Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-28
BOUNTY FRAUDS.
Tinker Dave Beatty's Men.
Ugly DeVeIOpments-AC Clerk and an
EM-COngressmanA Arrested.

Ugly DeVeIOpments-AC Clerk and an
Ex-COngressman Arrested.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial
WAsHlNGroN, Oct. 26.-0n Tuesday,
J. J. johnson, United States Commissioner
for this District, issued a warrant for the
arrest of Mr. Victor G.. Powell, a clerk in
the office of the Second Auditor of the
Treasury Department, on the charge Of be
ing implicated in huge bounty fraud.
Be was taken into custody, and is now
held in default of ten thousand dollars
bail. This series of frauds is in con-
nection with the military companies of
the State of Tennessee, known as
Beatly'S and Bryson's companies, and whose
names were placed on the army rolls at the
stZar Department. in conformity with an act
.of Congress. passed at its last session. A
large humber of names on which bOuntles
were drawn are believed to be fictitious, and
the money retained illegally. The amount,
saws government official, will range from
one hundred thousand to one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. He states that
charges have been preferred against Gen.
Stokes, of Tennessee, and others, who have
not yet been arrested. 2 --
Tie nepattment of Justice called for all
the papers connected with these companies,
a short time since, and they were turned
over by the acting Second Auditor. A
Government official stated that a similar
act Of Congress concerning some troops of
the Florida war cost the Government over
one hundred thousand dollars in exactly the
same way.
g Special to the Cincinnati Gazette.
On the oath of July, 1870, Congressman
Stokes. in conjunction with other members
of the Tennessee delegation, and strong
Southern lobby. succeeded in getting bill
through Congress for the relief of Capt.
Beatty ahd his company Of one
hundred and two men, known as the
q independent Tennessee Rangers" twas
claimed that this was an irregular organl-
zStion of Tennessee volunteers who had
rendered invaluable service in behalf OF the
Jnioa and this act granted them the usual
government bOunties, pay, and emolument
from June, 1862, to April, 1860, the same
to 10, allowed by the Second Auditor OF the
Treasury upon presentation of the proper
papers. After his term in Congress expired
Stok,,s WAS very busy in getting the ac-
counts of thi, company settled. Almost
three weeks since the attention of certain
ofici tls was called TO irregularities in the
bounty claims for this company which
Were presented for payment at the second
Authors office. Detectives were at once
nut on the track, ard they succeeded in un-
ear4ldIig certain farts with regard TO the
nrete,,ied claims which showed a systema-
TIED attempt to swihdle the Government.
II Was found that Beatty's company never
enlisted over fifty men, and that one hall
this number never rendered any military and
20 the Government whatever. The rest OF the
claimants never existed save on paper. 1t was
also T ,,rnd that a clerk in the Second Audit
or's oifice, named Victor 5. Powell, and
who y .epared all bounty papers relating to
this {. tnpany, was acting in collusion VIII
Stoke and several other prominent parties
TO practice this imposition upon the Treas
urv. Powell was arrested this morning
stokes this evening, and both placed unde
bonds of $4,000. r. J. Meigs, Clerk
the Supreme Court, went bail for Stokes
Oete tives are now on the track OF othe
partias who ar operating in Tennessee, AM
their arrest is IBometarily expected. IN
amount involved in these swindles Is $50,
O00.