The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-01-15
DE Wits DOWNFALL.
The Exploits OF a Crook Who
Claims to be a Deserter
From the Army.
An Exceedingly Slick Thief and a
Well Informed and Intel
ligent Coon

On Monday of this week Marshal Shy
received a communication from the mar
shall al BuonvIlle asking him To look out
for saddle colored coon, who had robbed
the residence of John Meyers at Franklin,
Just across the river irom Boonville. The
articles stolen were q couple Of sh I guns,
several rsvolvers aud lot OF jewelry, con-
sistinr Of scarf pins, cuff buttons, etc. AS
soon as the marshal received notice OF the
robbery. he Informed the force and close
watch Was instituted for the thief, of whom
good description had been sent. As
usual when the Sedalia cops start
out for a crook or Iniei. they succeeded
in bagging their game, aAd yesterday after
noon about 4 O'Clock the slippery com Was
placed behind the bars. A gentleman by
the name of Richardson was in the city OF
Tuesday in the interest Of Mr.. Meyers and
had a conference with the marshal.
The thief as soon a. he arrived here be
gan to dispose Of his spoils, making pres
enis of smaller articles OF jestlry To some
of his coiored frirnds, and endeavOring to
sell one of the revolvers ct a secOLd hand
store, but the pronTie. or At once sizing the
man up as a thief declined to purchase.
Wien arrested the crook, who gave his
name a. Charles Dewitt, at once confessed
his guilt and told he marshal that h was
d.serler from the United States army !;
that he had b,en stationed at Fort Leay-
enworth and had served a term in the mill
,ary prison for theft, and that soon after
being released he deserted and made his
way 10 franklin. where he was employed
by Mr.. Meyers as cook.
Dewitt Was interviewed in his cell by \
BAzoo reporter last evening aud prOvet to
Dc a man of more than ordinary intelli-
gence. He was very reticent, stsring that
he had said all he had to say to the MAJ
shall but desired To make statement in
reference To the abuse received by privaies
i'm the regular army. He described the ser
vice as exceedingly onerOus and degrading.
Upon being asked why he enlisted, he
replied that he had enIered The army as q
soldier bat that he and his fellow comrades
alike were made common labcrers and sent
out TO the frontier TO build towns
"You can Imagine how was treated" h~
continued, las only had one month and
twenty DAVIS To serve and preferred the risk
OF being shot in getting away to remaining "
"How are the inmates of the military
prison treated ? queried the reporter.
dr,d prisoners. They are half fed and half
cloth d, aud their life is made unbearabl.
by the cruelty of the prison officials"
"Are there many deserters?'
"Wel;, should smile. There have been
nine that / know of from Leavenworth
since the first OF November"
OF course the statement of Dewitt is to
lie taken with many grains OF allowance,
as according TO his own confession be is a
thief and bad niger. There is no doubt,
however, but that the treatment OF the
private soldier in our army Is not calcu-
lated to make him efficient. or To abate the
evil of desertioD, as according TO reliable
information given a BAzoO reporter by an
army officer, one third of the entire army
desert every year.
Marshal Shy has written TO the author
tiles at Levenworth to know if they want
Dewitt. Ii he receives q negative reply,
which is hardly probable, the prisoner will
be turned over TO the authorities at Boon
viile