Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-11-04
Gen. w. II. Stokes.

A reporter of the Washington Chronicle
has had an interview with Gen. Stokes on
the subject of the alleged frauds for which
he has been arrested, which we find re-
ported as follows:
The reporter began by asking Mr.. Stokes
if he desired to have his side of the ques-
ton made public, to which he repIled,
do not know. / have had some converse,
ton with my friends on this matter, ana
they tell me | had better not publish any
thing about it. one way or the other. L
can hardly Judge for myself Now II you
were i'm this trouble / could tell in min
ute what was the best thing for you to DO.
But as it is, I am ignorant of what they
intend to prove against me, and conse-
auently don't want to give them any ma
| terial to use against me.
Reporter. You have had copy of the
charges sent to YOU suppose?
| Mr. Stokes Well, no; can't say that
have. But they charge me with ''having
conspired with other parties, and defraud-
| ing the Government of the United States;'
and so help me God / never got cent
| from the Government in my life, except
what earned and had a right to.
Reporter Had you heard of these frauds
before you were arrested?
| Mr.. Stokes. Why bless you, yes. Maj.
CIapp, from Tie WaF Depsti CA1CAef CeihN
down to Nashville, Tennessee, last June,
hunting mn information about these frauds
and he asked me about it. | did not
know much, but / told him all knew
about it. If / had supposed for minute
that this would have been done, do you
think would have given any lnforma-
ton? I'll clear it all up satisfactorily to
the Government and my friends;
Reporter. Have any definite charges OIL
4
knowledge?
Mr.. Stokes. No, indeed; 1 don't know
what they will prove. 1t is just the same
as if you would be arrested tonight, know
ling that you have not committed any
crime. and tomorrow lot of witnesses
appear and prove, or at least swear, tha
YOU have committed burglary.
Reporter You have no knowledge o.
who is at the back of this forcing it OF
you, have you?
Mr.. Stokes. l can't say; there have
been several parties arrested. :,
Reporter. When did this bounty bill
pass Congress?
Mr.. stokes. July Is, 1870. The Presi
dent approved it soon after. / never ha'
any suspicion that there was any FRAUD II
it. t.a a.,
Reporter. When did you ascertain tina
YOU were wanted in this city
Mr.. Stokes. A week ago to-day (Tues
dayl received a dispatch from Douglass
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
as follows: "Can you report here I'm
mediateIv Isit convenient?" L got til
dispatch about P. NJ, and answered
eyes I'll take the first train from mere
/ would have been here sooner if it ha
not been for an accident on the. way II
lOhio. Our train was delayed sewers
hours, it having ran into freight tram:
Reporter. When did you arrive here?
Mr.. Stokes On Thursday, about . p.
AS soon as | got on the platform at the dt
not the Marshal stepped up and intorme
]. me that was under arrest. 1t was the Ilr'
time in my life that ] was ever ARRESTED
Well, I soon got security, and here al
R waiting for a trial. Inever was IN trouU
before i'm my life. ] never was even sue
i in my life / always paid as went alon;
and never "squealedn under any clrcun
(. stances. / was raised up in the moul
tains in Tennessee. and everybody thel
= knows eand knows my character is aboN
approach .h;,,, q
trial will take place? ;.
: Mr.. Stokes. That depends, L am II
formed, upon what time the case goes
the grand jury. They meet November
but it is possible that twill be postpone
till the December term. l am ready II
r trial at any time the sooner the better;
= Reporter. You have no doubts as 10 tl
- results
Il: Mr. Stokes. None in the least. 1t wi
I@ all come out right. HlE II