Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-27
THE ALLEGED TENNESSEE BOUNTY
FRAUDS.
Arrest Of Ex-Representatfye WIN.
Ii. stokes.
The Government Defrauded of ses, 400
How Et Was Done.

William b. Stokes formerly representative
in Congress from Tennessee, and at present a u
pervisor Of Internal Revenue in that State, is
the Ex-M. G. who was referred TO in THE STAR
OF yesterday as being suspected OF completely in
the bounty frauds on the government, of which
we published the first account Mr.. Stokes ar
rived in this city yesterday afternoon, by the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and was met by
Deputy Marshal Phillips, with a warrant tor his
arrest, and was Immediately escorted TO the
Office of Mr.. j. j johnson, United States Com
missioner, by whom the warrant was issued.
MI. Stokes, II appears, was telegTaphed 10 by
the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue a day or
two since TO report Immediately 10 his Office
and answered that be expected 10 arrive at 10
O'Clock a. m yesterday. Mr.. Phillips anNiOusiv
awaited that train: but was disappointed in NOT
finding his man on board. The other trains were
however, watched, and the train due about 81
O'Clock brought the unsuspecting Stokes 20 the
city, he having been delayed by missing a con-
nection. He was the first man 10 leave the train
and Mr.. Phillips Immediately walked up to him,
and after passing the usual SITUATIONS Informed
him that he was under arrest Mr.. Stokes seemed
greatly surprised, but accompanied Mr.. Phillips
10 the Office of Commissioner johnson and in
formed that Official that he would waive an
examination. and inquired the amount Of bail.
Mr.. johnson stated that the sum of sI5c9D
would be required, and Mr. Phillips went with
lis prisoner 10 the office of Mr.. X. j. Meigs
Clerk OF the Court In short time that gentle
man returned with them, and entered on the
bond in the amount named, and Mr. Stokes was
released
The charge in the warrant is, defrauding the
government Of the sum Of So, 400, and, it Is
alleged, through claims Of Capt Beatty's COM
lany of mounted infantry, which served or pre-
tended 10 serve in Tennessee during the war. II
appears that under a resolution of Congress
passed in July, 1870, an appropriation was made
to pay these soldiers. Ii Is alleged that this res
OlutiOn was engineered through the House and
Senate by MI. Stokes, and that the necessary
papers on which toobtain the money were trans
mite I'd 10 him, anu that notwithstanding the fact
that claim agents here were employed. the Ger
thcates were issued 70 Mr.. StOkes-those for the
privates for 81 O040 each, and those for the Off
GERS for from $500 TO $1,000 each--the sum
total being somewhere in the ncighb0rhOod Of
SI20.C
1t is now asserted that, although certificates
were issued 70 full company OF mounted in
fanny, there never was in the company the
number of men claimed to be in it-lQ3-and
that officers of the government who have been
TO Tennessee have asceTtaiRed that the full num-
Der of men, including officers, was IS, and con-
sequently there were over 65 names improperly
on the rolls, and fraudulent claims were thus
Mr.. Stokes appeared somewhat excited while
under arrest, having been taken greatly by sur
prise, and. stated that ii had he been spprized
that there was anything wrong in the claims he
would have been here long since.
Victor q. Powell, a clerk in the Second Audi
tors office, was arrested last TUESDAY, evening
for his alleged completely in these frauds, as
stated in THE STAR of last evening. 1t is as
serted that there are several other persons i'm
plcated in the frauds, and that there are other
claims undergoing investigation which NAV lead
70 the discovery OF additional frauds in other
cases.
In this connection il may be as well TO state
that in the summer OF 1863 there were reports of
alleged bounty frauds having passed the Second
AUDITORS Office and the Office of the Paymaster
General; that the House OF Representatives APP
pointed a committee to investigate, and that il
was not until the last day Of the session that a
report was made, which was 90 the effect that
while there were some informalities in the man
ner of conducting business in the Offices named.
there was no evidence of fraud. An attempt
was subsequently made to effect the removal of
Mr.. French Second AUDITOR and Gen. Brice
(Paymaster General), but it was ursuceessf III