Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-02-16
TENNESSEE.
Fall of the Bald Eagle-Thrce
Eeurtlis Of the Jury want TO
send stokes 10 the Peni-
The other
three hang the Ju-
TRIAL of HON. w. B. Stokes OF
TENNESSEE.
rys

TRIAL of HoN. w. B. Stokes OF
TENNESSEE.
In the Criminal Court yesterday,
Hon. William b. Stokes, eX-member
of Congress from Tennessee, was ar
ranged on the charge of receiving fees
for the prosecution of claims against
the United States while holding a
seat i'm the House of Representatives
Assistant District Attorney Haring-
ton and Mr.. A. B. Williams appeared
for the prosecution. and Messrs. Rid
die 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 Indepen-
dent Scouts was raised in Fentres
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 payment contained 102 names
The prosecution 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
in the prosecution of the Beatty
claims. He proposed to show that
the claimants resided in the same Con-
gressional district as Mr.. Stokes, that
they were his constituents, and would
therefore naturally look to him for aid
in the matter. He only looked after
the interest of his constituents as it
is usual for members of Congress to do.
Mr.. Stokes made a trip back to this
city to look after these claims, and at
the time of their payment, being Sc
riously ill, the claimants presented
him sum of money, but not on &C
count of compensation for any services
he had represented.
Captain David Beatty sworn: Had
been captain of Beattys Independent
Scouts his command varied from 10
to 102 men never made any regular
agreement or contract with Colonel
Stokes for the prosecution of the claims
of his men but when the money was
drawn Colonel Stokes charged the
sum of s., 500; this witness refused at
first to pay over but subsequently did
pay Mr.. Stokes 81, 500 on the night of
the day the money was drawn from
the Treasury; witness had told Stokes
that he would lose nothing by assist
ing in 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 ser
vices.
Claiborne Beatty sworn Is son of
Captain Beatty; received $4,000 for
his military 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,
Eli Hatfield sworn: The whole
claim, with the exception of that Off
GERS portion, amounted to about
sos, 900; witness was concerned in the
claims; recovered about $50, 100 of the
money; for their services Strohmier
got so, 900, Bowman $4,000, Stokes
SO, 900, and Powell $1,000; Stokes put
in a claim for one-third of the profits
-S17, 600, 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
dispositions of Mr.. j. NJ. Baird that
Stokes left Tennessee with Hatfield,
Strohmier, and the Beatys, to arrange
the claim, in August, 1870; that he re-
turned sick and was confined to his
house eight weeks; of a practicing
physician, that he attended Stokes from
August % to October; of other parties,
as to conversations between Stokes and
the Beattys, in which the former said
he could not charge for his services,
as he was a member of Congress.
Judge Houck sworn. Witness tes-
titled to the good character of Colonel
Stokes as a gentlemen of undoubted
integrity. COS
Judge Crawford sworn. Testimony
substantially the same as that of the
preceding witness.
Hon. Emerson Etheridge sworn.
Was well acquainted with Mr.. Stokes.
His personal character was excellent.s
Mr.. Williams then made the open
ing argument for the prosecution, oc-
cupying about half an hour. Upon
the conclusion of his remarks, the
court, at 2:-30 p. NJ, adjourned to-day,
when Mr.. Riddle will address the jury
of the Defense Washington CHroni-
Gle February Sth.