Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-18

TRIAL OF Henry BRuNER.-The trial of Henry
Bmner commenced Mondry, before Military
Commission. consisting Of the following gentle
men:
MEMBERS or COURT MARTAL.-Maj. Gen. A.
G. Gillem. L 5 Vols; Col w. X. Shafter. 18th
USCI: Breyt Col. q. NJ Bascom, U S Vols F;
Lieut.. Col. Chas. II. Pickering. 18th U SCI; Maj
and Brevt Lieut. Col Miles W. Keagh. A ID c
Vols: Lieut.. Col. NJ. NJ SouRgs, Nth U SCI;
Capt. Il. J. Suvcfs, l7lh U SCI, Capt NJ. ID.
Eustis Nth 4 SCI: Capt Artemus Curtis, 10th
USCI; Capt. Samuel Galloway. 10th sc l.;
Capt John d. Nixon 18th SCI; 1st Lieut.
John n Shaftor, 18th U SCI LIST Lieut. o. o.
pnpplcton, lllth u SCI
Capt. Samuel p Voris, Ssth Ills /, Judge
Advocate.
Counsel for the defense. Judge Blackman, Hon.
Ed. H. East. and Judge John 5. Brien.
The court met at 1915, when the proceedings Of
Monday were rc6d aud approved. These pro-
cccdings consisted Of organizing the court and
postPoning the proceedings.
The Judge Advocate then read the charges and
specifications, occupying some forty fifty fools
cap pages.
The substance Of the charges was that Henry
Bruncr while in the employ Of the quGrtermas-
ter's department., as superintendent of corrals,
near Nashville. conspired with Isham Henderson.
J. II. Dunnis, Moses Brown. David Hendor-
son, Swan and Leighton, Wm. II. Boyce, contract
orr and Ebb. Deming. Green Durham, VIM.
Mckay Hoage, Dickerson Phillips. VIM. Bak err,
GEORGE Barker. and o. o. STATIC government
employees. TO defraud the government, by max
ing false. fraudulant and fictitious receipts for
horses aud mules.
At the conclusion Of the reading, Judge Black
man. after consultation with his associate counsel
said he had concluded to submit motion TO the
effect that the Court cannot take cognizance of
any but the first charge, he being citizen. And
further. that the nineteen specifications in the Sc
cond charge are not sufficiently specific TO require
him 70 plead thereto The courtroom was cleared.
and the Commission deiborated after which the
reporters were invited in, and the Court deciding
that Bruncr must plead to the charges, he
through his counsel, pleaded net guilty.
The first witness was then called. and
Col. Chas H. Irwin. sworn.-Is acquasnted with
accused, since September 81 been in his employ
from October G2 to January s, 'Gj; superintendent
Of corrals and laborers part time; duties TO re-
ceiye and issue all mules and portion of the time
horses, and to inspect and pass upon all offered for
sale 10 Government TO give receipts for all receiyod
receipts sufficient to command vouchers, if con-
solidated in daily report his duty to keep an nc-
curate account Of all horses anG mules lost and
died. and to report such; such reports were veri
find by full reports made to his Office, intended Il
check one another; deaths and estrays supported
by aGidayits Of persons in charge Of the stock
diseased mules were shot; Bruner had charge O
shooting diseased mules and reporting the sub
iect: report Of Brunor, while superintendent o.
he nlV Of 10
roctness of receipts and vouchers: Bruner had
five corrals undcr his control-tho McGavock. tn,
race track the six mile corral, one at Galatin, al
Bowling Green, ard stock pasture at Oyertons
Hardings. etc CBy defence. The corrals are about
sixty miles from one extreme to the other; can
not tell the number Of stock under his control du
ring his superintendency, from April 81. to Jan
Co had not less than l0.OO9-merely a guess
could not tell the precise number; not possible
for HIN TO be present at each of these corrals Il
inspect In person the stock in each; does not re-
member him being ordered TO GAINESVILLE, Chat
tanooga or Knoxville; has been ordered out o
town. but very seldom had TO trust TO honor anC
confidence Of others in performance OF various
duties. In making up his reports, did he have
TO rely upon othrs TO make up his reports, did he
have TO rely upon Others to mako up his re
ports NOnJccteulp' bNl subsequently aioMcu.I
Yes. he did: also issued wagons and trains 70
transportation, rs n special duty; also quarter
masters stores necessary TO transportation, and
had from 80 20 500 working teams under his
charge; had an average of from 500 1900 mel
under his charge; Bruprr official Inspector assisted
by such Others as he thought proper to employ; re
ceipts for stock nj corral were generally given
signed Henry Bruncr, by the clerk, but were no
considered valid until the receipt Of the rcpor
signed by Henry Bruncr; does not know how h
made up his reports; must necessarily have mad
many from information could not have made on
has report in regard TO dead stock otherwise thai
as above: Brunor was the official inspector, an
authorized 90 call upon such a. he deemed com
potent: had William Barker. John Chickstou
Ebb Deming: cannot state that reports mad
by Bruncr were made out by the same clerk a
gave receipts; Bruner received mules by purchas
at main corrall at Nashville. and one lot inspect
al in Kentucky; got mules in his possession b
transfer, purchase and unknown sources Bru
ucr in his reports daily, stated the number re
cciyod. issued. remaining on hand, and died AN,
shot; Bruncr was responsible 10 witness, and re-
lied upon his report for issue Of animals.
Afler :his morning Il ' \ decided 10 adjourn &
this morning 20 81 o'cic.s = order TO give tim
to make certain rcr -~ond alterations in Oh
court room.