The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-11-10
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SECRET HISTORY.
]. w. DICKERSON,
Co. Sup't.

Lincoin.-.Sontra levied upon for
his RIectioneering Fund---The Amount
of Contributions Ito correspond N9tA
the Patronage Received
The Cincinnati Gazette publishes the
fall testimony in the case of Col. j. {.
Crane, an inspector of the Quartermas-
ter's Department, who was tried by
court martial, in July last, upon numer-
Gus charges of dishonesty in office. The
fifth was as follows:
Conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman.
,SDecifcation.-''I -''In this: that CoI.John
C. Crane, inspector, &c, having been
dulv assigned, &C., did write, cause TO
be written, issued and send, and caused
to be issued and sent, to VIM. Semple,
A. B. Semple and others, whose names
are unknown, the said VIM. Semple and
others being engaged in furnishing sup
plies for the use of said military rail
roads, circular and letter, portion OF
which circular and letter, is in the let
| ters and figures, and of the tenor follow
ing: ''To secure the election i'll every
State beyond the possibility Of a doubt,
not only does it require the patriotic
efforts of every man, butt also requires
naOpey for campaigning purposes. 1t is
expected that you that have received
the liberal patronage Of the government
will willingly lend your means to the
attainment of the object named.
~ am authorized to say, gentlemen,
to those who respond cheerfully to this
call, that patronage heretofore extend
ed to them, shall, without doubt, be
continued. In the transmitting OF your
subscription, it is expected that the a.
mount will correspond with the patron
age you have received"
This charge was sustained upon the
trial by direct evidence of parties who
had contributed to the Lincoln fund
raised by Col. Crane.
One witness, Archibald p. Cochrane,
testified that Col. Crane purchased sup
plies from their firm on or about the
| first of November, 1864, and at other
| times before, which were furnished af-
| terwards; that Col. Crane solicited mo-
ney from the firm to pay election eX-
! penses. Witness produced a circular
| from Col. Crane, asking for c0nTlbu-
! tiOnS, the genuineness of which the &C
cused admitted. COchrane further tes-
! titled that the firm gave 81 900 in re-
! Spouse to this solicitation.
: Question by Judge Advocate-Please
state the circumstances Of payment.
| Answer had come to the military
railroad department from home, fOrthe
purpose of settling our accounts, and /
| stepped into Col. Cranes Office; he told
me he was Just on the eve Of sending a
| circular to us, he then picked up the
! circular, signed, addressed, and handed
| it tomeforperusal; at tie time he hd1d-
| Ell If 10 me he said he had the sanction ot
the SecretdT7yOf Hdr to collect this ftH2d.
| told him ] would consid~r mnnQ the
! matter. the next day ! niT' iiiIli ~ NJ
| iiit,tC' n ~ ,rso,.,,.ItIGd to that amount.
| I responded under the full conviction
that it was a proper object, and ! did it
cheerfully; Col. Crane had no hesitancy
in handing me the circular, it was done
publicly; there were several parties in
| the room at the time. Witness further
testified that he had, at the time, vOuch-
ers in his possession to the amount OF
thirty-four thousand dollars, for which
heexpected to get the money; and that
| he received payment in full for all the
vouchers in check for certificates OF
| Indebtedness, less the amount the firm
contributed.
ON his cr0ss-examination Mr.. Coch-
rsne said:
With regard to the one thousand dol
lars obtained for election purposes, wit
ness did not know what was done with
| ii; saw Crane put it into an envelop and
| heard him say it was for Mr.. Lincoln.
J. NJ. Nash, Superintendent of mill
| tary railroads, being duly sworn, testi-
| fled that he contributed one hundred
dollars to the election fund"
After the trial had proceeded just far
enough to indicate the conviction OF
Col. Crane, and to endanger the divul-
| gence of some War Department secrets,
| Il acas postponed 6y order Of HteSeceta53
! Of Uur.