The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-05
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 8.

had pleasant call yesterday from NAi'
Clifford ArrIck, OF st. Clairsville, on MS
1vav home from Washington, where ne
has been engaged since last OCTOBER as
chief counsel for the prosecution in the
Dyer Court of Inquiry. Two or three
weeks since Mr.. Arrick was Interrupt
ted in his duties by severe attack OF
iun3mmatory rheumatism, and upon a
too early resumption of his labors sui
tered n relapse. The testimony in the
case was closed last week and the argu-
meuts were 10 have begun Monday;
but Mr.. Arrick being too unwell to go
into court, the privilege was waived by
both sides and the case given TO the
court without argument. It is expected
the decision of the court will be pro-
muigated in week or ten days. Mr..
Arrick aud Mr.. Wilson S. Kennon, OF
Cincinnati, (son of Judge Kennon of
ST. Clairsville) were the counsel for the
prosecution. David Dudley Field, OF
New York, Col. S. V. Benet OF the Ord
nance Corps and a Mr.. Du Caindry OF
the Ordnance Department, were coun-
sci for General Dyer. The court
was composed of General George
II. Thomas, (PresidenD General W.
s. Hancock, General A. IL. Terry,
OF Fort Fisher fame, and Hon.
Joseph Holt Judge Advocate General
of the army. The Court began its sit
tlngs last October and excepting a
month during the holidays has been in
almost continuous session up TO
the adjournment last week. A vast
amount of oral testimony was tax
en-, requiring the constant services
of two short hand reporters and sever
al amanuenses and copyists. The oral
testimony makes some 1lGO or ZOO
closely printed pages, and there are
about 800 pages more OF documentary
evidence. The "Rccorder" of the Court
was MIR. II. J. Hit, of Washington, 81
very accomplished Photographic re-
porter and his assistant Mr.. John J.
McIIIhone. of Philadelphia, reputed
one of the best reporters in the Globe
corps of the House OF Representatives.
We happen to have had some personal
familiarity with this investigation and
will endeavor to give our readers gem
eral idea OF what it is Ill about.
General a. Il. Dyer. who hnH
been on Trial before this Court,
Is chief OF the Ordinance Bureau of
tho Army and has been since 1862
or 1868, ChouEh suspended during
ills Inquiry, } and rs such was charged
with the duty of purchasing guns,
shot, shell, DC, for the army, and dis
bursting foc these purposes vast sums of
money. In March, 1867, Joint Com
mittee on Ordnance was raised in Con-
gress for the purpose of investigating
alleged abuses and corruptiOns in both
branches of the Ordnance Department.
The Committee prosecuted its re-
searches during the succeeding sum-
mer, fall and winter, and nneHrthed
what they conceived TO be very serious
maIpraclices on the part o! the Chief of
Ordnance, especially in connection with
the purchase of projectiles for rilled
cannon. 1t appeared from the test1-
mony or various witnesses that the
army had been chiefly supplied with
what WAS Familiarity known among
army men us the dyer" or "army"
shell; that the shell was exceed
Ingly defective almost TO the extent
of worthlessness; that great guam
titles of them had been purchased after
the war was over; that General Dyer
claimed to be tho inventor, and that he
probably lost nothing in contracting for
their manufacture. A. G. Dickson and
OrloG Zane, OF st. Louis, having had
one or two contracts for she'll before
Dyer came Into the Bureau, went to
him for another. Dickson and his wife
both testified that Dyer claimed the
shell they were manufacturing as his
invention, and very plainly intimated
to Dickson that he must have "roy-
atty" if he gave contract; and falling
to take the hint Dickson missed their
contract. Whether other parties were
more plant did not appear, though
others were more successful in
eral charge was brought against
Dyer by inventors, viz: That he gave
them no chance to test their inventions
and bring them to the attention OF the
Government. In some instances this
charge was certainly sustained by the
evidence. A great many other facts
were developed before the Committee
calculated to rnise more than IA suspi-
cion OF dishonesty on the part OF this |
official in the administration of his Of |
fee; and so thoroughly were the Com
mittee convinced OF its rottenness that
they made partial report and unani- |
mOusIy recommended his removal,
accompanying the recommendation |
with the testimony on which it was
based. However, Gen. Dyer's posi-
ton WAS one OF great influence,
and Andrew Johnson was President.
OF course he was not removed. But
with this report OF the Committee
staring him in the face, Gen. Dyer could
not afford to let the matter rest. He
applied to the Secretary OF War for
Court Martial and was finally granted
this court OF inquiry, which has just
closed its deliberations. We believe all
or nearly all this damaging testimony
was given again before the Court of
Inquiry. What impression it has made
upon the Court remains to be seen.
WE print elsewhere an editorial crit
1clZinG the Administration which re-
Gently appeared in the Chicago Tribune,