Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-05-16
The Prentice. Henderson swIndIe.


lot NEE. with our former article.
The huge and villaineus fraud goes to the world
III the name of Ish4m Henderson, one of the pro-
prietors of the Louisville Journal while the power
behind the throne and the guilty wire-puller in the
transaction, is old Prentice 5n-clad offender, and
artful trckster of long and vlanous experience.
During the war, one or another of the Journal firm
had extensive contracts for furnishing the Govern
ment with mules corn, guns, pistols, &c, together
With special permits TO supply the army with goods
10 an almost unlimited extent. Henderson seems to
have had charge of the mule department of their ex-
t.nsive operations and while acting in this capacity
lie entered into an extensive conspiracy with Henry
Bruner, an extensive contractor in charge OF the
Government Corals in and around Nashville, and
with others TO cheat and defraud the Government.
Henderson carried his operations pretty much in
Ms ose namG but was going and coming from
Louisville every week, and consulting with his part
ues and receiving the sage counsel Of the venerable
leader Of the CLAN
The Provost Marshal Of General Of Nashville, K.
W johnson, assisted by other able and efficient
members Of Gen. Thomas staff, set to work months
ago TO investigate these frauds; and the nvcstga-
ton resulted in the arrest of Bruner Henderson and
Others, as the public have already been informed
\ general court martial detailed 10 try the
prisoners thus arrested Henderson IN the meantime
living Osborne one of the Journal firm, as bail, in
bond of $4,000 artfully keeping old Prentice in
the back ground. Henderson failed to appear, and
was arrested by file Of soldiers, brought to Nash
Vile under a strong guard and lodged in prison
writ Of ta5caS corpus was taken out at Louisville
refused TO obey it, under instructions from General
Thomas, whereupon an attachment was ordered for
the body Of Gen. Davis who resisted with his sol
der
Applications were made 10 Washington 10 have
the authorities there interfere with the Case and in
.ayor of the Louisville mule traders They now
,lamor FOR trial before civil tribunal, and have
great horror for the despoLism Of military court
But the military authorities are setting under law
%. Congress- approved March ID, 1868, which ex-
rcs>y declares that contractors for the army shall
be considered IN tic D.ittaJySrrics and shall at any
and all times be held to answer before court mar
.al for frauds perpctrated while in that service
If these distinguished civilians did not want TO be
.-ied by an army court, they ought not 10 have en-
'rr.R the Gogcrracns Ssrcico Is contractors Their
trial. through Henderson, has excited very great in
tars. The military authorities deserve the thanks
II the nation for their arrest OF these swindlers and
for their persevcrinS efforts to bring the parties
punishment Could this Journal combination get
INTO a civil court they have hope of intimidating
pver-infuencing, or buying out Justice.
The journal Of the 2Sth Of April leads OF IN Bit
denunciations Of the INDUSTRIOUS practiceo court
lnar.ialiag civilians IN time Of peace" says it is
about time for this atrocity, this concomitsnt of
va this essence Of tyranny, to cease that it is
All exhibition of brute force that it is the in
s,lcncc Of arbitrary power that it Is disreputa-
BE toIn-fooery," and adds, We call upon the Pres
dent 10 put stop TO the grotesque humbuggery
~ hich thus sets the laws at defiance Accordingly
The authorizes at Washington telegraphed, and
hey replied that the court martial was right, and
would be sustained The journal, and It's Judge
ranting the writ Of ia5,as corpus would do well to
examine the laws o. Congress under which this mil
:tarv court has acted. The act u July II, 1862
provide As follows
Sec 10. And any person VINO shall con-
tract 10 furnish supplies of any kind description
Tor She army or navy, he shall be deemed and taken
As a part of the land naval forces of the United
Slats for which he shall contract TO furnish said
gpphos subject to the rules and regulations for the
government Of the land and naval forces of the
U-ited States
The law Of March ., 1861, provides as fellows
Sec. > That any person in the land or naval
forces of the United States, or in the militia in
tua service of the United States in time of war, who
shall make or cause to be made or present or cause
10 be presented for payment or approval, TO or by
any perssn or officer in the civil military service
Of the United States any claim upon or against the
Government Of the United States, any depart
-nent or officer thereof knowing such claim to be
false, fictitious or fraudulent; and every per-
son 50 offending may be arrested and held for trial
BY general court martial and il found guilty. shall
DC punished by fine and Imprisonment or such other
punishment as the court may adiudge, save the pun
ishment Of death
Now, can't all the world see, not looking through
Old Prentice's goggles that contractor Henderson
was part of the land and naval forces" subject
10 the rules aud regulations of the army?
But the trial progresses. On the 5th day, May
st William Mckay Hoge, the keeper of the coral
was put upon The stand and sworn He Disgrace
the accused by concluding in the following damag
ins style.
o.-State as near as you can the remarks tina
M Isham Henderson made when he insisted OF
your giving receipts for more mules than he actual
" put 2. Aver, L Ieu6lLUCE O4 JIG OCCaSlO4I
that he remarked that it honorable to defraut
the Government out Of large amount, while it wa
dshonorabe to do it for small one.
o-State whether or Of he proposed 10 divid
with YOU the money received on these fraudulen
t-aDsactionz A-Well, don't know as we eve
had any positive agreement as to what kind OF
division should be made, but l think he general.
ave me about half
Glow long did this arrangement exist betweei
yourself and IsbaIn Henderson A-Well, don
remember.
Q-State a. near Is you can. Al think J
commenced when first wen: to the coral, before
was ever taken into Col. Twins Office. 1t continue
Up 10 the time that went away from NashVllIe-
vent away il August, 1864.
Q.-About what time in August Al tnlnl
il was between the 18th and 18TH
Q-Now state hat amount Of money you re
ceived from Mr.. Isham Henderson a. your snare o
the fraudulent Transactions, if any Al can
state positively how much l received from Mr.. Hen
drrson altogether, but on one occasion he gave Ia
$4,000
Q-Do you remember any particular instances @
giving fictitious receipts for mules during July o
August 1864; if So mention them in detail. A
gave M Henderson "A fictitious receipt in August
1854 for nnety-eight mules
Q-Do you remember any other instance of fur
gishing 10 I-ham Henderson fictitious or frauduleu
receipts for mules? Ayes, sir, gave him r.
,.eipt in July 1864, before l went hume. / don
remember the number Of mules this receipt ws
given for.
Q-Now state all the circumstances connecte
win your giving he fictitious receipt 10 Ar. Ishs
He drr,on IN August. State wnere II was given
Mr.. Henuerson, And. ghst was SAID ana done at tn