National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-03-12
THE FREsDMENs BUREAU.
General O. o. Howard Gains . Verdict
Against the Government.


In the Criminal Court yesterday (sitting Is.
pecay to hear certain civil causcsl Justice wylie
first took up those Of the United States against
General o. o. Howard. United stctes army.
Three suits have been brought against this de-
PENDANT. The first grows out OF tho retained bounty
fund. and Is to recover sl304si.Co, which It is
claimed Is due the Government as balance from
General o. o. Howard, who was Commissioner Of
Rcng Ses, Free linen and Abandoned Lands, and
which sums, 1t is alleged, are unaccountcd for.
The second suit is TO recover e22,70Sso, which
came into his hands on account Of the subsistence
and quartermaster's department ofthe Freedmcns
Bureau, and which, It Is alleged, remains unset.
tied. The third is for s9OJD, premium and IN
susnce Of an act OF Congress, and which IT'S aver
red has not been paid over.
THE DEFENSE
set up was to the effect that General Howard did
not receive the moneys claimed TO be due the
Government, but that they were received and dts
burscd by General George W. DallOch, who has
settled with the Government and received his dis
charge.
Second that he was not commissioner for the
Government. but by act Of Congress made commits
sioncr or financial agent for the colorcd soldiers,
aud became their legal representative.
Third, that the Treasury Transcript wns not a
correct record OF the morcyed transactions OF the
freedman'S Bureau. as at the time mentioned that
department had no authority to press upon the
accounts and that they were withdrawn there
from BY order of those in authority.
Fourth aud lastly that none OF these money
received and distributed by the freedmnn's Bn-
reau ever came into his possession, and that he
ha. some of them now in his hands.
The defense, almost at the Outset Of the case oh.
Jectcd TO the introduction Of Treasury Transcript,
involving the settlement of General Ballochs ac-
counts, wherein II was proposed to charge 10 Gen
crul Howard the discrepancies found In the settle
mcnt Of the former officers accounts.
The court suSttned the point. lie stated third
General BallOch. having been detailed 10y the War
Depgrtnent As disurSiug officer and nCtcd In that
capacity he was resp lnsiblc. These moneys la |
passed through the hands Of General Baloch
alone who had made his returns To tho Treasury
Department aud received his discharge, and he
was unable TO see how General Howard could be
held personally
that may have taken place. This fund was not a
Government fund and for n time, at least until
special act Of Congress provided otherwise, the nc
Treasury transcript, submitted a. evi'Cnrc against
General Howard was then ruled out Tbs Govern
ment put General Howard and General Balloch on
the stand for TIE purpose of showing the money
transactions under the supervision Of these two
Officers.
Tho defense demurrcd to the evidence, and asked
the court IN instruct the jury that the evidence
the plaintiff was not entitled to recover.
Tie prosecution asked instructions directly thC
opposite.
His Honor said that trking all the circumstance
! into consideration thCu, was not II particle O
! ground on which to base the suit, aud no should
instruct tho jury IN fla AverCt for the defendant
who returned ono In accordance with the lnstruC
! ti1uS received.
without proceeding IN tho othertwo cases, an al
| jouTnmcnt was taken until this morning.