The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-01-29
Gen. Custer Accused of Murder.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE GENERAL
AND AN ALLEGED ACCOMPLICB.

tRELlMlNANS EXAMINATION OF TIE uENEHNI
AND AN ALLEGED hCCoMPLICB.
Tho Lcayeuworth Conserudtivc, Of last
Thursday, states that on Wednesday, Gone.
raj George A. Custer aud lieutenant WV.
Cook were put upon preliminary exnmina-
ton there, for the alleged murder of Charles
Johnson, private in company X, 7th United
States cavalry.
Captain II. NJ. Wost, of company X, first
tcstiies. We abridgo his statement:
Custer was lieutenant. colonel Of The regi-
mont, and Cook n first lieutenant in it,
Johnson died noar Fort Wallace, on tho
10Th or goth of last July. Up to Q p. m.,
of the 8th he was on duty as private in wit
ness company. At the time.aix men woro
scon leaving camp. Two mounted parties
were ordered by General Custer to pursue
aud bring none of them In alive. A gov
crnmcnt wagon returned, bringing three
men who had been shot, ono of whom wns
Johnson Ro was very feeble, and seemed
to be suffering very much from the wound
in tho head. The wound which seemed to
affect him most was pistol bullet wound
entering tho side of the head near The right
temple, and ranging downward, coming
| out near the left side Of tho windpipc. lie
had another wound in bis body, and one in
his arm. lie was shot in tho Territory of
Colorado, July 7, 1867 Witness applied to
| General Custer for medical attendance for
the wounded men, and was told that thcy
| were doscrtcrs, and dcserter was not en-
titled 10 any consideration. Witness urg-
cd that the wounded men received surgical
attendance, which was allowed after some
further conversation. Witness did not soc
the shooting, but heard the firing. Lieu
tenant Cock was in one of tho pursuing
parties. llo told witness he had done some
| of the shooting, and hoped none OF tho
wounded would die. Johnson was hale
and hearty before the shooting. a detail of
his company buried him, and witness read
the Episcopal burial service at tho grave
On cross examination witness rcmombor.
cd to have convcrscd with Gen. Custer
about Johnson's being so desperate that he
would not be brought baok without a fight,
and that Johnson's being so rcsoluto thnt
he might offer RESISTANCE Major J. H.
Elliott commanded one of the pursuing
parties, and Lieutenant H. jackson tho
other, and they were gone On hour or an
hour and q half. Witness did not hear tho
order to bring any in alive, and cannot soy
if Cook heard it. Heard Custer say some
thing 10 the effect to 90 aftor them and not
bring any in alive. Was not at tho exact
spot where the parties rode Off but was in
hcaring distance. The medical attendance,
was ordered Mt tho time it was applied for
II.
When rc-cXamincd for the Sato, wi MS,
said that his rcmarks to Ger Custer about
Johnson were made after The order had
becn given to the mounted party, and after
they had started in pursuit
General a j Smith and other United
States officers, besides the defendants, were
present the at examination
On hc second day Lieutenant Vsnry
Jackson testified that he was ordered by
Gen. Custer TO pursue the descr tcrs, to
shoot them, and bring none bnck alive. lie
overlook two, who surrendered, and SO,
them back. lie then sent after the others,
and found johnson lying on the ground
wounded, but saw nothing of tho shooting.
Was left by Major Elliottin charge of the
three wounded. The Major returned. and
wagon came for them. Witness Thought
Lieutenant Cook was not present when the
order was given to bring none in alive
Clement Willis, one Of the descrtcrs tcs-
tilted that he saw Lieutenant Cook shoot
johnson with pistol.
Miles Moylen, first lieutenant and adiu-
tant, also said that an order was given to
bring none bnck alive, and thought Lieut..
Cook was present when it was given. J his
witness added. that when the message car me
that three was wounded, Gen. Custer order
ci wagon sent after them, and n medical
officer was in attendance, before Col Vests
request. The substance Of the Generals
reply to this request wns that the men
could liaVo necessary medical attendance.