New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-29
THE HODGSON CASE.

command of a detachment accompanying Deputy
Marshal Seelye near Vienna in Lincoln Parish, when
the Saerlf served upon 5eeye writ OF haoeas corpus
By Judge Trmble of the State Court TOR the pro-
duotlOn OF certain prisoners The writ was dsregarded
and HodgsOn aud Seeye were both arrested for eou-
tempt OF HOdgsOl fned 500 and costs, and
sentenced to 10 days imprisonment but the next morn
ing the Judge RENTED the and the costs were
also RENTED by Meanwhile HOigson had been
indicted by the Grand Jury for lawlessy cutting the
telegraph wires. To this be pleaded guilty ana was
dismissed with d fine Of ST. the proceedings on both
sides having been marked by great courtesy This dis
position OF tue case was very dstsstefu MAJOR Mer
ri.l, who sent Capt Head 10 Vienna, requested Con
Mercy TO engage counsel aud insisted that
the cases should be transferred the United States
Court The following telegram. Will snow the temper
IN winch the excited Msior CONDUCTED the business:
MAJOR Merrill to Assistant Adi u.aRf GeHera.
SHREVEPORT, La, Nov T. 1874.
Following Just received:
"Ofense charged. contempt OF court. Has been tried
and sentenced % mprisOnnEut III county ltl for ten
DAYS aud payment OF fine OF 500 and cost, Have seen
affidavit anu al papers bearing on the case u me
"B. Il. HoDGsoS Second Lieutenant 75l C4valiy"
probable his cOunse could nave reached hm from Non
Il has the appearance OF having been thus sum
conducted through WtuIf before he could
have ega, advice. aud % BE- vIulctyc 30 the last
rrre | have iDsfrac,ed him ID die Li. petition for
transfer OF the MS attorney reaches
reached writ Of haoea CORPUS be i,suea aud sent 10
Vienna without delay l do not t1Iuk local authority
Vii dsObey n, Dut fear atteltOn Will De paid 70
ns petition. Tie faE indicates vaa.cuve
determination to punish whether The aud the facts
warrant It or not / further reports III axe d necessary
purssd in getting out writ OF laosas coru. inter
that for tue present there need be no Apprehension Of
''O''1'' '-' cspi Head t. Major Merrill
ViENSA La. Nov. ls74
Just ~ Prisoners tried b4f1l- nv ARRIVAL Ten lays
imprisonment. hundred doli4r- nae aud co Is No vo-
by every one. Everything quiet and peaceaDle; nave
CepL Head 70 Mayor Merrill
VIENNA, La, NV. :. 1874
TeIegraphic message OF plrIOn RON Gov Kellogg
inst received. Sheriff says he viii release HOdgsJn.
No fresh writs against bin. PROBABLY none Will be
general desire % let HO1gson on
Major Merrill 10 ASSissI'a AdjutantGenerai
Following telegram Just received from M0arOe A.
ton o. Capt Head al Vienna nds been uuJ serike and
d,sgraceflL request be be relieved at bv eie-
graph. wlll prefer charges (sgDed) Frank M0Iey."
A. usual not single Statement Of iacts that should be
capt. Head to Major Merrill
VIENNA, La. Nov. O. 1874
Judge Triuble has just reversed sentence and DIS
charged HodgsOn 10 fresh wris against him aud viii
AaiOr Merrill 10 CapL Head.
without delay. give me distinct and categorical au-
Was petition for transfer OF Hodgsons ITO [.
IN 5eeiyes case Inform me when Gen Morrow ar
i'''' Capt Head 10 MqJot Merrill
vienna. Nov. 10. 1874
No No ease on docket against Hodgson 10 tE@usier;
~ Major Merrill u capt Head
sHREYRPORI. La. Nov 10. 1874
lit be possible 10 induce your part HOdgsOn's.
or attorneys obedience or attention whatever
70 Instructions do as iol'e"s: Keqaes' petition Tor
led as IN former case directed 10 be done Let the
warrant be served and OOeyed and immediately hle
petition with clerk or court. The acts OF Congress
under which this Is done are those noed ia previous IN
structons These acts are sHenGeq 10 cover PIeseIt
election OF previous session The attorney you now
have rs evidently al obstinate !gnOramns II better
aa yer n MI
derstand.
Major Merrill to Hardy tHodqson's ag9,ne0.
SHREVEPORT. La. Nov. 10 1874.
II your obstinacy will permit Won 10 obey plain IN
strueIons there will he no fight" 10 make You Ut
ery failed before 70 do as you were told Ths tune
plictly Obeyed Tue course to be taken II 20 paln
simple that a student would understand L. Want
an explicit answer whether you Will do a. you are tod
tBls Time.
Meanwhile Lisut-Co. Morrow "a good LAWYER was
sent 70 Vienna take charge OF the business ana he
succeeded IN calming Major Merrill by assuring him that
the lawyer ali right" aud that there being no ease
against HodgsOn the docket, there was nothing to
transfer while Gen Emory told him not 10 bother him
.sf about sselye that officers proceedings not being
under military supervision. The correspondence closes
with the following dispatch from Attorney Hardy 10
AZ ior Merrill Of which the Major says he took no
nouce" ,,.,,. ?. >,o- % ,s,,
Gen Morrow approves OF the manner III wncn con-
Quoted Hodgson's case. Further communication VIII
Won on tins subject respectfully declined Charges
viii Ue preferred against you Tor conduct nneeeomlug
an otiicsr and gentleman. Tuere Is wide difference
,Ft aeen a gentleman and DackRuardi You fnrnsh an
ilnstraIlOn hold myself personally responsible for
NY words 10 you
In transmitting this correspondence, Major Merrill Is
eyers In his structures upon nearly al parties con-
,ernod
Dnepded are comics OF the graphic and other CORE
n0ndeDce Concerning this matter These are very NO-
n0us and some OF them. notably Of Mr. Hardy the
.tIUruey very trnng; but IN examining them VIII De
,n.eryed that tine dnioues under which IlaD0red IN
,etnR ANYTHING dOHe we're great On the END prov
NJ 10 be insurmOuntablel and that the repettioh ano
grafton OF orders and Instructions were caused by Inc
rlstent ana unaccOuntaDls failure Of all tue parties
,ut eheny the attorney, give Any attention or ODcd
nc The fAA result " the matter n mnch
!, he regretted Whatever may have been the wrong
oinKs shortcomings OF Lieut. hodghou, nc u1,1