National Republican., 1878-07-11
sUGG FORTS CLAIM.
An Enor, to Settle the Case. Opposed.

Hh u Ses's WV c"'Vs OppUST''
In October, 1875, an Indictment was found
against Sugg Fort charging him with, on June
30, 1875, having made aud presented to tho
Government orths United statcs, aud the Com
miSsary General, for payment and allowance,
q claim for s23 1880, for 2,T9l barrels of -four,
alleged TO have been received by r. y. Mitch
ell. Military Commander Of Nashville, Tenn,
on and after December 4, 1852, for the use of
the Army of the United States, by an agree
mcnt between L. B. Mitchell aud sugg Fort
which claim was false and fraudulent The
accused presented the claim to the House
Committee on War Claims in May, 1874, set
ting forth that he was resident Of Robertson
County, Tenn, and furnished the -four at $3.50
per bariol. At tho outbreak Of the war In
l56l, he was a Union man, aud so continued
during tho rebellion; he had been engaged
In the military business since 1854, owning
mills on Rod River, in Robertson County, six
miles apart.
Tho -four was taken from tho mill nt the
home place where 120 barrels could bo made a
day. During the war ho continued to make
-four, procuring wheat under permits granted
by the Federal authorities, no purchases being
allowed without such permission. His per.
mits allowed the buying of wheat and carry
ing Of -four by wagons to Clark.ville and
NusnNlllt, Uul tue lh'lllll's lOI
being so meagrc. and gucrllas so abundant he
could not send flour To market, and feeling
that tho gucrillas would steal the mules, all Of
them wcro sold excepting the four. Tho -four
accumulated as manufactured aud was stored
u the mill warehouse adjoining the granary,
tobacco barns, and q large store. house on the
farm. There was thus stored 5000 barrels
when he stopped grinding. Gu November -,
lsB2 the United States Government occupied
Middle Tennessee, but the occupation of Rob.
ertson County was not sufficient to guarantee
protection TO Union men and bands Of rebels an
noyed the prisoner very much. Fearing the rob
els would come In sufficient force to get the Hour
and burn all tho buildings he determined the
Union army should have 1t and he would risk
getting compensation for it from the Govern
ment. lie went to Nashville secretly, for fear
II the rebels should find 1t out they would
burn the buildings.
lie reached there on the 18th Of December,
and went to L. NJ. Reynolds, now deceased.
who took him to General MitchelPs head
quarters and, after an interview with him,
promise was made to send for the -four. lie
went back with the troops, and they camped
within eight miles of his place on the morn.
ing of December 3. Having told General
Mitchell that the -four must apparently be
seized against his wishes, and when the officer
of the train arrived. the train was loaded, and
went TO Nashville, and continued to come and
go until they got 2,19l barrels. lie did not
take receipts, because he told General Mitchell
il the rebels should hear from 1t they would
burn his property; but after the war he would
try and obtain his pay from the Government.
The Quartermaster's Department paid him for
the wheat used forage, but the Commis-
Sary- General declined to examine the claim
for -four Oh the grounds that he had no juris.
diction. He therefore requested the committee
for a fair consideration of his claim, believing
t,Nx.n oh ltzh tpa
aud secure its payment. This petition the
grand jury pronounced false in all important
particulars.
On November 22d tho grand jury found an
other indictment against Sugg Fort, Rodcrck
Il. Butler, Frank s. Sewers Wiley Edwards,
Henry Waters, Albert Metcaifr, Geo II. Purdy
| and Robt b. Mitchell, for conspiracy ON May
| Ith, l-7I, ~ dcfraud the government out Of
s23, 723.5O. which is fully set forth in the pre-.
| vious indictment. These two cases were brought
before Justice Wylie In the Criminal Court
| yesterday morning. Mcssrs. 7. J. Critteuden
and jeremiah VI. Wilson appearing for the
| first two of the defendants General trittcnden
| called the attention of the Court to the fact
| that these indictments had been on the docket
for the past three years; three times bad they
been set for trial, and as often postponed. The
defendants had come here every time, at great
| expense, to answer tho charges, and the repeat.
| ed delays had bankrupted them in funds, until
| now they were impoverished The Govern
ment hal no case at the best they could not
support by proof what they set down in the
| allegations, IL their cause were new and fresh
but since the finding Of the indictments scv.
eriL Of their witnesses had died OIL, aud the
case, poor in the beginning was IN II worse
state now. Under these circumstances he ask
ed that noiic pros he entered. He had called
upon the Attorney General and found that he
know nothing of the matter, but had written
to the United States District Attorney to se'
cure what information could be obtained.
These cases had fingered long nothing
being done or contemplated doing, and theil
overhnnging being a serious detriment to the
defendants, without the existence of proof o
| guilt; ne therefore asked the dismissal OF thI
suit.
Assistant District Attorney II. II. Wells, jr.
said that he could not consent 10 the motion
| The District Attorney was absent from tht
city, and before ho loft this, among other cases
| wa put on the list for trial at the recOnvenins
| Of the court, but that he wolld write to hi'
father aud see IL he would consent to such q
disposition being made Of tho case as was ask cd
for.
His Honor stated that the court could no
direct such motions, as 1t was for him TO hca
| and act upon them when made.
| Judge Wilson said If a nOHs pros. was not t.
be allowed they s,:Ould ask that an carly da,
for hearing be fixed. As these delays wore ex
ceedingly injurious, and his client, Hon. R. Il
Butler, WAS very anxious that this case shoult
be disposed OF and he permitted hearing o
granted discharge.
The court set the hearing down for the frs
day when the court met in September next
pending the response from the District-Attor
ncy, and said in the meantime, ho should b
glad to assist tho District Attorney IN entern
a nolle pros, II it could consistently be don,
These old cases cumherod tho docket and Ousll
to be disposed of by trial or dismissal.
| The Horticultural Society.
The Horticultural Society of the DistriC
held It's regular scmi.mOnthly meeting la,