The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-01
STEPHEN A. HURLBUT.
A Bit Of Unpublished New Orleans
History.
How General Hurlbut and Provost Marshal
General Robinson Fleeced the People
New Orleans and yicinity-Bri-
berry, Fraud, Corruption and
imprisonment.
A New Orleans special to the Chicago
News saws.

News says.
The official records of the War Department con
tain the history of such corrupt Practices on the
pEIt Of General stephen A. Hu-ibut, while in
command or the Department OF he Gulf, at New
Orleans that 1.-THE facts had been mace public
ne beliher cOnld have been appointed Minister
20 Peru Dor 70 any other Office u honor on profit
under the Governments IN 1865 Irwin 81. stan
ton, the then Secretary of Var, appointed Com
mission composed Of Major General William i.
tBaldyj smith. and the then aisiiBguished JuIist
of New York. Hon. JAMES 7. Brady. 10 investigate
me caarges OF naSEel,t sorrppnon mat hsa mutt
pied against General Iiurlbui Ia bis nlnistrati0n
OF the affairs of the Department Of the Gulf from
his headquarters in the Crescent City. That Com
mission made report recommending
THE IMPRISONMENT or GENERAL HURLBUT
and a number of his subordinates. but through
the influence OF General Rawilns the report wa
suppressed and lIuTlbut escaped the consequences
Of his. infamy. YOrr correspondent has Oh
tained copy Of this report from the records 81
me War Deparimeat The paper was addleSsec
at New Orleans. In the beginning The
Commission says: "lt seems TO us that
ngstec by this Commission is the system of
BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
established in the Gulf Department: under the
auspices Of General Hnriout, Commander, and
Colonel EobinsOD. Provost Marshal General. IL
was notorious before General Smith arrived, on
has since been furnished To prove that the officers
OF the United States Government have here en-
ployed their stations in oppression. speculation
that in February. 1865, General Smith discovered
that there was q large deposit Of gold in the Ma
tionsl Bank of New Orleans, oslensibly to the
credit OF one OF the CLERKS ID. Il. Forbes. but the
real owner of which was Colonel Robinson.
When the Colonel was examined about the own
ership Of this money he so clearly periured him
self that az the request Of General Smith, he was
put under arrest and
IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT
obtained the information that Weed & Co. and
Clark and Fulton. dealers IN cotton, hac each
paid Colonel Robinson $4,000 for getting the sig
nature OF General HuIl0ut 10 permits for sending
two large conSignment5 of cotton out OF New Or
leans. The reports state that there was q further
cribe of $1,000 given to Colonel Robinson by
Courtney. the aCent of the Star Line OF steamers
II was shown that General EGrlbut must have
been aware OF this last bride, Robinson wrote
him letter, cOunSeiing cOncealment. When.
during his confinement Robinson learned that
the Courtney letter had been unearthed, his nerve
gave way. and he confessed 10 General smith that
OF the amounts he had received for the bribery he
had given SeaeTal Eurl5ut as his share $1,000.
In summing mp the ease the report of the Com
mission. speakincoi GeOefal HuTlbut, says: 'Now
on the General showing, his par! Of the transa
lions under consideration = ~ follows: This
Commission TO investigate the civil and military
a fairs OF the Department Of Vest Mississippi al
New Orleans ia January last IN the c0Erse o. IL,
ersl had been
GUILTY OF MALPRACTICE
in Office II caused MS arrest and imprisonment.
While ia Prison between the 18th and 10Th of
/ MafCa written communications passed between
him and General IiGtlbut. commanding the
/ Military Department Of tie Gulf, OH the 18th Of
March, IN regard 20 confessed 81 600 bride and =
letter sent ny the General 70 the latter declared
| Colonel Robir son to tie rascal or fool Al AN
/ interview, after the COlOnel's Telesst, when he
confessed his crimes % the General. r'r' sled AS
his Only defense ground pTeseist4g ssfr an
| idea, as the General says, could Vuly -.n41ate
| from . damned rascal. The General. accOrdin.
70 mis- account, yet helps the 0f1ciGl tnus charac
terizcd 10 conceal part of bis brides until sum
! monec before the Commission, and then, for 10
purpose TO be imagined except 70 keep il from the
| Commission, returns the money 10 the depcsiror
| To Major General r K. \. Candy, COmman0ei
! Of the Military Division oi Western Mississippi:
The Commission IN recommending
THE ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT or GENERAL
HURLBuT,
| furnished tho following summary Of charges upon
which such action could be based: "The Special
| Com mission bas The honor 10 report that IL has
projected 50 far IN the examination Of the con
| dact Of Major General 1urbnt 10 be entirey
satisfied that their duty requires them 10 recon-
mend his being dealt with as being guilty oil
| beinous offenses. The testimony taken Warrants
full belief IN his having teen guilty: uD %
Official faIsehood O two OCCASIONS. Ca Oi
berg guilty in completely with Colonel Robinson
| while the latter was ircpes! MEshal General OF
| the Department OF the salt, N receiving brides
or gratdiIies from Clark ana Fulton and &. A
Weed. (3l In writing a letter TO said RoDiLsor
and anie-d3uUg Is 10 create false testimony IL
his favor to the taking Of brides. (4l Granting
| on the application OF his brother iu-law, L L.
CraDdall, permits for trade, 70: which CTaUdal
received $500, 10 The knowledge of Hurlbut. d
| PERJURY BEFORE THE COMMISSION
in falsely swearing That he did not know tina
Crandall had received the money as aforesaid. IS
For perjury III swearing that the ante dated ette
| to Robinson, purporiinr 10 be written on NOvem
Der 10, 1861, when he knew % was written on ol
about April 4, 1865. ca Inc0nSpiriDg with Robin
sen 10 prevent the detection of Robinson ofieuSeS
and (s) In willfully Interfering to ObStrucS thu
discharge of the duties of the Commission a.
20 prevent the discovery of fraud pree;iced IN th
Department by officers in the employ OF the Gov
ernment. There may be other charges found 81
new discoveries of moneys received by Major Gen
eral Hurlbut, or evil practices at which he con
niYed. bat the present seem 10 be abundant 4
call for his arrest and imprisonment
| lSignedl ''waI. +. SAITH Major General,
| JAMES T. BRADY
COURT MAgTIAL RECOMMENDED.