The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-08
USED POST STATIONERY.

John A. Clark, 18th ILL.,, Court-Mar:ialed
and DishonorabIy Discharged from Grant
Post for swindIing Comrades.
Grant Post, ]. GAR. at Oklahoma City, Okla,
resulted in his conviction On several charges
aud specifications, viz:
Conduct prejudica to good order and dis
cipine," in using the official stationery OF the
Post and his position as Adjutant to secure
COZ fdcnce in a scheme 10 inveigle money out
Of old soldiers by pretense of making filings
for them on lands in the Cherokee Strip.
Commission of a scandalous and criminal
offense against the laws of the land" in that
the said John A. Clark, as q member of said
Posi-. did. In the years of 1892 and 1898, send
abroad into Texas, Indiana. and other portions
of the United States, circular letters, pledges,
agreements, guarantees, etc, under the en-
blems devices, color, stamp, and insignia OF the
noble Order of the q and A rmy of the Republic,
by which means he caused numerous comrades
or other ola soldiers to send to him moneys in
amounts from $l2 10 $27 each, under duly
signed agreement with each one that the money
WAS TO he intrusted with him, to be held for
payment of services as attorney in the work of
making soldiers deClaratory filings for home
stead rights on 100 acres of land Tor each of the
said soldiers with whom such agreement was
made, or TO refund the said moneys upon failure
so 10 do; and that the said Clark having made
the foregoing specified agreements, did not
make the stipu lated filings nor return the
moneys. but utterly ignored the requests of
his victims to return said moneys; and that
the finding, from the evidence, of the physical
impossi5ility OF the said Clark to fulfill said
agreements the original receiving of said
moneys was, by intention and action, plainly
evident of design on the part of said Clark
to obtain said moneys from the said old soldiers
on pretenses wholly without any foundation IN
law. aud therefore false.
Disobedence of lawful orders Of the Post
in utterly and repeatedly ignoring summonses
Of the Post to appear and answer the COM
plants of old soldiers with whom he had
broken agreements in the aforesaid land fling
matters. and in nowise Offering to satisfy said
mrsints, thereby increasing the stigma of
dishOEor and criminality which he had already
thrown upon the Post by the apparent indorsc-
ment by the Post of the methods OF said Clark
i'm obtaining money from old comrades under
false preienses and promises
Among the old soldiers who claim to he
viCti mixed by Clark are: George S. Brown,
Jacksboro, Tex; W. H. Robbins Dennison,
Tex; Edwin Harter lchacl Robinson, James
H. Rogers and Harvey II. Miller, Huntington.
Ind. The other witnesses are ii. II. Black,
Aonzo ketchum c. A. Calhoun, o. II. Hill. O..
d. Munger. Oklahoma City, Okla Ter, MEN,
bers of Grant Post.
The finding OF The court was Guilty to each
charge and each speci fcatlon." and the sentence,
Dishonorabie discharge from the Grand Army
of the Republic" Testimony indicated that
the moneys TINS obtained by Clark amounted
TO about 81. 500 more. At a single town in
Texas one cCmrade alleged that he aud 20
others paid Clark S27 each. or $567.
By order of Grant Post, !. GAR, Department
of Oklahoma. J. w. EvARTs, Adjutant.