Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-04
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
THE BRISCOE TRIAL.

The Court Martial for the trial of Breyet
Brigadier General J. G. Briscoe, convened this
morning, at No. ls3 G. street. The following
officers constitute the Court:
BreSet Major General q. 5. Green, President;
Brig Gen. II. Prince, Br1g. Gen. H. Briggs,
Brevet Brig. Gen. j. M. Hederick, Brevet
Pennsylvania, Col H. b. Burnham, U. s. A.,
Judge Advocate.
The charges and specifications are to the fol-
Congress approved March >, isSs, in having
stolen and carried away from the custody Of
the United States bar Of gold bullion of the
value of i,ie9 80; package Of gold coin of the
United States Of the value of S1,00j; a package
of silver coin of the United States Of the value
of S2C0, and package of silver coin of the
United States Of the value of $50, all the
property of the United States, all this at
Lynchburg, in the State Of Virginia, on
the goth day of September, i'm the year 1866:
that he stole and carried away from the pos
session of Morris H. Alberger bar of gold
bullion, of the value of SI,1s9. 49, a package OF
gold coin Of the U. s., of the value of 81 600 a
package of silver coin of the L. S, of the value
s., of the value of $50, all the property of the
aforesaid Morris H. Alberger; all this at
Lynchburg, Virginia. on the 29th day OF Sep
tember in the year 1865
The Sd specification is of conduct to ,he pre-
JUDGE of good order and military discipline,
in that he in conversation with Morris II.
Alberger, Assistant Quartermaster Of the u.
s. service at the aforesaid post, did on the 26th
September, 1865, AT aforesaid Lynchburg, with
intent to induce said Alberger to unite with
him in defrauding the said United States, in
quire of and say to said Alberger about "How
much money have you p and being informed,
the said Briscoe further said to said Albtr-
ger alt can be taken and no the wiser
of it, and l want you to take and pack
up the money in three parcels nght as
possible, and tie the gold mp so that it
will not JINGLE the said Briscoe thereafter
proposing and suggesting to said Alberger that
would take the money of the United States out
of the safe of the said Alberger in the evening,
and that when it was discovered the next
morning thereafter that he, said Briscoe, would
cause said Alberger and his clerks and half the
town to be arrested about the loss, and also that
some Of il could be thrown into a room of the
Norval House, and thus fix suspicion upon the
occupant The said Briscoe further proposing
and suggesting TO said Alberger, Assistant
Quartermaster as aforesaid, that he (Briscoe)
the order OF detail as president of the
court martial for the investigation of
the charges arising from and out of said case.
and would acquit and discharge Alberger from
the complaint against him, occasioned by the
abstraction of said money of the United States
from the custody and safe OF said Alberger, and
that they Uackey and Alberger) would divide
in equal shares the money and valuables OBJ
tanned from the safe.
All this at Lynchburg, Virginia, on or about
the Goth day of September, 1865.
N M. Curtis, U. S. v; Col, c. N. Asmutten n.
John Odell.
The witnesses were directed to withdraw
during the reading of the charges and specif-
cations, TO which the accused pleaded not
guilty.
The prisoner made written application for
counsel, which was granted by the Court, Ex-
Gov Thos. Ii. Ford, of OHIO, and L. G.. Hme
appearing in bis defence.
Mr. Ford inquired if summons had been
issued for witnesses for defence.
The Judge Advocate replied that he could
not answer that question in Court, as such con-
versation was not proper for the record. Such
inquiries should be properly made outside.
The Court directed the Judge Advocate to
answer the counsel
The Judge Advocate asked for q written or
der. He could not answer, In his opinion,
without transcending his orders, and wished
the objection to be entered on the record.
The Court objected to the entry on the record.
The counsel were informed that the names
of two witnesses for the defence had been
called for, but one was in attendance. and
need not be summoned, the other witness had
been summoned. He had also made applica-
ton TO the proper department for several Ma
jor Generals who were required as witnesses
Z The courtroom was cleared for elaboration,
and upon reopening, at IL m. took recess till
one O'Clock.
Upon the reassembling OF the Court, Can't
AlJerger, A. q. NJ, was sworn.-Witness is ac-
quainted with the accused Had a converse
ton with the prisoner concerning the money
in his (witness) possession on the morning of
the Goth of September, in Gen. Briscoe's room,
at Lynchburg. Witness was sent for by the
General, who asked him into his private office,
ana inquired the amount ana denominations
of the money in the safe, saying at the same
time that it could be taken as we'll as not and
no one be the wiser of it. Witness replied that
there We're between sixty and seventy thou
sand dollars. The General said the money
might be taken, and he would have some of il
put in the Norval House. so as to cast suspicion
on the inmates. He also proposed TO have his
(witness) room broken into his pants, watch
and safe key stolen, but witness objected 10 1t.
The General also said the robbery would not be
discovered till the next morning, and then he
would arrest witness, his clerks, and half the
citizens He asked for the safe key, but wit
ness did not have it. He then asked witness to
get it, and as the key was handed him he
laughed. saying ne could make one like il with
a file. The General asked how long he might
keep the key, and witness said one hour and
ten minutes. As witness went out he heard the
General send an orderly for wax The kew
was returned to witness between one and two
O'Clock, at which time the General said that
after the arrests were made he would be de-
tailed as president Of the court, and would
acquit him (witness) of all blame. He would
also have the owners of the safe, Messrs Rookie
Il Murrell, arrested.
AT this point our report necessarily closed.
TUE WHITE unVSR