved
February "a, 1854, on the receipt of $500
from Nicholas Helm, a drafted man of
Brooklyn, procured for him substitute,
VIM. Herby, October 5th.
Specification 2d.-That on receipt of $3.50
from Jacob Goepp, q drafted man of the
Seventh Ward of this city, said Provost
Marshal procured said GOepp substitute,
Henry Williams, December 23d.
Specification 3d.-Thst on receipt of $500,
paid to Charles Barrett, Special Agent for
the Provost Marshal, by George Wolf, a
drafted man of Brooklyn, said Provost
Marshal procured him substitute, Caleb
Wolf.
Specification 4th.-That on receipt OF
$500, paid to said Charles Barrett, by George
Dister, drafted man of Brooklyn, said
Provost Marshal procured him a substi-
tute.
Charge I'd. The second charge is much
like the first, and the specification under it
is immateriaI at this stage of the trial.
Charge Sd. Making false statements to
obtain for other parties fraudulent claims
upon government. The specification under
this charge concerns the case of Henry M.
Battle, Co. M Illinois cavalry, the sum
of $50 being alleged to have been received
for the connivance.
The reading over, the Court proceeded to
the examination of witnesses:
Peter Helm, s10orn.
Judge Advocate. State to the Court your
name and residence.
Witness. MY name is Peter Helm. live
in Brooklyn township.
Q. How long have you resided there?
A. Ten years.
Q. Have you been recently drafted into
the military service?
A. was drafted last fall, in September
or October.
Q. Were you drafted from BrOOklyn2
A. l was.
Q. Did you get g substitute?
A. A substitute was procured for me, on
the payment of a certain sum.
Q. How much money did you pay?
A. paid $500.
Q. How long after you were drafted was
the substitu furnished2
A. A short time.
.. Where did you goP
A. After running around good deal l
went to the Provost Marshal's office.
Q. Where?
A. In this city.
Q, Was Captain Nash present?
A. He was.
Q. How far were you from Captain Nash?
a. Across the table.
Judge Advocate. State to the Court what
occurred at the Office, and all the conVer-
sstion.
Witness. asked about getting substi-
tute. The clerk said that if l would pay
$500 he would get me substitute.
Q. Did you leave the money?
A. did.
Q. How much?
A. 1 left $500.
Q. Did he get for you q substitute i?
A. In two or three days the clerk told
me he had found man, and gave me GER
tifcate of exemption.
Q. How long was that after you left the
money?
A. Two or three days.
Q. Have you got that certificate?
A. have, but it is at home.
Q. Is it signed by Captain Nash?
A. Itis.
Q. Have you ever had any conversation
with Captain Nash or the clerk since that
time?
A. Once.
Judge Ad. State the conversation.
Al learned that the certificate was not
right, and went to Captain Nash and told
him it was not right. He sent me to Mr..
Kirkpatrick. He( Kirkpatrick did not know
about it, and went back with me
to the Provost Marshal's Office, when the
clerk "6xed up" the certificate.
Counsel for defendant. How long after
you were drafted was it that you went to
the Provost MarshsPs Office?
A. Two or three days. had Eve days
in which to get substitute. The Surgeon
said 1 would be held.
Q. Did the clerk say that the money
should be held ss.bail for your appearance2
A. He did.
Q. What is the name of the clerk7
A. don't know. should know him at
sight. I left the money with him to get me
a substitute.
Q. Have you seen him since?
A. Once.
Q. Can you describe him2
A. He was tall man, wore back hair
and whiskers, think.
Q. Who were in the Office when the mon
BY was left?
A. Captain Nash, the clerk aforesaid, Eve
Or six men in all.
Q. Are you sure Captain Nash was pres