The National tribune., 1885-06-18
A Prosecuted SOLDIER.
An Attempt to Punish Comrade for an Act Com-
mitted During the War.


To THE EDITOR: Some time in the early
part of the year 1861 the State of Missouri being
then under martial law. all able bodied men
were required to be enrolled. they having the
privilege to enroll either loyal" or disloyal,"
as they chose Those who enrolled as loyal
were required to do military duty in the State
militia; those who enrolled as dislOyal were
neither required nor allowed to serve in the
militia After this enrolment was made an
order was issued by the military authorities of
this department TO disarm ali who had enrolled
as disloyal. Among those in Harrison County
who enrolled as disoyal were Alexander SIC
Colum and his son, Isaac McCollum.
The military authorities here undertook to
disarm these parties. with others who had en-
rolled as disloyal. using the militia for that
purpose. Isaac McCollum refused to give up
his revolver to militiamen who went after him,
and made some threats TO them as to what he
would do before he would give it up. There
wereat this time several volunteer soldiers home
from the army on a furlough, among whom
was George ID. Williams, of Co. c, 18th Mo.
Cav. About July 90, 1861 Williams, with one
or two other soldiers, was ordered to go and
disarm Isaac McCOllum, and in the attempt to
take McCoilums revolver from him Williams
shot and killed him. No action was taken at
the time to punish Williams by either the civil
authorities here or by the military authorities
of this department When the war was over
NHIltLlS TeUuTEeG HOiue, IuaTTiSu dHu oCGtieu
down within four or five miles OF Bethany the
County seat of Harrison County, aud has been
here ever since.
The father and brothers of McCollum swore
vengeance against Williams, and have tried
nearly every grand jury that has been empan-
eled in the County since that time to have
Williams indicted, and each of the grand juries
have refused to do it. At the March term,
1855, of the Circuit Court of Harrison County,
it being then publicly known that Williams
had sold Off his property and was preparing to
remove his family to Nebraska, the regular
grand jury was again tried and again refused
to find an indictment against Williams As
last resort, after the regular grand jury had
adjourned, Alexander McCollum, the father of
the dead man, went before justice of the
peace and filed a complaint, charging Williams
with murder in the first degree, procured a
warrant placed it in the hands of the sheriff,
and had Williams arrested. Circuit Court be-
ing still in session, special grand jury was
ordered, and when it was impaneied it was
evident to every one who was well acquainted
with its personnel that it would indict Williams,
which it did.
Williams, like many of the soldiers who spent
the best portion of their lives in the defense of
their country, is poor man, and if not as
sisted, will be unable to employ competent
counsel to defend him and get him a fair trial,
which is all he asks; besides, this case coming
at a time when he had everything sold OIL pre-
paratory to removing to Nebraska, it will take
everything he has, even if he should succeed
in his defense, unless his old comrades in arms
rally to his assistance with means to help him
through.
The soldiers here believe that he ought to be
helped, and will do all they can to assist him;
but believing that the soldiers of the whole
country would like to render assistance to a
cOmrade in trouble of this nature, called
meeting to make the proper arrangements to
raise sufficient money to assist him in the en-
ployment of attorneys and paying the other
expenses necessary in defending him. At this
meeting committee of five was appointed to
take charge of this matter of raising money
and looking up the evidence, and they were
given full power to act as representatives of the
soldiers of this County, as they might deem
best. This committee is composed of the fol-
lowing named persons: VIM. p. Robinson, Colo
mel, 23d Mo-; A. J. Fuller, Co. l, 1st Mo. Cav;
Jackson Walker, Co. f. 36th Ind, and U. S.
Signal Corps; Ed. S. Miner Co. G. 1st Wis
Cav, and w. II. Skinner, 160th Ohio. all resi-
dents of Bethany Harrison Co., Mo.
At a meeting of this committee held May %,
1885, Col. w. p. Robinson was elected chair
man and treasurer, and it was decided to call
on the old soldiers of the Union army and all
others who feel an interest in this matter to
each make small donation for the benefit and
assistance of Williams, who, we believe is be-
ing harassed, prosecuted, and distressed for an
act done as soldier, acting under the orders
of his superior officers and in the line of his
duty as SUCH
All subscriptions and donations should be
forwarded at once to Col. W. P. Robinson, Beth
any, Harrison Co., Mo.-CoMMITTEE, Bethany,
Mo