Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-04

o. 1896 gold coin OF the value Of si 900; one pack
age Of silver coin, $2oO one package silver coin,
sJo-being moneys belonging to the United
States. These were stolen from the custody o
NORRIS II. ALBERaRR, O. NJ
Tho second charge Is that Of conspiracy Il
steal; that in having proposed In conversation
with Morris II. Alberger, ouartermastsr, that the
money belonging to the United States, in his
safe, could be taken and nobody be the wiser fol-
1t, and that Alberger should pack 1t up ss'thai
the gold would not Jingle; that he, Briscoe,
would so manage II as to throw suspicion upon
other parties.
The accused plead not guilty to the entire ae-
ecusation.
Messrs. Ford and Hines appeared for the de.
fence.
At the commencement Of the proceedings Gov.
Pord, being asked II the defence were ready, in
qured Of the Judge Advocate II the witnesses for
the defence had been summoned.
The Judge Advocate declined to answer that
question in open court.
The Court directed the Judge Advocate to give
the counsel the required Information.
The Judge Advocate protested that II was NOT
: i the authority Of the Court to issue such an
o.der, and asked that his objection be entered
upon the record. He stated that one Of the wit
= ses asked for by the defence was present, and
tie other had been subpnaned, aud application
had been made to the proper quarters for such as
were officers Of the army. ...L
The Court was cleared for deliberatiou upon
motion Of the Judge Advocate that his objection
be entered upon the record. when the doors
were thrown open at IL clock, the Court took
a recess till l o'clock.
The court reassembled at 1 o'clock, and r..
NORRIS n. ALBERGER, "''
Captain and Assistant Quarterma aster, United
States Volunteers, was sworn. Witness IL nc.
quaiuted with Gen. Briscoe. Had q conversa-
ton with him on the morning Of the 2eth Of Sep
tember, In Gen. BriscOe's room, at headquarters
In Lynchburg, in the court house. Was sent for
byGeu. Brscoe to bis private room, who asked
me what amount Of money had in my safe, aud
what denomination, saying, at the same time,
that II could be taken rs well as not, and no one
be tie wiser for 1t. He asked how much gold
and silver and other money. ltold him be, cen
sSoUO0 and $4,000. He proposed to throw
q small amount Of money into some place aud
to have my house broken open aud my safe key
stolen, to wIich objected. lie said the money
could be taken and half the town arrested to
cover up. He asked for my key. went and
brought II. He laughed aud said he could make
one like II. He asked how loug he could have II.
Told him he could have 1t one hour and ten min
utcs. He asked for some wax. saw him again
about one o'clock aud received the safe key
During the conversation he said when was ar
rested he would be President Of the Court Mar
tial and have me acquitted.
When went into bis room In the morning Mr..
A. W Lackey was there, and he says to witness,
THE General is all right, rs told you," and
then the Geueral asked the questions about the
money. The General remarked that paper money
should be packed In small packages, the gold and
silver should be pat In one bses and lied tightly
so that 1t would not Jingle. He asked II geuer.
ally kept my money in the bank. told him
did over night, but sometimes did not. General
u. proposed to take the money with false key,
but no time was set.
After leaving Gen. Briscoe, witness proceeded
to the telegraph Office and telegraphed the cir
cumstances to the Secretary Of War. Met Mr..
Lackey on the way, and he said, az have a beau
tiful impression, +" and pointed to some package
bulging his pocket. He remarked that the wax
was little soft, but it was all right On the eve.
ming Of the 2lst Of September Mr. Laekey said to
witness, 1t was hard time for quartermas sters
going out Of the service, and n did not make
myself rich out Of II | was fool. asked him
what he meant He said, "You are handling
Government funds, and can dispose Of them as
He said, 'Tf you conclude TO do this, let me
know, and will telegraph to General Briscoe
about IT, - He thes got ON the train, saying he
was going to Washington. | told my friend,
Capt Gerard, what proposition had been made
involving General Briscoe, and he suggeIted |
should go to Washington. Instead, went to
the telegraph office and sent dispatch to secre-
tary Stanton:
"Can Col. Baker come here at once, or eau
come to Washington on BUSINESS very import
ant, N. II. ALBgRGgR,
Captain and QuaTtermasteT. -
On Sunday night met Mr.. Lackey at the depot
OF the Orange anu Alexandria Railroad, who
asked my business IN Warrington, aud told him
was trying to get a sheet Of di iifereDces settled
with the Department. aud spoke Of the hardships
Of quarter Imasters having their pay stopped for
losses, &c. He then again proposed to take the
Government money, and said Gen. BriscOe was
all right. | finally told him would enter into
the conspiracy, and he told me Ms we parted at
Gordonsyillei to tell Geueral Bhscoe l had
seen him | went to the General and told
On the 26th witOe5s was summoned wit
ness to Richmond, and met Lackey on the train,
who said he had the wax impression. He went
to Washington. On returning from Richmond
Wednesday, Lackey was In the train at Cor
donsville aud handed witness a di plicate key to
the safe aud asked for the key Of tae other safe,
which he took into baggage car, aud came back
after awhile saying he could not get an inpres-
sion. Witness arrived In Lynchburg on Thurs
day and tried the false key. Found 1t would ht,
and showed 1t to his head clerk
On Friday Gen. Briscoe asked again about the
money, and gave directions how ii should be di-
yded and packed. He asked witness to bring
out his share OF the money, but witness said he
supposed Mr. Lackey was to take the money. He
said NO; Lackey would take 1t all and he should
gee none, aud he would be of to Europe. The
General gave one OF his stockings to witness 10
put the coin into, and witness opened cigar box
containing the coin aud Allied 1t.
On Friday. September 90, General Curtis and
his Adjutaht General came to witness Office and
the safe was opened aud the money found miss-
ing. Witness described the money missing
ON the safe-two packages Of 500, 900 each Con :
federAte money. The coin was American. The
bar was stamped with Its vslue from the Con
iedoTats assay office Of Georgia. Witness was
lied iutO General EriscOe office after his arrest
aud asked to identify the packages found there,
r'fhs duplicate key Of the safe handed witness
by Laekey was produced iu court aud identified
by witness, as were also the packages aud bags
OF money, which he identified by the seals.
The coins were placed In custody Of witness
by Gen Curtis, Provost Marshal General. Gen.
Curtis II In command Of the department Of
Southwestern Virginia.
Cross examined by Gov. Ford: Witness had
the conversation with Lackey on the 2lst Of Sep
tember, at the depot Of the Orange and AloxaH-
dria Railroad, and on telegraphng to the Score
tary u War was ordered to Washington. Had
an interview with Con. Baker at the War De-
partment, who told witness to go ahead, to do all
he was told to do, and to work up the case In the
best way he could.
By Gov. Ford: What was meant by "working
up the case?'
objected to by the Judge Advocate as irriee-
want
The conrt was cleared for deliberation, and at
this point our report closes.
THE Property OF Mrs GEN EWELL RE-