The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-29
ao2ERnok HAYrss ExPIs.xalss.
GENERAL oBJEcTIoNs 40 INTEANIEWs-s
AN OLD MAR GAsE-WIEAT HkfEs DID
wrrH-asD fsERTEaas MONEY HE DoEsNT
REMEMBER HAVING 1T: -

f..f r. - 3 ". so I { III
In explanation OF the charge that he had
failed to properly account Tor S4Oe placed
in the hands OF Rev. Mr. Harper by de
serter condemned to be shot, and taken
from Mr.. Harper by Mr.. Hayes's order, the
Governor said to o correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Times:
GOVERNOR HAYEs's STATEMENT.
I should probably object to being inter
viewed on public affairs generally, but this
charge, aimed at my character Tor integrity,
and my honor rs soldier, 1s OF sucn
nature that am willing to reply TO IL pup
licly. The charge is that appropriated 10
my own use about $500 In money, taken
from man who was shot as deseftef OF
spy at Monocacy Junction, Maryland,' Id
General Sheridan's army .of the Shenan-
doah. In August, 1854 do not understand
Mr.. Harper to have charged me with any
misrepresentation OF money, but 1t has been
inferred from his statement, 2 by certain
newspapers, which have misfepresented
him. Z - -, f'..@'' =. s.
The case was remarkable one on ac-'
count of the condolences which led this
deserter to his fate. In the fall of 1863 he
came In rebel uniform into the Union lines
in the Kanawha Valley, claiming to be
Union man who had been forced into the
rebel army. Subsequently he enlisted in
Company D, Twenty-third Ohio. Soon at
ter he became sick, and was in the hos
pital a month or two. Soon after he got
well he deserted, taking with him arms and
equipments, with watches and pistols, which
he stole from his comrades.
Afterward, May 8, 1864, at the battle OF
Cloyd mountain, he was taken prisoner with
arms in his hands, fighting in the rebel
ranks. Anew days after he was recognized
by men OF the Twenty-third regiment who
were detailed to guard the prisoners taken
at Cloyd mountain. Finding he was dlsco-
yered, he managed to escape in the night.
About the 4th Of August, 1864, large num-
Der OF recruits were brought to the Twenty
third regiment from Ohio, while the Seven
teentl regiment was camped at Monocacy
junction. Among them this rebel deserter
and bounty-iumper was discovered and the
facts were reported to Generel Crooks
headquarters. His Adjutant-Genera Cap
tain Botsford, ordered court-martlal to
meet Immediately. The members OF the
court were probably all from my brigade,
but I was not on the court, and had moth
ine to do with it, as / now remember. The
man was tried, found guilty, and sentenced
to be shot. He confessed that after his
escape in May, 1864, he went down the ha-
nawha TO Ohio, and became q bounty
Jumper; that he had received bountles
number of times from localities and indi-
yiduals- and had afterwards deserted. He
was prevented from doing it on this occa-
sion by recent order, which required that
recruits should be receipted for at their re-
giments before they We're paid their boun-
tiles. He had about 800 in money received
for bounties which he Ind jumped, and
also two watches. He had no family or
near relatives, unless his mother was living,
whom he had not seen: for some years, and
whose residence he could not tell.
After the trial, members OF the court
martial. on talking it over, concluded that
as the money OF the deserter had been re-
ceiyed from localities or individuals to fur
nish soldier to the Twenty-third regiment,
that 1T ought to be used to get another re-
cruit for the same regiment, and that it
should be delivered to the proper officer for
that purpose. In all this [ concurred, and
I have always supposed that this was ac-
cordingly done with the money. have
often told the story of this deserter, 1t
being interesting OIL account OF its colncl-
dences, and have always spoken Of the
money found on his person rs being used to
get recruit for the Twenty-third regiment
in his place. The regiment received many
recruits after that time, and have always
believed one of them was obtained with
this money. Mr.. Harper says an orderly
came from me after him, and that at my
headquarters he gave up the money in the
presence OF Colonel Comfy. Wewere then
in the midst Of the busiest year OF the war,
and Just entering upSiffAone OF its most ex-
citing campaigns-Sheridan' Shenandoah
Valley campaign. have no reason to think
Mr.. Harper either kept, used, or in any way
misappTopriated this money, but have no
recollection OF ever having received it,
know never used it, or appropriated it to
my own use. il it was handed to me
it was immediately-then and there-turned
over to the proper officer to obtain another
man in place of the deserter. Maj f. NJ.
Carey, formerly OF the Twenty-third regi-
ment, now residing at Manchester, Ohio,
writes to me rs follows: "My understand
ing at the time was that the money found
upon his person (the deserter) was left in
the hands OF the iudge-advocate of the
court, and by him was to be turned over to
the quartermaster or provost marshal for
recruiting purposes" However this may
be, certain it is I never kept OF misappro-
priated this money. "
A WIFE-PoISoNER-HE. USCoNscI0UsLY.
SWALLOWS THE Fatal DRAUGnT.-Dr. Hoop
er, dentist, living in the northern part OF
I Al. RI 10 hI,pol-Toct