The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-18

Mai Or Ben. i RuSKLE WIS the disbursing
officer for the State of kentucky of the
Frccdmcn's Bureau, and like nearly all who
had any connection with that unclcan thing.
which Gen. Howard and his Ring prost-
tutcd to vcnal and partisan uses. came to
grief rs dciaultcr. lie was dismissed
from the army by general court martial
held at Louisville in 1872, upon II charge Of
cmbczzling Sj,2J2.32 OF the funds IN his Gus
tody.
Recently he has been restored 10 the
army, with back pay dating from the time
of dismissal, upon the technical plea that
the finding Of the court martial had boon
approved by the Secretary 81 War. and not
by the President. rs is strictly required by
an old statute. This is the first time that
plea was ever set up, and it served to reopen
the ease aud To allow reversal of the judy
mcnt pronounced by a court of this officers
peers live years ago, upon &c pdpte tcsti-
mony.
without discussing the merits of the ease,
it is only proper that thu public should See
the record as it is presented by Gen. VIM
CENT, Assistant Adiutant-Gcncral. 10 whose
care the Freedmcns Bureau was transferred
Christian soldiers and statesmen were found
appropriating the bountics, claims. and
prizes OF negro soldiers and sailors to their
own Use. We cite from page . Of the report
for $50
"e@ rum, r~,. dorr ,,or n, ri,isd SUIT. rcaD,g IN
e't'," d'A'""" or '"'-'ss"'"t Of " dn'"n'y f1o Or
In the course Of business during the past
year i wns discovered that when MAJOR Ben. y.
RUNKLE WIS relieved from duty Hs discussing
onir"r of the late bureau NJ Covngton, Ny, he
iallrd to transfer to HIS successor. Mr. II, II.
RAY. all thc funds for which he was accountable
dcil,it wa. dGly reported is Mr. Ray 10 lie chief
dshur-ing niiiccr, and was immediately COW
cred hy thr luttrr by his official check for the
amount drawn ON the United States depository
at Louisville. ki.. To- tue order OF Mr.. RAY, and
lnrwnri'd t. him on the Sumo date AS that ON
which h- o. port - the dciirit WAS received hV
the chief d.sburSins officer. Tn ; transaction
formed the Subject of correspondence 10y the
Secretary of War with the secretary oi tine
Treasury, aud. Through tne latter win TN" no.
'2,'nung phi "ls and tne late chioi dIsburs .ng
I'm hisrN planstlon Of this transa,tian tn late
chiei dlshurSing OH Ger states that the amount
Ni-' s ALLEGED 10y mn mr. tY.re drawn 10y
quontly reimbursed to the Government from
Sept -. 1875. 10y letter the Secretary Of War
returned the subject To the secretary ut the
Treasury and notified him that the cNplana-
tons were not satisfactory, concluding rs iUl-
lows.
"I cannot escape the helc that the involved
ht> = ErNklr formed arr h the money above incn
NIcihcr uun,Ar o.-i,,ulr To the Goycrnmcutdc
,ouuis rYo,, 7i uA, sla240 lii tie ihoI,N r,Alind
ni wh,n ui,, slnil nave been Scorod To- thc un,,,I
, BaGrocn' rn-d t,t amount Hon Tri'nt' sources
and made A. soI to the ll'hsgiN per" b. admitted ior
uhl' N use Tor rrNa" purposes
rot o. the Secretary Of tho Treasury in
/ formed the Secretary ol War that the Second
/ lnmutruilrr had been reIu srd 10 make "A
thorough examination OF ihr whole matter in
qu, atlon, and tnat ho tax" such further steps MS
/ may DE deemed necessary to secure TO tllr Gov
/ rrnNrni amy interest II may have therein, and
| al the same time 10 cause a proper adjustment
/ Of AL the accounts %! Con. BALLocH.'
A. will h, obs .rNrd the alnrrIlamod amount
| Of tj,2O2.32 lolm- no part Of, but Is additional
To-, the sum Of i,33l ,o3 alleged by the late CHIEF
! discussing ofli'.r to lnvr hocntlHnsirrrrd from
| his private funds 10 RuNKLE to make good GER
tam dn ilclts IN his accounts. tSrr testimony Of
| thclatc chief dishurs ng officer GEoRGE ". BAL
| LOCH, before the HOWARD court Of inquiry,
pages 2is - (Sce note 4 ,appendlXL"
Again from the report of 1876;
Through an opBlic'G,iop for restoration to
| Inted States Army, who WAS dismissed under
srntrn'r Of n general court martial, held 1T
| Louisville XIV. ia 1872, u new aspect has hrrn
~. II to the subject referred 10 in my report for
| Ei-t ) ar under the hruding-o Public funds
| drawn from the United States Treasury TO cover
! drialrtion or enlightenment Of n dishursng
| officer or agent, THIS hubIrt was viewed ly
| iui- office ms oi chnin ter similar 10 the sub
| l' (which WIS embraced in the charges against
hrn. q O. linNAkD, and Which were known ms
| IN" 81 81 u3 trnnsu tion, The court Of inquiry
| IN Hrn, liowAHD's cnsr, under the testimony Of
tito. W. BALLOON. lat" chiof ,ishursi ng officer.
bureau Ol Refugees, Freedmen and abandoned
LINUS, lrund that the latter named tlnnsptlon
| VS. N.rmVl" ~ personal one between said
| h.9 W; bNLLo,ll ana MAJOR RuNKLE.
| In NuNKiES Application above referred
| 10 ne explained sand transaction, and
po'"ls " eell's.n record eSidcnee IN support