The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-17
PLAYING FOR LIFE.
A SPY'S SCHEME TO TRICK HIS
PRISON GUARDS.
Making Believe Deaf and Dumb Un'
der Trying Circumstances
Three Attempts to Catch
Him Mapping Fail.


Three Attempts to Catch
Him Mapping Fail.
When General Early made his great
raid on Washington, writes an ex-Con-
federate in the Detroit Free Press, I was
scouting between his advance and the
city, and was captured within the city
limits twenty-four hours before his bat
tle-fags appeared in sight. I was dressed
in citizens clothes, pretended to be deaf
and dumb, and claimed to have been
driven out of Richmond, because I had
written threatening letters to Jefferson
Davis.
I had been inside the Notifications for
half day, and was slowly working out,
when couple of young men, both OF
whom were considerably the worse tor
liquor, halted me and wanted to tight.
I had pencil and block of paper with
me, and I wrote:
"I am deaf and dumb"
That made no difference with them.
Indeed, they declared that it would be
novel idea to lick deaf and dumb man,
and one of them gave me a cuff on the
ear.
In those DAYS I weighed 100 pounds
and had the muscle of prize fighter. !
tried to get away from them without
further trouble, but when they seemed
determined to have row l gave them
all they wanted, and wasn't many min
utes about it. A crowd of soldiers and
civilians collected the provost guard
came up, and the result was as 1 had an
ticipated. Twas arrested and carried OH
to a guard house. One of the young
men, who afterward turned out to be re-
lated to a member of the cabinet, fol-
lowed me to the office of the provost
marshal and charged me with being a
spy. No one seemed to entertain a doubt
that was deaf and dumb, as claimed,
and nv examination was carried on In
writing. was asked my name, age,
where born and hundred other ques,
tions. and then searched. They found
nothing on me Of eliminating nature,
and + reasoned that would be detained
until after the excitement had passed and
then turned loose.
After being detained three days an Of
ficer entered my quarters one morning
and said to me:
"Well, dummy, you can pack up and
get out"
The minute heard his step outside 1
was on my guard, but he spoke in such a
natural tone that came near giving my
self awav. On three different occasions
during the war I played the part OF a
deaf and dumb man, and l tell you 1t
takes all the nerve and presence OF mlnd
a man can call up I sat facing the door,
and, while heard his words, made no
movement. He came closer to me and
said:
'Come, pack up your traps; you are
to be turned loose" .,
Hooked him straight in the eyes with.
out winking, and after bit look OF
chagrin stole over his face and ne mo-
toned for me to follow him.
He took me to the provost marshars
Office, and was ushered into private
room, where the marshal and three or
four other officials were seated. On the
way to the office, as we crossed a wide
street, the officer suddenly exclaimed:
.sThere's q runaway horse-look out!
If I hadn't been expecting some such
thing on his part might hnve betrayed
myself. As I gave no sign, continuing
on with my head down, l heard MIN
growing:
"They think they've got a sucker, but
they'll find out their mistake"
7 entered the Office, knowing. that
eve.y trick would be resorted to to break
me down, and my nerves were oraced
as if to charge a battery OF artillery.
was left standing by the door TOR a
moment, when one of the officials looked
up quietly and said:
"Take seat, sir, and we'll attend TO
you in moment"
made no move, but looked around
the room in stupid sort of way. l was
looking out of the window on to roof
when the same official said:
sYou may come forward and take this
chair
I stood like stone, and he rose up,
came over to me, and led me to chair
at the table. When I vas seated one OF
the others remarked:
"Write your name, age and last place
of residence on a slip of paper"
That was trick number three and 1t
failed as the other had done. By and by
the marshal wrote on slip of paper:
"Who are you, and where fromT
Iwrote in reply: >,
eI am Charles Jones, of Richmond"
ssBut you are Union man?" suggested
one of the officers aloud.
saw his lips move, but he got no sign
from me. The examination continued
in this manner for full hour, the men
using every artifce to trap me, but they
failed to score single point. l knew
they would reserve the sharpest trick to
the last and was therefore nerved up for
it. At length the marshal pushed back
in his chair, pointed his finger at my
breast and angrily exclaimed:
"Where did that Confederate button
come from?"
It was another failure. Then ne turned
to his companions and said:
"Gentlemen, it's no use. The man IS
certainly deaf and dumb and blamed
fool besides"
"We have wasted our time, replied
second. ''He is not only what ne claims
to be, but may be of great service to u.s.
I'd have the officer take him over TO the
secretary of war"
Iguess I WILL" said the officer and
I. 80 O boll and T heard the door open.