Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-07


Fort Davis says: "At the opening of
the court yesterday Lieut.. Flipper said
he would accept the Judge Advocates
suggestion to try the original and
additional charges together, and wou
waive his right of challenging
court, as now organized, aud consent to
swearing it and going to trial on both sci
OF charges, but he declined to ask it. The
Judge Advocate said the refusal
to ask it would necessitate
two separate trials. FliDper
was then arraigned, charged with the en-
bezzleTent of 1921 n between July Sth
and August 18th, 1881, public money, and
with making false statements in writing
to the commanding officer on the 9th, 10Th
and 23d Of July, to the effect that he had
transmitted the above amount to the
chief commanding officer; with pre-
senting fraudulent check for
81 440 43 to the commissary, when submit
ting funds to him on July ID, and with
making additional false statements on Au-
gust 10th, IN reference to transmitting these
funds to the chief commssarY.
"To these charges Lieutenant Flipper
pleaded not guilty. The first witness
and found Lieutenant Flipper in
charge of the Commissary Department.
On July 9th the witness told Lieutenant
FliDper TO remit the commissary funds,
and from his usual reports under
stood that he had complied.
On August 10th the witness received a tele-
gram from the chief commissary, stating
that the funds had not been received. Wit
ness asked Lieutenant Flipper what had be-
come of them. He could not explain,
but said he was sure the funds
had been sent. On the evening of the 18th
witness became satisfied that Lieutenant
Flipper's statements were false, and notified
him that his quarters would be searched.
"Lieut. Flipper was placed under arrest.
The search revealed $4,000 worth of
checks In box, which were checks which
had been presented to meet public funds
by FfpDer, among them a spurious check
for 81 ,450. Discontinued search and had
Flipper sent to the guard
house. Visited him afterwards. He exbib-
tied telegram from the San Antonio Ma
tional Bank, saying he never had deposited
them, and was not authorized to draw.
Flipper acknowledged the spuriousness Of
the check.
"When asked as to whereabouts of the
money, he said he did not know unless It
had been stolen from him. He would
charge no one with the
theft. He thought he could
male good the shortage
If permitted to see his friends in town.
They visited him in person. Witness after
wards consented to release Lieutenant Flip.
per upon payment of the shortage, which
was done.
"The cross examination tended only to
strer CITIZEN the testimony by more positive
statements. Witness said that up to this
affair, so far as his knowledge extended,
Lieut.. Flipper had been straight 10 all his
transactions
1.-The court then adjourned. ="
GALVESTON, November Ga special from
Fort Davis says "The entire dav was con-
sumed by the defense In searching cross
examination Of Colonel ShaftCr. The vari-
Gus steps relating to Lieutenant Flpper's
arrest were reviewed without ma
te1ial contradictions. Capt. Barber, for
oring to present all the points
connected with the case without desire to
conceal anything. He brought forward
testimony to show that the accused had
been prosecuted by Colonel Shafter in his
ordering articles of value in his possession
to be taken from him, and in not leaving
him sufficient bedding, and in taking pains
to prevent any one seeing him without his
permission, which was seldom given,
"Shafter testified that he had not ordered
the accused to be deprived of his iewelrY,
but had ordered everything else OF value to
be taken charge of. That he had ordered
bedding to be furnished, and was not aware
until advised that the order had not been
executed. That he ordered an extra guard
to be placed at the cell window, and also
had given an order that no one without his
permission be allowed to converse with him,
and that his servants trunk had been taken
from his room and searched and several
packages of papers found in her possession,
part of them being the identical papers.
checks, etc, which he was looking for,
though she had strictly denied any knowl-
edge of their whereabouts. She admitted
that be had given them TO her a few days
previously for safe keeping. Upon being
asked If promise had not been made of
comfortable quarters at the post to the
woman II she would tell all she knew, Col
Shafter replied mo- He had told her she
would probably go to the penitentiary for
her share In the matter.
Captain Barber laid the ground for i'm
peaching the question whether Colonel
Shafter had not testified differently before
the United States Commissioner as to
where the papers were found. Colonel
Shsfter was asked If he did not make -,
affidavit before the commissin- or for her
arrest, stating that She mad property in her
possession, which she had obtained without
the knowledge Of any government agent,
TO which he replied that the affidavit would
show"
1he theory Of the defense is still in con-
lecture,