The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-03
ROMANCE OF THE WAR
Remarkable Story on Which a
Claim for $4,000 Is Based.
How Henry Pelham, Of Indiana, Was
Induced to Enter the Confederate
Service-The Sale of a Note.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Speclal TO the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "A great many
romances and interesting stories are found
buried beneath that wagon load Of wal
claims piled away in the room of a House
committee. Whether under the measure
proposed by Mr.. Culbertson, of Texas.
which let's down the bars to disloyalty in
proving the equity Of these claims. many
of the unjust ones are paid or not, there
will ever be found in them much Of inter-
est.
There came near passing the House, the
other day. one of these measures, which has
a peculiar interest, especially to lawyers.
1t was the claim of Louis Pelham, of Indi-
ana, for 5000. When the late war was pre-
cipitated Louis and Henry Pelham, brothers,
were doing a prosperous merchandising bus
mess in a little village in southern Indiana.
Henry had married a Tennessee woman,
whose family and relatives. being secession
lists, Immediately entered the confederate
army. The Pelhams were all loyal citizens.
1t was a case of the wife swaying
the husband and turning him, po-
litically, from his family. AS the
war grew apace ard excitement
ran high Henry Pelham became restless I'M
der the persuasive influences of his wife.
Her brothers and father were wearing the
gray, and she felt it her duty bound to
enlist her husband in the services of her
native South. Finally Henry Pelham an
bounced to his brother that he wanted to
retire from business. He had a snug little
fortune outside of his business. He sold
out for $1,000, and took his brothers note
for that amount. Shortly afterward Henry
turned up in the confederate ranks. Time
wore on. and presently Louis Pelham, the
purchasing brother, was fighting with the
Indiana boys for Uncle Sam. 1t was BROTH
er against brother. Toward the close Of
the war Louis returned home. He knew
not whether his brother had fallen or he
yet lived. Maybe he had fallen by a bull
let from the brothers own musket. Who
knew?
There was confiscation of the property of
disloyal subjects, forced enlistments, and
dragnet thrown out for every available
no1sed about New Harmony, Ind, that
Henry Pelham was in the confederate
army; he was a disloyal subject. Old cit
liens that he had sold his share
Of the business in the Pelham store to his
brother, who must have paid him in a note.
A process was issued. and the supposition
Was true: So the note, presumably in the
pocket of Henry Pelham, then sleeping on
the tented field, was confiscated. 1t was
advertised and sold by the United States
transcript of it or bill of sale for it. Louis
Pelham, the drawer. attended the sale and
bought in the note. He knew IL was good.
He took his receipt from the marshal, and
his business continued.
1T last the war closed. Henry Pelham
returned TO his old home. Reconstruction
followed, and all was well, so far as per-
sonal relations were concerned. Henry
called upon his brother for those $1,000 and
presented his note. He was amazed to
learn of the confiscation, the sale and the
purchase of the note by his brother for
$1,000. He did not blame his brother for
bidding in the note. Somebody else would
have purchased Ii, for 1t was collectable.
But Louis said it was paid. Henry said
mo-" it could not be paid. because he had
carried the note in his pocket during the
war. Here it was; see 1t, just
He got judgment against his brother.
Then the brother Louis sued the United
States marshal for libel, for having been
swindled out of his 5000. The United
confscated; that to have confiscated the
debt 1t would have been necessary to have
seized and sold the note actually drawn by
Louis Pelham, loyal, in behalf Of Henry
cured against the official United States
marshal. 1t became a question whether
the marshal could get the money for Louis.
Henry was now out of the question The
matter of loyalty or disloyalty had disap-
peared. 1t was q problem of a loyal man
getting out of the United States treasury
a sum of money ~wrongfully taken from him
by process under misrepresentation. Henry
had collected his $1,000 from Louis. The
only way money can be restored to the
wronged person under such circumstances
I is by appropriation from Congress-adop-
ton of a bill recognizing the Righteousness
of the obligation and making appropria-
ton. A bill to this end has been favorably
by the committees on claims
in Congress-, but the question of loyalty
has arisen time and again and defeated ac-
ton. The bill was called up by Mr.. Tay-
lor, of Indiana, a few days ago, and would
have passed the House with a whirl, but
doubt as to the question Of loyalty In
| some members mind, and so IL goes.