Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-27
The Case Of Major Hodge.

iAONSS A4So JSS'SAuas' Oiu -1SAlShis. auu
heard his confession. which We publish below
The Court then retired for deIiberation, and
probably passed sentence, although OF that We
shall not know until it has been submitted at
Washington. The exact amount Of the dct:ll-
cation is $4l:j, 40G. 60. which waS taken in SUMS
of $500 to $4,000.
M'. President ard Gentlemen o. tie Coa1:
As had nothing to offer in defence which
would be available in law as justification or
excuse, pleaded guilty to the charges pre-
ferred against me, aud to the specifications an
nexed to those charges. ! shall rely on the
real facts in the case in mitigation Of yonr sem
tence This was partly done in my confession
which accompanies this paper as Il part OF my
defence. Whatever punishment the Court
may deem proper to adjudge either As part
punishment for any misconduct, or as an ex
ample to persons engaged in the public service,
[ am prepared submissively to endure. Per-
sonally, no physical punishment which any
treatment can impose would, or could, be as
painful and eycruciating 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. Every
subsequent cndeayor on my part to make up
the deficiency only augmented the magnitude
Of my losses BUT, whilst | ask neither mercy
nor charity on my own account-tor [ have no
such claim to either, as this Court could hard
ly recognize, and am prepared to endorse, as |
have said without complaint, any penalty Which
the law and your sentence may award, still, as
a husband and father, humbly ask, for the
sake of my innocent and distressed wife, and
for my infant children. such mcrclul action On
your part as you may find consistent with your
duty; and find real comfort III the knowledge
that this Court is composed OF officers Of high
grades; honorable and brave men; such Il are
always generous to the vamIulShed, and to
those who are powerleSs AMI unresistIng; gen
tlemen who could not find any pleasure in i'm
posing cruel, unusual or vndlclVc punishment.
ln the confession heretofore made by Inc. and
which | affirm to be true, | have stated truly
and honestly the main facts IN relation TO my
deEalcation now desire to add few remarks,
based on facts by way Of clearer and fuller ex.
PLANTATION of the statements therein contained
I now state as 4 matter of fact, and which Il
thorough examination OF my official reports and
accounts will show to be true, that not one dol
lar Of the lost money was expended ~ my
household, nor was any amount, even To the
value OF one cent, appropriated to my own
benefit or to the Use or benefit Of my family.
My salary and the income from my private
tate were more than sufficient for the wants Of
my family and for my personal wants; some for
the payment of losses in my speculationS. No
credit was ever claimed in any OF my accounts
for money disburSed, which was Dot based on
an actual payment Of the precise amount Tor
which credit is claimed; no complaint was ever
made, nor were there any grounds for complaint.
that persons to whom payments We're made III
any case received less, by II singh. cenI. than
the amounts for which they receipted. No re-
ceipt or other voucher Was ever procured or
presented which was not scrupulous y correct
in every particular. No false or fraudulent
returns were ever rendered by ne or my officer.
DESTROYS TO make all the PREPARATION in my
power, have turned over to the government
all my remaining private estate. tn be- applied
to the reduction of my indebtedness, and my
noble wife, against the advice and "Reminiscences
Of honorable and conscientious persons, it,
sisted on surrendrring her potential rights
therein.
1t will afford no pleasure. am sure. tn any
member OF this Court to learn the fact that
neithermy wife nor have any resources now
remaining, and that We have three destitute
children, wholly unprovidcd for with the pros
pect of an early addition Of another child. My
counsel, who, at the request OF my family, has
conferred with me as to the character Of my
defence, fully concurs with me in the sentiment
that it would be inconsistent with my line Of
defence and unbecOmng 10 present any legal
questions as to the power: Of the Court IN
awarding punishment. feel quite satisfied
that neither the Judge Advocate nor this high
Court would he willing IL transcend the rules
Of law in any respect
Mr.. President and gentlemen crave for
givencsS for trcspassns 50 long on Your
patience will NOT detan yon any longer
My case is respectfully 81 omitted
}. LEDYARD iluniE
TRADE AND TRAvEL.-'The San Francisco
Bulletin finds it absurd to telegraph from Enc
land that passenger who left the Golden Gate
on the "a u!t.: arrived 1t Liverpool on
the 10th ult., and says the time made by the
passenger did mol beat that OF any one who
leaves San Francisco SO II; To connect with
steamer at New York 1t further mentions
that freight now makes nearly rs rapid time,
and instances Il consignment OF raw silk, worth
s6S.0QO in gold, which came from Yokohama,
and was started overland July T.. arrived in
New York July 81, and in Liverpool August
:. making the transit from San Francisco in
only ~ days and from Yokohama in rs days
FIGURES Virginia has five cities contain
Ing over ten thousand inhabitants. thus Rich
mond, 81 %: Norfolk, 1929: Petersburg
1880: Alexandria,, 1910 Portsmouth,
1892 Lynchburg is not mentioned here.
Virginia contains 40, go horses.
The decrease of the colored population Of
Virginia. ;ts shown by the census ofls7O: since
1860. is 1920.
According to returns made to the agricutu
tural bureau in July last. the increase Of the
acreage in corn Tor this year. over that Vi
1870. in Virginia. was ! per ct.-,State .I"r.
COMPENSATED.
Allow me Il little space in the Gazette to say
hos unnecessary it is for Alrxanir!aus to leave
their own town for the purpose Of purchasing
goods elsewhere. AS Il proof that furniture
can be bought here as good AMI much cheaper,
than in the large Northern cities, L lady visit
ing here this summer from Philadelphia has
Just ordered a lot Of furniture from the ware
rno,ns of " RI Mujr T. Son which for beauty