Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-04-04
MeNIEL'S RECORD.
Republican Nominee for Auditor
of st. Louis.

Der of Porter's command. The
last report is correct with a few
exceptions, which | will attempt
10 correct. This man Allsman
was not only regarded by the Cen
federate soldiers as Il spy, but by
McNiel's own men as we'll. L
speak from personal knowledge,
being a member of McNiel's
regiment at the time, and it was
always my opinion that McNiel's
men made away with Allsman,
and not Porter's. My reasons Tor
thinking so are based upon threats
! frequently heard made by Nc
Niel's men, that if Allsman did
not quit causirg them SO much
trouble by sending them of On
false reports to the effect that we
would find at 4 certain time SO
many rebels at Il certain farm
house, etc, they would sometime
leave him to hunt up the scattering
bands of rebels that he always was
telling us about, and report to the
command that the bushwhackera
had captured him. The 10 mel
shot were not all prisoners OF a
Some were peaceable citizens that
had never seen a days service.
Now as to Strachan's proposition
to Ms. Humphrey, the wife of one
Of the condemned men. The poor
woman went to Strachan 10 plead
for the life of her husband, and
was told if she would submit to his
wishes and raise him $1,000 that
her husband would be released.
She visited her husband and sub
mitted Strachan's proposition to
him. He told her to preserve her
honor, but If money consldera-
ton would save him to use every
effort to secure the amount. Some
thing over $500 was raised by her
friends, and with that she went to
Strachan. He, Strachan, held out
for the $1,000, stating to her that
half of the amount would 60 to
McNiel. She could not raise more
money, and against the p~rotesta-
tons of her husband and for the
| great love she bore him, submitted
to Strachan's demands, besides
giving him all the money she
could secure. 1t is not correct thai
her husband was afterwards cap
tured and shot under some pretext
He and els noble wife are residents
of Lewis County, Missouri, and are
honored by all who know them
The 10 mel shot at Palmyra We're
not the only men McNiel had
shot, and when the government
demonstrated with him and init
mated that he would be arrested
and tried by court-martial, he
framed Il petition justifying his
course, and hundreds Of names
were signed to the petition who
never saw McNiel or his petition,
aud many prominent citizens OF
Palmyra were forced to sign it.
Mr.. Editor, you can furthe. ask
McN1el what became of the pro-
ceeds OF the thousands of horses
that were gathered up from all
over the county, called contraband,
shipped to St. Louis and sold to
the government. Why don't
McNiel visit his old Second Regi.
ment? A great many of US are
still here. The fact is, | DOM
think he could make the round
trip, and he knows it.
A MEMBER OF Co. D SECOND NJ SIN
A gentleman in St. Louis, talking
to st. Louis Republic reporter.
said:
Il don't care to figure in this
discussion. | witnessed the mas,
sacre. | know that McNiel was
cognizant of, and the director
through his deputy, Col. Strachan,
department provost-marshal, of the
decimal murder which stains the
annals of our unhappy war. !
paid $500 III hard cash, and Mrs
Thos. Humphrey surrendered hel
title to conjugal honor to saw
the husband she loved from The
slayer.
This transaction involved the
need of a substitution. which
however, the infamy was quite
equal to.
"A presumably innocent youth
in the common Jail at the time
was selected us the vlCarIous sacrl
flee without option, and done t(
death in that memorable massacre
which y years afterwards cries Il
heaven.
THAT Col. Strachan cruelty ant
financially traded upon the posi-
bilities of his place with the in
dorsement and support of hi
general behind him is SO far out
side the region of dispute that as
matter ofrecord and at the instance
ofJohn T. Gloverhe was cashiered
There is always, however, SOM
defence available for a scoundrel
and in this particular instance
now famous lawyer stained hi
early record by securing the rein
statement of the Infamous, lech
erous wretch. What fragment
may have renamed of once fin
person since ultimate disposition
by doctors occupy an unhonore'
and unmarked grave near New
Orleans. The judgment of Co
dogs the footsteps of such friends.
You Are All Right.
To tile Editor of the Ledger.
SAILING TOWNSHIP, AUDRAIS Co.
MISSOURI, April Please tell u