Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-21
LE CARON THE BRITISH SPY.
Hancock Post of tho Grand Army
Looks Up His Record.
WAS DISMISSED IN DISGRACE.
The Man Who Joined tho Army and
Secret Societies to Betray Them
mo Fears That He VIII
Appeal.
Court-martiaiing a sooundrc,.

CHICAGO, June 20,-[Special Telegram to
THE BEE. lie Caron, the British spy, was
tonight tried by his comrades in Winfield
Hancock Post, No. $50, G. A. r., and sum-
mariy dismissed from the Grand Army of
the Republic.
The charges against him were that he was
unworthy Of being comrade of the other
members, and the trial was brought about
by his testimony given In the Parnell case.
Added to this Is a story of peculiar interest
as to his identification by the members OF the
post, and which points to the fact that Le
Caron not only spent his time IN America in
acting as spy against the Irish revolution.
lists, but also joined the United States army,
and the G.. A. II. for the purpose OF giving
information to the British government.
About two years ago an Irishman of this
city brought LIE Caron to Lieutenant of De-
tectives George Heintzman, and introduced
the two; lie Caron had Joined Post $50 some
time before. Helntzman, who was major of the
Eighty second regiment, Illinois volunteers,
has great influence in Grand Army circles
and is also member of Post $50. AT the
time of the Introduction, Major Heintzman
paid no attention to LIE Caron, and the mat
ter passed out of his mind. The day after
lie Caron gave his testimony in the Parnell
inquiry, the 1rishman came to Major Heintz-
man in a most excited frame of mind. He
asked the major if he remembered LIE Caron,
to whom he introduced him. The major re-
piled that he did not. The freshman then de-
nounced LIE Caron in most vigorous terms
and declared that If he had known the in.
formers true char acter he would never have
introduced him or have been seen with
him in Grand Army circles. 1t happened
that in a room adjoining that where the con-
versation took place was the Rev. Father
Dunno, of Joliet, Will Cowl and brother Of
DIR. Dunn, formerly city physician of Chi.
cago When the Irishman left the major
asked Father Dunno what he thought of that
yarn; The latter said ut is true, every
word of it. He is the same man who mas
confessed to being an English spy. He and
his family are my parishioners."
An investigation was Immediately started.
LIE Caron's papers, on which he got into the
post, were examined. 1t was found that he
was n private in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania
infantry during the war and rose to the rank
of lieutenant in colored infantry regiment.
His history in Braidwood, Will county, ILL.,,
where he kept drug store, was looked into.
1t was found that he simply acted as spy
on the actions OF the miners in that section,
who were members of the |. Il. b.
Then his Chicago record was looked up, and
the inference was made that his object in
joining the G. A Il. was to spy into the Sc
crets of that order, and especially to look
after the Irish members of it.
When these facts were learned Father
Dunno procured photograph of lie Caron.
This was exhibited to all the members of the
post. 1t was Immediately recognized. A
notice of the intended proceedings was sent
to LIE Caron, but no reply has been received.
A court martial was ordered. The court,
met tonight, and after duly considering the
evidence, LIE Caron, alias Beach, was dis
missed in disgrace. He has a chance to up
peal to James S. Martin, department COM
mander of Illinois, and if this fails he can
t,1,, lIr,ll, "a
Kansas City, Mo-. commander in chief.
Hancock post has no fear of an appeal.