The New York herald., 1871-09-27
THE HODGE DEFALCATION
A Plea Of Guilty ERtered-Siaiemcni Of The
Prisoner Affecting Scene.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 20. I,

The court martial recently ordered for the trial OF
J. Ledyard Hodge, tne defaulnng Paymaster, con-
vened to-day at Fort McIlenry near Baltimore, az
one p NJ, with all the officers detailed for its COM
position present. Major General Meade called the
Court to order and Mr. william schley was at once
admitted and allowed 10 appear as counsel FOR Major
Hodge.
few moments after one O'Clock the prisoner
was brought In and arraigned. He ut once pleaded
guilty. Mr.. schley then said that the plea oflered
10y the prisoner must be received with some gualid-
cations. Wherenpon Generai Meade remarked that
any statement TINT the counsel desired TO maze
would he received. M Schiey then submitted the
following statement
HODGES CoNPEssIOv
MIR. PRESIDENT AND GENfLENEN or THE COURT
AS had nothing 10 Ofrer in defence which would be
available In law as JUSTIFICATION or excuse, l
pleaded guilty to the charges pre:erred AGAINST me
1 snail rely the real facts in the
case in mitigation OF your sentence. This
was partly done IN my confession which accom-
panies this paper as part or my dcfence What
ever punishment the Court may deem IL proper to
adJudge, either as part puuishn nj for any niscor-
paoiiS service aIa prepared suh'nissIyeS
or could be as painful ana excruclatlag the men
ta agony which nave suffered ever SINCE found
up the deficiency IN my Official account Every
subsequent endcavor on my part TO make
nitude Of my losses; but, while ask
neither mercy nor charity on my own
iU rec Ga cn a s1 a 10
endure as have sad without complaint any pen
ally which the law ana your sentence may award
stll, as husband and father, humDy ask, for the
sake OF my innocent and distressed wife and for my
infant n,s, children such %ercilul action ,;n on
the knoweaee sAu that this his Court @ IS Composed
such as are always generous TO the vanquisled aud
TO those who are poWerless and unressting; gentle
cruel unusual or or vindlclive punishment. ia the
confession heretofore made by me ana which
an% affirm 0oaesy to be De true as, nase in satIa u
very few remarks based on facts by way OF
clearer and fuller explanation OF the statements
therein contained. | now state as matter
o. :act. and which a thorough examination
to be true, that not one dollar OF the
lost money was expended in my household
appropriated 70 my own benent or 70 the use Or ben
eit OF my family. My salary and the income from
my private estate were more than sufficient for ne
I losses in my specaations No erea,t s.ovn,s WAS
for money dlsbursed which was not based
on an actual paynent 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 were MADE III any
for which they receipted. No receipt other
voucher was ever procured presented which
No Ialse or iraudulent returns were ever rendered
by me or my officer DESTROYS 10 make all the
reparation in my power, ! have turned over
estate. to be applied m reduction OF my
Indebtedness and my noble wife; against the
advice ana remonstraiOl5 OF honorable ana cOnscl-
entious persons, insisted on surrendering poen-
tal rights therein. It viii alrord no pleasure am
that nelther my wife nor | have any Resources now
remaining, aud that we nave three destitute
child. My counsel, who, az the request OF
my family mas conferred win me as TO me @ enaractef
ment tnat 1t would be inconsistent with my line of
defence ana unDecomlng to present amy tsal ques-
tons as TO the powers of the Court IN awarding
punishment. feel quite satisfied that neither the
Judge Advocate nor this high Court would be viii
ling to transcend the rules OF law Ia any respect.
Mr.. President and gentlemen, I crave forgive.
ness for trespassing so long on your patience.
fully submitted ]. LEDiARD HODGE.
The statement was received by the Court, the
Judge Advocate remarking that the statements
made were true, ANA there were no Witnesses
sworn although Paymas,er General Brlce and seve.
raj OF the clerks oil his ONCE were present ready 10
appeal
Major Hodge was attended In Court by Mr. Schley
aud Henry Parke Custls Wilson, his fa,her-in-!aw.
During the reading Of his dc ence, or explanation,
" Mr. Schlcy, Major Hodge was much affected, as
was nearly every one present. He at times bowed
his head upon his hands and wept bitterly. MIR.
Schey describes the scene tnat took place about
eleven o'clock A. NJ, when he had his last interview
with Major Hodge before trial. as exceedingly Affect
ing. He spoke OF his wife and children IN the most
affcctOnate manner possible. overwhelmed with
grief ard Contrition at his crimes, he cried out, "
am q fool or madmln What have done to my
dear family AS for me, have nothing TO ask.
nothing TO expect. MY means anu social position
among men are gone, ana | have naught TO ask or
desire, save for my wife and children. have given
up all my means, even my dear wife has given her
and my family are, by my acts, left penniless. My
crime has been that gave way TO bad counsel ana
entered INTO gold specuatons--nrst, WI q my own
means, until they were gone, and then with govern
ment funds, hoping 10 regain what had lost. Let
them do with me whatever they desre."
Major Hodge was, when brough5 into Court,
neatly dressed In plain suit OF dark clothes. His
face bore the unuIsiakable marks OF deep mental
aglfat on and silent grief. He looked quite pale,
aud seemed somewhat agitated when coming into
the presence OF his old army associates a. fe0n,
but when arraignel he stood up anG heard the
fearful charges against him read, seemingly with
out much agitation
After the statement Of Mr.. Schley was read the
prisoner and his attendants Withdrew, and the
Court remained In session to make up its fn.ing IN
the case and impose It's sentence. IL - understood
that 1t Is the disposition OF the Court Ia view OF all
the iacts TO make the sentence as light as possible.
The Court adjourned after an nour's deliberati0n
during which time Hodge was undoubtedly sem
fenced. The exact amount OF his dealcatiOn II
S445.40 90, winch was taken in sums OF $500 to
$4,000.
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