Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-06
From the Honest Truth.
pECKSNIFF PLAISTED.
His Trick to Gouge the Soldier
Boys.
4 JURY CONTICTS HIN OF FRAUD
IND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


IND NISREPRESENT4TI
When the late war was well under way,
Harris NJ. Plaisted took it into his head
that military commissions were more
profitable than scattering lawyers briefs.
With his usual ability as beggar and his
mastery activity in the line OF tall self in
flation, he prevailed upon the Governor to
commission him Colonel of the 18th Regi-
ment.
But if anybody supposed that Plaisted
was to be satisfied with the bare and home
" realities of regimental life, why, that
body didn't know Plaisted. The new
Colonel was a very large man, in his own
esteem, and the 18th Regiment must be so
equipped as to advertise his importance on
its face. Among the requisites in this line
the Colonel reckoned first class band.
There was one in Gardiner, and straight
way our PlaIsted went to engage it. There
was one obstacle in the way, however !;
the band could not go at the public ex-
pense except the men enlisted as privates
liable to do soldiers duty. This they
were not disposed to do. But finally
Plaisted prevailed upon them to enlist up
on his promise-whlch. although fraudu-
lent, he convinced them was legal-that
Msy should nerer be called into sertice.
They went to the front, and served as
per agreement unit! the battle OF Fair
Oaks Then the division with which they
were connected were routed, and lost all
their equipments, among which were the
valuable instruments of the 18th Maine
band. Then the members of the band de-
sired to be dischared from service. Plais-
ted desired or pretended to desire them to
remain, and he gave them to understand
that if so disposed, he could now ask them
to shoulder muskets, in violation of his
own pledge. Finally, taking advantage
of their anxiety to go home, he told the
boys they should be discharged provided
they would pay for the lost Instruments.
He made this proposition in face of knowl-
edge at every intelligent mans command.
that the government alone was liable for
such property so lost.
Inspired by the cupidity and contempti-
bly, small ingenuity that have character
lied him through life Harris N. Plaisted
deliberately resolred to e1tot money from
those men IN consideration Of their dis
charge, but as such an act, plainly ex-
pressed, would lay him liable to court
martial and punishment. he sought the
object by an indirect course. namely. pre-
tending to collect pay for property cap
tured by the enemy, not as consideration
for discharge, but to hold him harmless
where there coutd be no liability.
The boys, tired of Plaisted's double
dealing, at last agreed to his terms. They
paid him part of the money, and signed
him a joint note for the balance, the whole
amount being some $500.
After the war, the band members were
called upon by Plaisted to pay the note
But they had some new lights. They had
the best legal advice to the effect that
the note was invalid, the consideration
being Of no raluc and fraudulem.
Our Plaisted was not thus easily to be
deprived of his little extortion. He sued,
and in April, 1868, the case came to trial
in Bangor.
There were some rich developments in
the trial, which somebody may sometime
perhaps think it worth while to elaborate
npon. In brief, they consisted of glowing
accounts of Plaisted's superior talent for
executing individual movements to the
rear and his Pecksniffian qualities as a
dealer with men.
The defence of the band men was that ::
First. The note and suit were without
valid consideration
Second. That the note acas procured by
.traud and misrepresentation on Plaisted's
part.
On this defence Plaisted was beaten.
He was convicted by a jury of twelve men
in his own town, of FRAUD and MIS-
REPRESENTATION practiced deliberer-
ateiy upon soldiers whO ,rere in his pocer
and at his miserable mercy.
Is there any reason to suppose that
Harris NJ. Plalsted. thus convicted. would
hesitate to repeat the frauds and thefts of
the late Garcelon gang if he ever got the
chance?
II is safe not to girc him the chance,