Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-13
Union AND AMERICAN.
TRIAL OF COL. STOKES.
The Tinker Dave Beatty Bounty
FraUdS


Frauds.
On the It'll inst. the trial Of VIM. B.
Stokes, on a c. arge of having been a con-
spirator to defraud the government out of
certain money claimed by him as represen-
tative Of the independent Scouts of Ten
hessse, was commenced in the Criminal
Court at Washington, before Chief Justice
Cartier. Assistant District Attorney Har-
rington and Mr.. A. B. Williams appeared
for the prosecution, and Messrs. Riddle and
Crittenden for the defense.
Mr.. Harrington said that the facts in the
case against Mr.. Stokes were that during
the late war a 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, re-
ceiving 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 payment contained 102
names. The prosecution also expected to
show that Stokes knew the claims to be
lAWNultlt. 4DlSg lOMGNGly " d. uOJ LLlGlC-
rial to the case.
Mr.. Riddle, for the defence, said that the
only question was whether or not Stokes
acted as agent or assisted in the prosecution
of the Beatty claims. He proposed to
show that the claimants resided in the same
Congressional district as Mr.. Stokes; that
they were his constituents, and would there
fore naturally look to him for aid in the
matter. BE only looked after the interests
of his constituents as it is usual for mem
bers Of Congress 10 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 sum Of money, but not on account Of
compensation for any services he had rem
dered.
Capt. David Beatty sworn: Had been
Captain Of Beatty's Independent Scouts;
his command varied from Is to 102 men;
never made any regular agreement or con-
tract with Col. Stokes for the prosecution
Of the claims of his men; but when the
money was drawn Col. Stokes charged the
sum Of s., 800; this witness refused at first
to pay over, but subsequently did pay Mr..
Stokes $500 on the night of the day the
money was drawn from the Treasury. Wit
ness had told Stokes that be would lose
nothing by assisting in the prosecution Of
these claims, and the money paid Stokes
was for what he had done. Stokes under
stood prior to the passage of the bill that he
was to receive something for his services.
Cross-examined-Came to Washington
in August, 1870, with Stokes, Hatfield, and
Claiborne Beatty. Stokes invited him to
come by way of his house in coming to
Washington, Stokes explaining that his
mission to this city was to arrange about a
bank at Lebanon. The party was here
several days fixing the rolls, etc. Witness
paid Stokes for securing the passage Of the
bill, 100 for himself and 81 400 on &C
count of his sons. Hatfield and Strohmier
furnished part of the money. Had been
informed that he had been indicted in this
court, but the prosecuting officers had not
told him whether or not he would be tried.
Michael D. Murphey eff the Postmaster
Generals office, swOrn-Witness produced
stub books of the office, showing that the
Beattys were paid March 2, 1871, and were
identified by Mr.. Stokes.
Claiborne Beatty sworn: Is a son of
Capt. Beatty. Received s., 900 Tor his mill
tsry services. Paid Stokes some money on
account of services rendered in securing the
passage of the bill by Congress, and in
getting the claim through the department.
Cross examined: During the month of
August previous Stokes said he expected TO
be paid. The money was paid to Stokes
in the presence of witness, his brother Jim,
and his father.
, Major Clapp sworn: Is an officer Of the
10th United States Infantry. Met Stokes
in Nashville last year, and told him he was
investigating the matter of the Beatty
claims. Stokes said he had visited Wash
ington in August, 1870, to look after the
claims. He had got sick while at the work,
but bad no complaint to make, as he had
been paid.
Mr.. Harrington here read certain letters
written by Mr., Stokes, dated in December,
1870, January, February, March and April,
1871, addressed to Hatfield, aud referring to
the difficulties he had encountered in pro-
scouting the claims. On April eth he wrote:
"Do hope Tinker and his boys will not for
get me-" Another letter acknowledges the
receipt Of $500 from the agents and ST.
500 from the officers Of the company. The
lett1r states that these amounts were not
for his services in getting the bill through
Congress, but for coming to Washington in
the recess, and working the claims through
the departments. He refers to the fact that
names had been placed on the rolls that did
not belong there; that some Of the men
whose names were on the rolls as having
served three years had served only three
months, and that their officers had sworntO
the first named term of service.
Charles Ii. Moulton swOrn-Witness is a
clerk in the Second Auditors Office. Stokes
called several times at the office in reference
a. III Il ,-s-
members of Congress to visit the office in
reference to their claims.
= Eli Hatfield GwOrn-The whole claim
with the exception Of that officers portion
amounted 70 about sos, 900; witness was con-
Cared in the claims; recovered about $40, 100
of the money; for their services StrOhmier
got $4,000, Bowman $4,000, Stokes S1O,-
600, and Powell 5000. Stokes put in a
claim for one-third of the profits, $1,000,
which witness refused to give him, where
upon Stokes said that he had a writ, and
witness could not get out of town, and that
he would put him ''where the dogs wouldn't
bark at him"
Cross-Examined-A similar threat was
made by Powell.
G. A. Bowman sworn-YFitnesS testified
that Stokes said he had received $500,
and wanted $500 more, or he would make
trouble. Witness advised that the addition
al amount be paid, StrOhlnier and Powell
being present at the time. Stokes stated
that he had rot agreed to take any money
until after the passage of the bill, and that
the money be then claimed was for work
ing the matter through the Department.
The case for the prosecution here closed.
Mr.. Riddle, for the defence, read deposi-
tions Of Mr.. J. M. Baird, that Stokes left
Tennessee with Hatfield, StrOhmier, and
the Beattys, to arrange the claim, in Aug,
1870; that he returned sick and was con-
fined to his house eight weeks; Of alpractic
ing physician, that he attended STORES from
Aug. 10 to October; of other parties, as to
conversations between Stokes and the
b eattys, in which the former said he could