National Republican., 1877-11-24
The Craig-Briant Claim.

Government, was continued yesterday before Jus
tco Macarthur.
were present Col. II. C. Hodges desired to correct
his testimony He had stated that three trains
were loaded OH July 3, hut only one of them for
Fort Union. lie found that while three trains were
loaded two Of them were reshpments Of old
freights. The two next trains shipped by Mr..
Stewart 70 Fort Union were on the 9Th and 7th Of
July. The crosscNnmination brought OUT the evi-
denCe that the contractor was notified that the
freight he was expected to take was ready for trans
pnrtatOn. The freight on the other two trains went
~ Fort Leavcnworth, and then up the river To Ne
braska City, and three were loaded and started on
their way to Fort Union.
stan Of Gen. Curtis, and was at Fort Leavcnworth
In 1854 It was IN July of that year that the Gen.
sni @ went went 10 Fort larned; liIs recollection was
worth that he asked for an escort IN accompany
his train, to which the witness replied that Gen.
and when the tram arrived at the latter place he
would furnish escort should II be deemed ncccS.
sary. He also knew Nugent and Rogers; they
BY way of cross examination, he said that Gen.
Curtis, when he len for the plains, had with him
the LIST of August and brought back the same mum.
hcr Of men with him. He could recall the fact Of
Mr Briant asking for an escort, but nothing more
Government frcigh;Cr. and Of his having mule
trains.
Here the defense submitted two letters written
by this witness, and which were received In evi.
dcncc. They were TO the effect that Drnnt asked
nn escort for the protection Of his train which was
refused and subsequently he demanded of Gen.
Curtis
PAY FOR THE MULES
that were destroyed. and he declined because his
ITartermaSter had not the funds. but sat down To
write ont an Official statement Of the facts. The
witness said that the facts were substantially Us
stated.
TO save the detention Of the witness his cxOml.
nati9n-inchief for the defense was here permitted
Ia take place.
John Williams testified to being In constan, com.
Tany with Gen. Curtis. lie never heard Of any
cali being made upon him for an escort lie sub
Sequently had All Interview with Col. Craig Mt the
lindcu Hotel. where he showed him photograph
copy of an aihdavt, and said that there was mis-
take In one word.
lie was In the company Of the Colonel until July
.. In consequence Of receiving a letter he met
Col Craig at 81. Louis. His expenses were paid by
that gentleman. He had $40 placed to his credit
q Middleton Co.. aud aiterward received so
other parties In regard to the claim among them
being II Mr.. Rogers.
The Court. We will nave to take the recess
Gen Butler. hope no one will hc allowed to con-
verse with the witness during that lime oh, that's
II. object 10 this witness being stuffed during the
rece's, and pray that your Honor will.
The Court. shall not give any order but ii 1t Is
proven hereafter that he has been tampcred with,
then It will be time To take coGnzancc oft
District Attorney Wells. merely wish to ask him
for certain papers,
The Court DO ii here, then.
District Attorney Wells. WILL sir.
The recess was then taken.
On reassembLng the examination Of the witness
was resumed. In March, 1876. he was in this cltv.
aud Tooncd at ls2o street. He saw Mr. Br!ant at
his rooms about March 8; Il was after his arrest.
lie had conversation with Mr. Brant having
written him a note requesting that he would call.
Mr.. Brlant told witness that he thought II was
Just claim. lie said that he gave either Nusent or
R"gcrs 500 TO pay the witness at the time he In
st; Louis to take the frst affidavit.
Mr. Mctowan said To the witness that he would
not surely go back on his ahidavt, and he answered
that it was hard to say what person might do
when put upon the stand.
TELL.TALE MEMORANDA.
Al this point the witness asked permission To re.
mesh his memory from his memorable. Gen. But.
Ter took and read It, when the fact shown that
the defendant Briant, AFTER being arrested, was in
vciglcd TO come to this witness roOm where parties
were concealed TO listen TO what statements might
he mnde by him, to he used as evidence against
him.
Gen. Butler said now they asked the court 10 be.
come party to such u transaction ard become a
party To this stolen testimony. lie submitted that
such evidence should not be heard for no man no
matter how blameless his life might have been,
would be safe from the clutches Of such villains,
aud no man engaged in this transaction ought TO
raise his head among men, lie would prefer TO be
Craig In prison on such trial than the man who
prnseCutcs him using such means.
district Attorney Wells replied that It had been
apparent early in this examination that an attempt
would be made to denounco this witness, and op.
portunities had not been lost when offered of call
Ing him h tlrce.admitted perjurcr. The witness
manner had been In his favor certainly, aud the
whole purpose Is 10 attempt To keep the corruption
OF this man by the defendants from tho jury lie
did not intend to defend or condemn the methods
that detectives pursue, but 1t had been demon.
strated that this was the only mode of unenrthing
thieves. If the witness was thricedyed peIjurer
he was cOlored twice by the defendants He could
not conceive that the objection was material.
WHAT THE COURT SAID ABOUT DETECTIVE
The Court said that he had very little sympathy
with the denunCintions howlCd at the detectives lii
all criminal proceedings. They should be upright
men. and are powerful aid in the promotion OF
justice. lie would not say. however that the de.
tective agency was not at times misu5ed. They
were at times compelled to he subtle In their ac.
tiUns because they Ofton have cunning men to deal
with. 1t was true IN law that the confessions of
party In crime should be freely made, aud he was
inclined TO think II the statement Of this defendant
bud been obtained Ly entmpping him, then It was
obnoxious 10 the law. lie thought testimony Of
this kind should not be used in that court or any
where else, or for any other purpose, So he should
take the evidence out Of the case and from the
| Jury.
The testimony Of the witness was then resumed,
lie had no further conversation with BriNnt than
occurred in the room, but had with Col Craig at
81. Louis. lie promised 10 send the witness funds
when he reached this city, where II was awaiting
him. Col. Craig paid lin altogether about $3.50.
Without concluding with the witness the court ad-
journcd until Monday noXt