The New York herald., 1876-03-07
INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN ROBINSON.

INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN ROBINSON.
EXPLANATION 6F THE CHARGE MADE AGAINST
HIM-A PACKED COURT MARTIAL.
BALTIMORE, March @, 1876.
The residence Of ex-Captain George Robinson, who
resides at No 16 South Chester street. in this city,
was besicged yesterday with ntcrvewers representing
tho city press and parties protesting to represent
New York and other papers from early IN the morning
until after the family had retired at night Captain
Robinson present employ Is that OF draughtsnan
In the Columbia Iron Works He was at Fort Sill from
1868 to 1874
The Sun this morning publishes tho following MS the
result of the interview OF its representative yestcr
Captain Robinson claims TO have prepared these
charges against Belknap the different letters
President Grant direct through the military channels
between 1859 and 1872, long before any charges were
made against him (Robinsonl.
Captain Robinson has 10 his possession q number OF
bills Of items covering this period IN account with J.
C. Dent Co. and their successors, j. s. Evans Co.,
military and Indian traders at Fort Sill
FRONTIER.
An idea of the prices may be formed by citing few
items, as follCws:
Two bushels or potatoes, $40.
Five gallons OF coal oil, $40.
Two pounds OF cheese, so cents.
Six boxes OF matches 10 cents
bottle OF soothing syrup, 81 90
FEirons, IS cents per pound
A tinpan, 81 So
A half bushel OF potatoes, So 25
A paper OF needles, 25 cents
Two pounds OF crackers 81 20
DRAWING LONGEVITY PAY.7
In regard to the charges made against him, Captain
Robinson says tho principal charge for drawing
what is longevity pay" being ten per cent
OF the officers salary after service OF nve years and
twenty per cent for ten years service. Captain Robin
son states that he joined the Fifty sixth regiment
Pennsylvania volunteers, at Harrisburg September o.
1861 which can DO proved he says, by his commission
attorney, General Henke, at Washington and
also by certificate from General Hoffman,
OF Philadelphia, Of that regiment The ofcia
army register credits him with service only from Fcb-
ruary d. 1862 He claimed and drew 'Ioucovity pay'
from tho first date was notified of It's stoppaee by
the Pa, master General September l5, 1874 and nme-
diacly returned the disputed surplus, f553 Assis
tau, Pay Brown at New York. for which hc holds
the receipt
The other charges against hun, he says, we're pur-
chasing goods from post traders and not paying
them. and also not paying Doctors bill aud conduct
uubccOmlng officer and gentleman. He claims
have paid BOTH He was placed under september
IL ls1l and without being furnished a copy OF the
charges tried the 81 Louis barracks October "
following without counsel Mr. Eaton, Of ST.
LOUIS lawyer would have represented
him but he was called to Washington on
very important business and called on Secretary Bel
knap to request the case until hs re-
turn. The Secretary refused. aud is represented
having added, f that court don't convict him by God
III hud one that will" Captain Robinson says that the
court not composed OF his peers, required by
law but with one exception under rated him. They
were:--surseon b A. Clements, President; Captain
Joseph T. HASKELL Twenty third Infantry; Captain
George X Brady Twenty infantry; Captain owen
Hale Seventh cavalry Licutenants George MacM Tay-
L. II.
Twenty third infantry There several officers
ranked him In ST Louis he says at the time, and
competent court could have been summoned. Sen
tence before given, was rendered April Is, 1873
GENERAL HOLr's EXCEPTIONS.
The proceedings and findings approved by
Judge Advocate General Holt with exceptions fol-
lows;-
sThc Court erred In refusing grant time to the
cused TO confer with his counsel for the purpose OF
preparing sinterogatores TO be propounded 10 the
witnesses whose dispositions TO be taken by the
prosecution. The most ample opportunity should al
aalInr ~ fri Tor
Inasmuch however, ns there Is found IN the
the defence prejudiced by this denial, u not
or the correctness OF the findings. The orig
tnal pay rolls of the accused in posses.
sion OF the government instead OF certincd
copies Of them should have been introduced in cvi-
dencc with proof OF his handwriting the oppor-
tunsty afforded him OF dsputng their genuneness
Notwithstanding the rregularty this respect the
facts sought To- be proved by tho production OF tho
copies are regarded fully established by sufficient
evidence No legal proof OF the the accused
as alleged, Is found the record The certified
copies OF letters addressed to him, unaccom panied
bv any evidence 10 show that he received the org
inals or even that they duly mailed to his
proper address, are wholly insufficient 10 establish
these allegations, the bindings as 10 which are there
fore disapproved"
Robinson was not released until May 3, 1s7a Ho
has since entered suit the Court OF Claims for the
'longevny pay he refunded, and has taken steps TO
bo reinstAted