Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-02-10
THE BOUNTY FRAUDS.
Trial of Hon. w. ID. Stokes of Tenn

4
In the Criminal Court yesterday, Hon.
| William B. Stokes, ex-member of Con-
gress from Tennessee, was arranged OH the
charge of receiving fees for the prosecu-
ton OF claims against the United States
while holding seat in the House of Rep
reSentatives. Assistant District Attorney
Harrington and Mr.. A. 3. Williams ap-
peared for the prosecution, and Messrs.
Riddle and Crittenden for the defense.
Mr.. Harrington said that the facts in
the case against Mr.. Stokes We're that dur
ing the late war military company
known as Beatty's Independent Scouts
was raised in Fentress county, Tenn, and
after the war had closed Stokes had secured
the passage of bill by Congress to pay
the men, receiving for his services the sum
of $4,000. Mr.. Harrington said that the
prosecution expected to show that the
company had never exceeded fifty men,
although the rolls as presented for pay
ment contained 102 names. The prosecu-
ton also expected to show that Stokes
knew the claims to be fraudulent. This,
however, was not material to the case.
Mr.. Riddle, for the defense, said that
the only question was whether or not
Stokes acted as agent or assisted i'll the
prosecution of the Beatty claims. He pro-
posed to show that the claimants resided
in the same Congressional district as Mr..
Stokes, that they were his constituents,
and would therefore naturally look to him
for aid in the matter. He only looked af-
ter the interests of his constituents as it is
usual for members of Congress to do Mr..
Stokes made trip back to this city TO look
after these claims, and at the time of their
payment, being seriously ill, the claimants
presented him a sum of money, but not on
account of compensation for any services
he had represented.
Captain David Beatty sworn Had been
captain of Beatty's Independent Scouts;
his command varied from 10 to 102 men
never made any regular agreement Or con-
tract with Colonel Stokes for the prosecu-
tion of the claims of his men but when
the money was drawn Colonel Stokes
charged the sum of 3, 500; this witness re-
fused at first to pay over, but subsequently
did pay Mr.. Stokes s., 500 on the night of
the day the money was drawn from the
Treasury witness had told Stokes that he
would lose nothing by assisting i'll the
prosecution of these claims, and the money
paid Stokes was for what he had done
Stokes understood prior to the passage of
the bill that he was to receive something
for his services.
Claiborne Beatty sworn Is son of Cap
tain Beatty received $4,000 for his mill
tary services; paid Stokes some money OH
account of services rendered i'll securing
the passage of the bill by Congress, and in
getting the claim through the department.
Eli Hatfield sworn: The whole claim,
with the exception of that officers portion,
amounted to about sos, 900; witness was
concerned in the claims; recovered about
so, l00 of the money; for their services
Strohmier got $4,000, Bowman Sic 900,
Stokes $4,000, and Powell 5000; Stokes
put in Il claim for one-third of the profits
-S17 900, which witness refused to give
him, whereupon Stokes said that he had
writ, and witness could not get out of town,
and that he would put him "where the
dogs wouldn't bark at him."
Mr.. Riddle, for the defense, read dep0si-
tons of Mr.. J. NJ. Baird that Stokes left
Tennessee with Hatfield, Strohmier, and
the Beattys, to arrange the claim, i'll Au-
gust, 1870; that he returned sick and was
confined to his house eight weeks of
practicing physician, that he attended
Stokes from August % to October; of 9TH
er parties, as to conversations between
Stokes and the Beattys, in which the
former said he could not charge for his
services, as he was member of Congress.
Judge Houck sworn. Witness testified
to the good character of Colonel Stokes us
a gentleman of undOubted integrity.
Judge Crawford sworn. Testimony sub
stantially the same as that Of the preced-
ing witness.
Hon. Emerson Etheridge sworn Was
well acquainted with Mr.. Stokes. His per-
sonal character was excellent.
Mr.. Williams then made the opening
argument for the prosecution, occupying
about half an hour. Upon the conclusion
of his remarks, the court at 2:30 p. NJ, ad-
journed to to-day, when Mr.. Riddle will
address the Jury for the Defense Wash
iRgtOn Chronicle, February 6th.