The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-05-14

the young men, who afterwards turned
out TO be related to n member OF the
cabinet, followed me to the Office of the
provost marshal. and charged me with
being spy. No one seemed to enter.
tain doubt that was deaf and dumb,
as claimed, and my examination was
carried on in writing. was asked my
name, age, where born, and hundred
other questions, and then searched.
They found nothing of criminating
nature, and l reasoned that would be
detained until after the excitement had
passed and then turned loose.
After being detained three days an
officer entered my quarters one morning
and said to me:
"Well, dummy, you can pack up and
60 out"
The minute heard his step outside
l was on my guard, but he spoke in
such natural tone that | came near
giving myself away. On three different
occasions during the war / played the
part of deaf and dumb man, and tell
you it takes all the nerve and presence
of mind man can call up. l sat fac
ing the door, and while l heard his
words, | made no movement. He came
closer to me and said:
Come, pack up your traps; you are
to be turned loose"
| looked him straight in the eye with
out winking, and after bit look of
chagrin stole over his face and he mo-
toned for me to follow him. He took
me to the provost marsha's office, and
l was ushered into the private room,
where the marshal and three or four
other officials were seated On the way
to the Office, as we crossed wide street,
the officer suddenly exclaimed:
There's a runaway horse-look OUT"
If hadn't been expecting some such
thing on his part might have betrayed
myself. AS gave no sign, continuing
on with my head down, heard him
growing:
They think they've got sucker,
but they'll find out their mistake
l entered the office knowing that
every trick would be resorted to to
break me down, and my nerves were
braced as if to charge battery of artil-
lery. l was left standing by the door
for moment, when one of the officers
looked up quietly and said:
you in moment.
! made no move, but looked around
the room in u stupid sort of way.
was looking out of the window on to
roof when the same officer said:
You may come forward and take
this chair"
stood like stone, and he rose up,
came over to me, and led me TO q chair
at the table. When was seated one of
the others remarked:
''Write your name, age, and last place
of residence on n slip of paper" That
was trick number three, and it failed,
us the others had done. BY and by the
marshal wrote on slip of paper:
''Who are you, and where from?"
l wrote in reply:
81 am Charles Jones. of Richmond"
''But you are a union man," sug-
gested one of the officers aloud.
| saw his lips move. but he got no
sign from me. The examination con-
tinued in this manner for full hour,
the men using every artifice to trap me,
but they failed TO score single point.
| knew they would reserve the sharpest
point for the last, and was therefore
nerved up for it. At length the mar
shall pushed back in his chair, pointed
his finger at my breast and angrily ex-
claimed:
Where did that confederate button
como from?"
1t was another failure. Then he
turned to his companions and said:
Gentlemen, it's no use. The man is
certainly deaf and dumb, and a id
fool besides"
1--WE have wasted our time" replied
u second. "He is not only what he
claims to be, but may be of great service
to us. I'd have the officer take him
over to the secretary of war;"
81 guess WILL" said the officer, and
he rang bell and 1 heard tho door
open. Then he turned to me, careless
as you please, and said:
go with the officer"
1t was their last shot. l never
moved muscle until the officer APP
preached and placed his hand on me.
/ was taken back to the guard-house,
kept prisoner for another week, and
then the disguised marshal turned me
loose in the streets.