Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-09-25
From Richmond State, Sept. 2lst.l
TRY HIM BY SOLDIERS.
NOYALL SUGGESTS A STRIKING MIL
ITARY TRIBUNAL.
WITH WILLIAM H. PAYNE AS
JUDGE.

WAS MALONE THE HERO OF THE cRATER?-
MANY THINK HE WAS NoT-A WARN
ING TO OLD SOLDIERS.
'Mahones clap-trap about paying the
public debt is not likely too fool any real
debt payers" remarked Mr.. W. l.. Royal,
the counsel for the foreign bondholders, as
State reporter ran across him this morn
ing on Main. 81 shall certainly vote against
him, and 1 hope every citizen in the State
of Virginia who thinks about the debt as
do will vote against him. I know they
will.
"But," said Mr.. Royal, s'Mahone's talk
about his Confederate record is liable to
fool some good old Confederate soldiers.
WAS MALONE A soLDIERs
'Many people, of whom am one, be-
lieve that Malone was no soldier, but a
hnmbug. Now, if the Democrats want to
show Malone to the people in his true COL
ors let them get mp a meeting at the Rich.
mond Theatre for trial of the question
whether Malone was soldier or not. Let
the prosecutors be Gen. Jubal A. Early,
Gen. Harry Heth, Gen. G. M. Wilcox, Gen.
Gen. D. II. Weisiger, with Gen. William b.
Payne to conduct the prosecution.
THE NERO OF THE CRATER.
"Twelve or fifteen years ago." continued
Mr.. Royal, ga biography of General Ma
hone appeared in an historical magazine
published in New York, written by General
]. Watt De Peyster, which appeared on it's
face to have been revised by General Ma
hone; and am informed that Malone af-
forwards admitted that it had been so re-
vised by him. In this biography 1t is stated
that Malone was PROFESSIONALLY the hero
of the fight at the Crater. Who was the
hero and " 20 was not the hero of the fight
is of course matter of opinion. In my
opinion, Malone had nothing to do with it.
Gen. D. HI. Weisiger, who commanded the
Virginia brigade that made that fight, and
who was shot through. the body in it, has
published card that he retook the crater
in disregard and defiance of Gen. Mahone's
orders whilst he (Mshone) was ensconsed in
the Covered Way
'tLet inquiries be made" said Mr.. Roy
all, upon the stage of the Richmond Thea
tire, under the auspices named, "into the
truth of this charge and judgment be given
accordingly.
TRIAL CoNTUMAX.
eff Gen. Malone, after being notified of
the meeting, failed to appear, try him then
as the French do, contumo1. 1t is an ev-
ery-day occurrence in France. If the de.
PENDANT fails to appear when summoned the
evidence is heard and Judgment given
against him, just as though he was in court.
If my memory serves mo Alright General
Count Bertrand, who accompanied Napo-
leon Bonapsrte to St. Helena, was tried in
his absence by Louis XVIII's Government
contuma1 aud sentenced to death. 1 think
I read in the newspapers recently that Gen.
Boulanger had been tried contanaaG and in
his absence condemned. Don't let any sol.
der that Mahoue ever commanded sup
pose that any reflection would be intended
by such proceeding upon those COM
mands. Upon all hands it is conceded that
a more heroic body of men than this never
fixed bayouets. The charge is that when
they did their great deeds of heroism Ma
hone was cot in command"