The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-10-05
Trial of Mai. j. l.. Hodge.

The trial by Court Marshal of Maj. j. L.
Hodge, paymaster in the U. S. Army, was
concluded on the 27th at Fort McHenry-
The, following frank and affecting statement
from him was read before the court. 1t will
be remembered that his defalcation amounted
to over quarter million of dollars:
STATEMENT OF MAJOR JOHN L, HODGE.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Court :
As | had nothing to offer in defense WHICH
would be available in law as Justification or
excuse, pleaded guilty to the charges prefer
red against me, and TO the specifications an
neztd to those charges. | shall rely on the
facts in the case in mitigation of your SEN
tence. This was partly done in my confes-
sion, which accompanies this paper'as pars
OF my defense. Whatever punishment the
court may deem it proper to adjudge, either
as just punishment for my misconduct, or ali
example to persons engaged in the public
service, an, prepared submssively 10 endure.
Personally, no physical punishment which
any tribunal can impose would or could be as
painful and excruciating as the mental agony
which [ have suffered ever since found that
my private means were not sufficient to make
up the deficiency in my official account. Ev-
cry subsequent endearor on my part to make
up the deficiency only augmented the magni-.
tude of my losses. But, whilst I ask neither
mercy nor charity on Ely own aceogat-ior
| have no such claim to either. as this cour5
could justly recognize, aud prepared to
| endure, as [ have said, without complaint.
any penalty which the law and your sentence
may award-stll, as husband and father, l
| hgnbly ask, for the sake Of my innocent and
distressed wife and for nly infant children,
such merclful action on your part as you
| may find consistent with your duty; and [
iud real comfort in the knowledge that this
court is composed of officers of high grade,
honorable and brave men, such as are always
generous to the yanauished, and to those who
| are powercss and unresistlng gentlemen who
could not fiad any pleasure i'll imposing cru:
ei, unusual or vlpdictive punishment.
In the confession heretofore made by me,
and which affirm, to be true, [ have stated
truly and honestly the main facts IN relation
to nv defacation. | now desire to add /.
Yory few remarks, based on facts, by way of q
clear and fuller explanation of the statements
therein contained I now state as matter
Of TACT and which thorough examination
Of my official reports and accounts will show
to be true, tina, not one dollar Of the lost
money was expended in my household, nor
was any amount even to the value OF one
cent, appropr atcd to my own benefit, or to thu,
use or benefit of my family My salary and
than sufficient for the wants of my family
and for my personal wants. save for the pay
ment of losses in my speculations No credit
a, of,
money disbur.ed, which was not based on an
actual payment of the precise amount Foo
which credit is claimed no complaint was
ever made nor were there any grounds for
complains that persons to whom paynonts
were made, in any case received less, by u
single cent, Than the amounts for which they
receipted No receipt or other voucher Was
ever procured or presented which was not
safupulously correct in every particular. No
false or fraudulent returns were ever render
ed by me or from my Office
DESTROYS to make all the reparation in my.
power have turned over to the goyori.-
ment all my remaining private estate, to be
applied in reduction Of my Indebtedness; and
my noble wife, against the advice and remon-
strauccs of honorable and conscientious per-
sons Insisted on surrendcring her potential
rights therein.
Il will afford no pleasure, | am sure 10
any member of this court to learn the iace
that neither my wife nor have any resourcea
now remaining, and that we have three desti-
tiute children, wholly unprovided for, with
the prospect Of an early addition Of another
clld. My counsel, who, at the request OF
my family, has conferred with me as to tho
character of my defence, fully concurs Will.
me in sentiment that it would be iuconsist-
snt with my line Of defeace and uubecomin.,
to present any legal questions as TO the pow
ers of the court 10 awarding punishment. I
feel quite satisfied that neither the Judge ad-
vocatse nor this high court would be willing
to transcend the rules Of law Ia any respect
Mr.. President and gentlemen, crave tor-
givepess for tresspassing SO long on your pa
tienee will not detain you any longer.
Ny case is respectfully submitted.
J. LEDYARD HoGE.
Mr.. Schley also read the letter of confess
sion to Paymaster General b. W. Bricc, re-
ferred to in the above statement, which has
been heretofore published.
Alter the statement had been read, tka
prisoner and his attendants withdrew, and
the court remained IN session to make up its
fudlng and sentence in the case
HODGE S spECULATIoNs AND OPERATIONS
1t is fact, we learn. that the specula-
tons Of Major Hodge first began in gold de-
| ring the cxGire!aent Of the war, when the
premium was assembling, and that he was in
spired by the feeling. opposed to the predie.
tons Of Others, that gold would 90 still high.
er His belief ID and sympathy witha de-
cline induced hun to sell short" by which
he incurred heavy losses on the rise. Then
the usual result followed of further ventures
with the view Of repalsing losses, which only
| followed each other, involving him step BY
| step, aud leading him on to contnua th5
| dreadful struggle of the gaucstcr in tho
tolls
Jackson & Pohaumus, the Now York bro
| kers through whom Major Hodge operated,
we're not referred to by Mr.. Schley in tbs
course of his defense OF his client, be desii-
ug to bring no one else OF oshsr matters Ia.
to the one question Of guilt of Major Hodge
before the military tribunal, where the triat
il of course under military law as applic4-
bic to q military offender
TUE RECORD AND THE SENTENCE.
| The record Of the cour.-mart;ai in III, n,sa