St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-18
BYAM'S SIDE OF THE CASE.
Is an Innocent Man Suffering as a
Scape Goat.
The Grand Army Appealed to Aid Com
rade and They Should Respond.
The Duluth Tribune of the 18th contained

tne IouOWlng:
WHO SENT THE FILESS
s'The purpose of Deputy Marshal Brackets
recent visit to this city has just leaked out. 1t
seems that not many days ago package of files,
sent from this city, were received at the St.
Paul Jail, addressed to G. P. Byain, Of Duluth,
who is held prisoner there. The package fell
into the hands of the sheriff, as might have been
expected, and he discovered, as we are informed,
the name or initials of M. Fink g. Co., upon it.
At any rate the sheriff dispatched the marshal to
Duluth to arrest Mr.. Fink. The latter, how
ever, had little difficulty in convincing the Of
ncer that he had no part in the sending of the
files, and the arrest was not made. No explana-
tion can be given of the initials or name on the
package. 1t is said to be fact that Byam enter
tains hopes of escaping and has written to
friends in this city letter asking for their asss-
tance, which letter is now in possession of the
authorities.'
Mr.. Byram having learned of the matter has
supplied the GLOBE with the following forcible
statement:
my first knowledge OF the matter. was upon
the receipt this morning of the Duluth paper
containing the article in question, together with
letter from my wife, asking me how 1 could be
SO foolish as to enter into any such scheme. As
had entered into no such s'scheme,' l at once
asked for an interview with the sheriff, who soon
came IN, and after reading the article, he pro-
nounced it false in every particular, and upon
my request, he SO telegraphed my wife, at Du-
luth,
81 thoroughly understand the cause, and know
full we'll the source from which the article emil
mated. 1t was done to defeat my securing re-
lease, under bonds, from prison, as that would
give me an opportunity to work up my defence,
and thus defeat the action against me. Which
to, the alleged minds of the government special
agents and marshaPs, would never do, as they
have already appropriated too much Of the gov
ernment's money in their investigation of pine
land frauds, not to at least find one guilty person
and thus be enabled to get another appropriation
from congress to s'eXhaust'' in further ssnvesti-
gating." And therefore it seems that out of the
many called I represent the sfew'' chosen
They expect to convict me upon the evidence Of
a known thief and confessed forger, as l am
entirely penniless and am therefore unable to
employ any person to prepare my defence, and
as q prisoner, unable to do anything myself My
bonds would have been signed Friday morning
if that article had not appeared in the Tribune.
The signers were comparative strangers to
me and although assured that
only desired my liberty in order to prepare
my defence, they said if was endeavoring to
break jail, must be a dangerous character and
under the circumstances they declined having
anything to do with me and thus, for a time at
least, the object of the author of the malicious
fabrications contained in the article in question,
was attained.
''Who do think perpetrated this outrage?
have in mind but one man capable of it, and
base my belief upon the fact that he has already,
with certain others, prevented persons from
signing my bonds, by stating that if they signed
they would surely have the bonds to pay; and in
justification Of such assertion, would relate vari
GUS anecdotes representing them as taken from
the pages of this history of my life One
OF these stories. manufactured from
whole cloth, was to the effect that
I once mortgaged to my father
in the sum Of $40, 600, farm, and that before
he had time to record the mortgage 1 sold the
farm and had the deed recorded, thus cutting out
the mortgage. This is false, and my father, COL
E. C. Byam, who lives at No. Henion place,
Rochester, N. Y, will verify my statement. The
person l refer to as being the probable author of
all this is no other than the gallant deputy
United States marshal, Major Bracket, who
served his country during the rebellion ESQ he
himself Informed me) as inspector of mules and
horses, and ne doubt faced death at the heels Of
many corraled mule.
There are some things In the history of my life
and that Of my family which the valiant major
did not relate. What are they? Well, 1 also
served my country during the war of the rebel
lionr My father and my two brothers also served.
The reason of there being no more members of
our family in the service, was owing to the fact
that the remainder were females.
u
his horse in action, and dangerously ruptured,
and in manner which wrecked his physical
manhood for life.''
"My eldest brother, Charles, entered the SER
vice atsthe age OF fourteen, as a private in the
Sixth Iowa infantry. Was promoted on the field
OF battle, to the position of non-commissioned
officer for his gallantry. At Shiloh, he had his
left limb shattered by musket ball, and was
discharged from the service. While still walking
with a crutch and cane, he re-enlisted and was
chosen adjutant Of his regiment, with rank of
First Lieutenant. He served with this regiment
something over a year, but finally, gangrene
having set in in his wounded limb (Which had
not entirely healed, he was forced to resign and
return north. He is cripple, his shattered leg
being about half the size and over an inch shorter
than its fellow
my second brother, William, entered the SER
vice musician, at the age
of twelve years. He served throughout the
rebellion. Ha returned from the war blind in
both eyes, in which condition he remained for
two years thereafter, but finally recovered the
sight of one eye, the sight OF the other being
ruined forever. He has never asked pension
81 was born in Kane county, H., October 22d,
1852, and was mustered into the United States
army in the ninth year Of my age by Capt. Hen
dershott, OF the U. S. regulars at Camp Strong,
Muscatine. was drummer Of Company I'D, -
Twenty-fonrth regiment of Iowa Volunteer in.
y,
larly mustered into the service OF the United
States. served with my regiment upon various
campaigns and finally We formed apart of Grant 6
army which marched to the rear and captured
Vicksburg. Shortly after the surrender of Vicks-
burg toyed with the deceptive green peach.
The result was case of what was called the
sarmy complaint which, from neglect, soon
assumed chronic form, and later, more dead
than alive, was honorably discharged from the
service and sent north. remained an invalid,
o victim to this scourge, for seven
years, but was finally cured by Dr.
s. B. Olney, prominent physician Of Iowa. 1
have never asked for pension from this govern
ment, which served in time OF need and which
is now prosecuting me. / have never even ap-
piled for the bounty which was promised me-
in fact have never asked anything from it, and
do not want anything from it now except good
letting alone. All the lands ever had from it
paid for at It's own price, the price fixed by law.
All lands in which was interested this govern
ment has taken from me, and still retains the
money which 1 paid for such lands, which
amounts, in the aggregate, to over SIS, 600.
s'Have / a family" yes, wife and three
children, now in almost destitute circumstances,
with the husband father powerless to aid them.
81 am member Of the first organization OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic, and / shall now ap-
peal to them for aid to the extent at least of
Ing that have a fair show for my life, and am
satisfied that the veterans who comprise that or
der will step forward and see fair play for the
now man, who, as q child. shared their hardships
and stood at their side, and faced what they
faced upon the field of battle.'
Mr.. Byam sends US the names OF number of
prominent gentlemen to whom he refers as to his
reputation and course Of lne.-ED. GLoBE.1
A West Virginia Scandal.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.1