The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-08-31

Ldlneu Win lDls money.
HAYES POSITIVE HE NEVER APPROPRIATED THE
MONEY TO HIS OWN USE.
Mr.. Harper says an orderly came from |
me after him, and that at my headquar-
ters he gave up the money in the pres |
ence of Col Comfy. We were then in the |
midst OF the busiest year Of the war, and |
just entering upon one of its most excit-
ing ampaigns-Sheridan' Shenandoah
Valley campaign. ! have no reason to
think that Mr.. Harper either kept, used
or in any way misapplied this money,
but have no recollection of ever having
received it, | know / never used or ap-
propriated it to my own use. If it was
handed to me it was Immediately then
and there turned over to the proper Off
Ger to obtain another man in place of the
deserter.
Hayes picks up a bundle of letters
and opens one
Major E. NJ. Carey, formerly of the
23d regiment. now residing at Manches-
ter Ohio, writes to me as follows:
my understanding at the time was
that the money found upon his person
the deserter was left in the hands OF
the judge advocate of the court, and by
him was to be turned over to the quar-
termaster or provost marshal for recruit
ing purposes" i.
However this may be, certain it is l
never kept or misappropriated this
money.
We take the following from the state
ment made by Harper:
After giving the money to Gen. Hayes
/ returned to the headquarters of the
Thirteenth West Virginia regiment and
stated to Col VIM. II. Brown what had
occurred. l think it was not yet dark
when | reached Col. Browns tent, but l
know it was not dark when / left Gen.
Hayes tent. My impression has always
been that the execution took place to-
ward the middle of the day, and that the
money was delivered about the middle
of the day.
Question by Gen. Comly-Are you sure
that | was the person present in the tent
at the time you handed this money to
Gen. Hayes2
Mr.. Harper-I am sure.
BY Gen. Comly-Have you always here
tofore stated that | was the only person
present with Gen. Hayes when the money
was delivered2
Mr. Harper-I have always stated that
you were the only person present that l
noticed.
Remark by Mr. Harper-I have no rea-
son to doubt but that Gen. Hayes made a
proper disposition of that money.
Gen. Comfy is a man OF unblemished
character, and his word would be taken
any place where he is known. Here is
his statement:
have listened carefully to the state
ment of Chaplain Harper. His appear
ance and manner convinced me that he
was telling q story according to his recol
lection. l do not believe he appropriated
that money to his own use. Yet without
intending to express any doubt as to any
thing else than the accuracy OF his recol
lection, am compelled to differ with him
in my recollection as to material points
The man who was shot was a rebel spy
first, and afterward a deserter, an escaped
prisoner, again a spy, a bounty jumper
and a robber of his comrades in the
regiment. The circumstances as to the
trial and conviction, and the character o.
the man, were known substantially to the
whole command. /. Chaplain Harper
statement is, that the man was shot
along toward noon; my recollection il
that it was at sundown or near dark. 2
The Chaplain says he handed the roll o.
bills to Gen. Hayes about noon and in
broad daylight, within ten or fifteen min
utes-not to exceed half an hour-aftel
the execution of the spy; my information
is that it was near dark at the time o.
the execution, that "the guns made 9
flash" and that the burial of the body
Immediately afterward had to be done
with lighted lanterns. DIR. Barrett, who
had charge, so reports to me. 3. The
Chaplain reports that / was present when
he he gave the money to Gen. Hayes
My recollection is as clear as it is of any
event in my life that / never was present
at such a transaction, and that, owing tC
circumstances clearly within my recollec
tion, | could not have been preseut al
the time mentioned. These circum
stances are as follows: ! was Lieutenant
Colonel commanding the regiment at the
time. ! was ordered to conduct the exc
cution. Although felt perfectly clear
that the man ought to be shot, the duty
was so revolving to me that worried my
self sick over it. The surgeon visited me
and so reported; the commanding Gen.
eral substituted Major Carey for me;
heard the shots fired while in bed in my
quarters, and did not leave my quarters
again that night. | did not see the money
or the watches and certainly never knew
1
nation of Gen. Hayes for President. II
seems, now, that there were many other
officers who did know of the money, and
that there was a general feeling that, as
the money had been paid for a soldier,
it ought to bring one to the regiment and
the United States service. That l never
heard anything of this is probably due to
the fact that / was confined to my quar-
ters that day, as stated, and the next day
we moved to open the Shenandoah cam
paign, where the whole matter was soon
forgotten in the more stirring events. /
have no doubt, but for the wonderful CO
iucidences in the case, we should all have
had no further thought OF it whatever.
1t is the most preposterous nonsense to
suppose Gen. Hayes, soldier OF the
strictest honor, with brilliant record to
hand down for the inheritance of chill
dren he loved so tenderly, could have
sullied his honor and tarnished his fame
in a doubtful money transaction, cover
ing the pitiful sum of four hundred dol
lars. Chaplain Harper charges nothing
of the kind, and the men who are charg-
| it upon the assumed authority OF his
statement, insult the intelligence of every
man who has ever known Gen. Hayes. |
did not mean to say one word that could
look like a defense" of Gen. Hayes, but
indignation has got little the better OF
me.
TILDEN AS A PERJURER.