The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-03-09


has column and half in reply to the
charge that he was convicted Of stealing
while Sergeant in the army. The pith
Of the whole thing is contained in the fol
lowing extract
True, | was in difficulty once, while
stationed at Augusta, Georgia, where a
sergeant Of my regiment, / being 1st
sergeant Of company II, 10Th L. s. in
fantry, at tho time, placed in my compa-
ny's box, which | had charge Of some
property, which turned out to have been
stolen, but Of which fact | was not aware
at the time.
That I was not held guilty of being
an accomplice by the officers and men of
my regiment is proven by the fact that |
was restored, after my trial, to the posi-
ton oflst sergeant, which had held pre-
viously, and continued to hold for over a
year afterwards, until honoraJly discharg
ed from the service"
What is the truth Of thi. matter? Lock
hart WAS cha rsya4l .-ith-staal;ay -,,-Af.A-.,.
at Augusta, Georgia, which was found in
bis possession Before he could he tried
at that station, the regiment to which he
belonged, was ordered to this State, and
he WAS brought from Georgia here in
irons, and was tried by court martial
on his arrival, An officer of his own regi
ment being the President, and found gull
ty, the following was the #
IA. Sos SENTENCE:
''To be re Iced to the ranks-forfeit
all pay and allowances due, or to become
due, since January LIST, 1866, and to be
confined for the lmexpired term of his en-
listment. to.wit: to the 10Th day of Au-
gust, 1867, in such military prison as the
General commanding the Department
may direct, then to be dishonorably dis
charged the service of the United States
He was afterwards released from arrest
and returned to duty; because, when the
action Of the commission came before the
reviewing officer, IL did not appear from
Ike record that the accused consented to
the Introduction of evidence, afIidavits
taken ca porte in his case. lie wa.
brought from Georgia before the com
mission was ordered, and the evidence OF
his guilt being in that State, it had to
come to Arkansas by dispositions taken
there; and simply because the record did
no! shoe that has consent was had, to take
this &c parte evidence, on mere TECH
SrcALrTY in the proceedings Of the court,
was he released and not because he was
NOT guilty. Every one know, that it is
the easiest matter in the world for an of.
dcer to escape a conviction before a court
martial, if there is the smallest loop hole
to get out But ia Lockhart's case there
was none; it Was plain open and shut;
and nothing but a sentence could follow.
We have no personal feeling toward this
man, but as he cries out rebel pcrsccu
ton, We merely wish that he may appear
in his true light Crawford county has
burdens enough of her own, Of this kind,
without being cursed with any further
importations.
We also, laid at his door, rumor OF
black,mailing some Of the citizens of
Sewer and Little River counties. lie
doc, not deny it, but trys to escape by
crying "rcbel press" This is how he
meets the charge;
AS regards my conduct while in the
service of the State, the imputations cast
on me by the Van Buren, Press, are hard
ly worth netieing since nothing else can
DO expected from q bitter rebel sheet,
edited by that most contemplate Of all
anomalies-a renegade Yankee ..s
The conviciionof Lockhnrt, in the Geor
gia ease, lie strong evidence in this one.
Our informant was y gentleman of this
county, whose integrity VIC have no rcs.
son 10 doubt Gov Clayton might have
s'rakcd hellover with u fine tooth comb
and he would not have found another
such combination Of bad men, as were
iurncd loose ON the innocent and unof
tending people of this. State, under the
plea OF martial law The unwritten his
tory of these raids, which win surely