Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-09
The Bry ant Craig Conspiracy Charge

rise to the slightest suspicion that such was
his intention.
The Bry ant Craig Conspiracy Charge
THE DOCUMENTS IN THE CASE
The case OF George w. Bryant and William
Craig, charged with conspiracy to defraud
the United states of S26, 600, came up In the
Police Court, Judge Smell, yesterday at ~
O'Clock. Mr. w. A. Cook appeared for Bryant,
MIR, >. Shellabarger for Colonel Craig, and
Mr.. a. A. Birney for the government. Nearly
two hours were consumed by the government
in reading the report or Judge Advocate
General Mckee Dunn, made to the DEPART
ment upon this case, and the afiidavits of de-
PENDANTS upon which the claim was founded.
Many technical points were raised by the
counsel for both defendants, and consider
able time consumed in argument.
Mr.. TheOphilus French, chief of the divi-
sion of accounts in the Treasury department
testified as TO the character of the papers and
their bearing upon the claim.
The rest of the day was consumed in read
ing documentary evidence, and at $50 o'clock
further hearing was postponed until to-day
at i O'Clock.
at noon the examination of the case was re-
sumed. The original claim filed July 18th
1872, was presented ard read. 1t was accom-
panied by an affidavit that Craig, contracted
with Andrew Stewart, a government CON
tractor, to transport certain stores from Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, to Fort Union, Texas
and train OF 10 wagons were sent To Leav-
enworth loaded and dispatched, and that 90
mules OF the train were captured by the In
dams.
The defence claimed that the accomnanv-
ing affidavits should be read, and that the
government should put them in as they were
part and parcel of the claim.
The court ruled that at this stage he wo lid
admit O1ly so much as had been read.
The government offered In evideace To e
articles OF cOpaTt1ership between Bryant
and Craig, dated Leavenworth, December 8
1888, as also the contract OF Andrew Stewart
with the United States, dated in 1864, for e. e
transpo ttt1on OF military stores from For
kney and Leevenworth, in Kansas, TO
Fort Union, Texas; and power of attorney
from Bry ant TO A. q. Nugent, dated Septem-
Der 8, 1873, TO prosecute the claim. This
closed the documentary evidence to the ad-
mission OF which the defence excepted.
MAJOR HENRY c. HODGES
was sworn and testified that in 1864 he was
depot quarteTmaster at Leaven worth; met
Bryant in 1861 at that point, but did not
Know any one as TO the transportation of
stores excepting the contractor (Mr. Stew
art. RecOllects that about July 5, 1864, q
train was loaded there for New Mexico
there were some niue teams and some or
teams In the train; no application was made
at that time, for an escort, but an applica-
ton was made later In the season by con-
tractor Stewart (about August 25th). The
commandment OF the post may nave been APP
piled TO.
Cross examined.-Witness had not kept
anything back from the government in re-
gard to this claim; never heard anything
against Mr.. Bryant.
WAS TO GET $500 FOR SIGNING AN AFFI-
II.
John Wuians testified that he was assist
ant adjutant general at Fort Leavenworth
In 1864, and was mustered out of service in
1SG6; thinks he was in ST. Louis in 1873; wit
ness was called on there by Mr.. Rogers,
who represented that he was of the firm o.
Nugent & Rogers, attorneys at law al Kan
sas City. Witness was then in needy cir
cumstances, and after conversation with
Rogers, the latter wrote au afilavit, which
witness signed. Witness did not furnish the
information on which the aft iaYit was
frQ Witness pash IN Si,y
ing the affidavit, and was 10 receive $500
when the claim was allowed. Witness dill
not see Rogers until about a year ago, in the
Indian Territory, when X. came there, and
produced paper which witness signed, aid
received therefor SO. which Il. said would
pay him for the trouble OF coming into town.
He had written agreement from Rogers as
to the 500 in a safe in st. Louis.
The defence asked that the paper be pro-
dutet, and the court said the evidence in re-
gard 10 the $3.50 would be ruled out unless
the pr per was produced.
Colonel Craig was present when the last
deposition was made by him; IL was in st.
Louis. Craig asked witness to make the
affidavit, ard he did so; there was no one
else present; Craig paid nj IN nothing a. that
time, but said he CO. would start for Wash
ington, and he (witness) would hear from
him, and he would send money to him 10 pay
his botel Dill. G.. telegraphed for him and
he came on and met him at the Ebbitt House.
With eSs received $3.50 from Craig at Dallas,
Texas; $50 at Dennson, S54 in Washington
and $50 at sundry time, SlG0 here in Deem
her, when the claim was paid, To enable him
to go home. Since January last Craig mad
given him several amounts, making in all
500. Witness admitted that he was not
cognizant OF the facts stated in the affitavits
that they were
Witness was told by Rogers before he made
the first affidavit that there were other affi
davits filed, but they wished his 10 make the
case stronger. Craig said before the last af-
fdavit was made that there was some dis
crepancy In a former affidavit which made
IL necessary TO make new one. Bryant
came To see him on Sunday, and said that he
gave Rogers 500 10 pay him at st. Louis,
and again on Monday or Tuesday last in
Ell that he was an attorney for Bryant. Hal
conversation with Mitchell, but not di-
rectly about the claim, which was ruled out.
Mr.; Mitchell said he had no objection to the
testimony being given.l Saw Bryant, but,
dii not col verse with him about the case
Saw Craig on Sunia last, aud witness
asked him IL he wished him TO 60 away, and
c. said, mo. il would look like he was GOT
away WITH" Craig admitted that he had told
George BabcOck OF st. Louis, that he would
pay him $1,000 when the claim was al
vanced. They had some further converse
tion about this money lthe $4,000, and he
said that he intended to pay IL. Witness
sent for him and reproached him for the
ceived twenty cents from Craig on Sunday
borrowed money. (Laughter.) Witness re-
ceived a 50 900 note, on which to raise some
money, as he was then in want. Witness
drew the note, dated 1t back to the time he
was In st. Louis, and he understood that
Craig went to j. j. McCarty, saying that he
(W.) had his note and Intended to put IL on
the market TO get back home. They went to
Nice. several times and finally McC. gave
HIM q check for $500 and agreed to pay MIN
$500 when the claim was paid. Witness
handed the money $4,000 to Craig, aud c.
services in resurrecting the claim, and said
| that Mccarthy had advanced the money.