Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-24

tition of an Humble Individual
 and PronAises Assistanoe.
 Detective Carter tells in the Washing. ton Star 8 story of the saving of his brother-in-laws life during the rebel lion. The person whose life was spared was Charles H. Scott, who has since died. "In 1880, whom Scott was still boy," said the detective to a reporter, "he was learning b1acksmithing at Q little place called Anandale, in Fair fax County, Va. He became dissatisfied with his country home and enlisted in the Union army. He was with General Twiggs in Texas when the latter sur rendered his small army to the oppos- ing forces, and himself joined their forces. Young Scott refused to go with the enemy and was consequently made Q prisoner. He was afterward exchanged when General Banks was on the Red river. Scott fought gallantly in the battles in which he participated, and was atterward transferred to the Eighth Regulars. Under the command of Gen. eral Mcclellan he served in the Penin- sular campaign, and took part in many battles. Having become a sergeant, he was sent in the early part of 1864 to Johnson's Island, N. Y, with rebel pris- oners.
 "While in New York he managed to get separated from his comrades, and instead of going to Johnson's Island he got under the influence of liquor. Some days afterwArd he was arrested in New York City as Q deserter, and as such was sent to Governors Island. He had not been there long before he was tried by court-martial and sentenced to be shot.
 Although under sentence of death" !" continued Detective Carter, II con- tinued to receive letters from him, but he didn't even intimate where he was, and l, of course, was under the i'm pression that he was still doing regular duty until one Saturday night, when received letter from him in which he stated his case and asked me to do what I could for him. He asked me to see President Lincoln and plead for his life. l went out in search of some one who could get an audience with the President and I met John H. Semmes, who was then running for mayor. stated to him the case of my brother-in- law, and asked him to do what te could.
 "'Certainly,' was his reply, and to- gether we went to the National Hotel, where we met Senator J. H. Lane, who was an intimate friend of the mayoralty candidate. The Senator was on his way to the sick chamber of friend, but he agreed to go to the White House and in tercede in behalf of the condemned man.
 Ut was then after eight o'clock Sat 'urday night, and Scott was to be shot on the following Monday morning. l called a carriage, and in a few minutes we reached the White House. The Senator's card was at once honored, and we were admitted. There was New York delegate occupying the Presidents attention at the time. President Lincoln was just finishing joke when we entered, and the New Workers had a good laugh, as though they enjoyed the Presidents story.
 "When the Senator approached the President the New Workers stepped back and Mfr. ,Semmes and were introduced. I related the story of my brother-in- laws arrest and sentence. After brief conversation the President had a tele- gram sent to General Dix, who was then in command in New York, instructing him not to enforce the sentence until l the papers had been forwarded to Wash ington for examination, 'and,' added the President, I'll assure you that the young man will not be shot unless ht | deserted in the face of the enemy At the direction of the President MT Semmes and myself returned to the Ex ecutive Mansion the following day which was Sunday. While we were waiting to see the President Secretar.
 Stanton passed through the room, ant in a couple of minutes the Presiden
 sent for us. He had dispatch in hi
 hand, which he had received from Gen
 eral Dix, stating that under a genera
 order all persons in confnemen
 charged with military offenses were en
 titled to discharge, and that Scott cam
 under that order. The President feel
 ingly assured us that in any case h
 would have spared Scott's life, as he ha'
 done gallant service, and had not de
 serted when his services were mos
 needed. Scott afterward re-enlisted
 and Q few years ago he died at Littl
 Rock, Ark. I still have the dispatch,
 concluded Detective Carter, (which wa
 received by President Lincoln fror