The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-04-04


military court Nothing can excuse
It, There may DO something to palliato
1t. conjure you to speak before the
court brings in verdict and names
your punishment -
"Mr. President" replied Maynard,
"for my act toward this army am nc.
countable to you as court martial con-
yoned to try mo; for my aot as ono Of
right or wrong, Of honor or dishonor,
am accountable only to a tribunal with
which you havo nothing to do Do not
waste valuable timo. Before tho sun
sets twice, If I mistake not you will
; have moro important work to do in
tho reception Of tho enemy. Do your
duty as a court, and do it with dis
patch"
Thore was not al officer present but
looked at Maynard with curious adj
miration. 1t was plain that no had sac
rificod himself, though it was not OIL
tiroly plaiL why. Even those who con-
demned him most bitterly seemod to
hesitate to bring in verdict which
would naturally carry with it tho pun
ishment Of death.
"You arc mistaken, colonel" said
ono Of thom, referring to Maynard's
predictions. '"The enemy havo beon in
full retreat over sinoo we left Murfrccs-
boro. l only foar hos going to giyo us
tho slip again."
II regret your confidence sir" re-
piled Maynard. II am aware that 9th
ers feel as you do, and it is mistake
which will cost this army DEAR
"Nonsenso. Haven't we"-
"This is not the place to discuss prob
lens for which only our commanding
general is responsible, interrupted the
president. "Let tho prisoner leave tho
court ~
Maynard was led away, and tho court
proceeded to consider verdict. There
was little time spent OH it, for thcro
was but one thing to do, and that was
to mako it "guilty Of the charge and
guilty Of the specification Then be-
gan q discussion Of the punishmcnt
One Of the members stated that it was
personally known to him for a fact that
the accused had one year bofore visited
Chattanooga as spy, when the place
was hold by the Confederates, had been
captured, tried, condemned and sell
fenced to be hanged; that Jacob Slack,
a boy who was now serving as his o.
derly, had been with him; that no had
contrived to get news Of Maynard's con-
dition to Missouri Slack, his sister, at
Jasper, Tenn; that she had gono to
Chattanooga, had entered his Jail, had
exchanged clothes with the prisoner and
thus effected his escape; that he had
been concealed and afterward holped
through tho lines by n Miss Fain, whom
he had married Oh reaching tho Union
lines.
II put 1T to you, gentlemen, " ho con-
oluded, "could one whose lifo had been
saved by women carry out q sentence
of death upon woman for tho SAND
o1tense for which 1t was intended he
should suffer-"
The speaker knew nothing Of tho re.
lationo existing between Maynard and
Fitz Hugh. 1t is impossible to know
what might have been the effect had ho
possessed this knowledge. The court
acted only on the information commu-
nloated by the officer who told tho story
or Maynard's experience as q spy, and
the main facts in this were known
throughout the army. The oircum-
stances Of the accused's sentence by
Confederates to be hanged for O spy and
his escape tho valuable service ho had
rendered tho Union cause. the reasons
ne had for not wishing to shoot wom-
all, saved his life. The sentence of tho
court was that he be dismissed tho scrv-
loo, with forfeiture Of all pay and omol-
uments
Whom this sentence was communicate
cd to Colonel Maynard, he was in his
tent, waiting to know his fate. Ho had
expected to be shot. He hardly knew
whether he was more moved by the lcni-
ency shown him or moro disappointed
at being obliged to live a disgraced
man. But ono reason gave him comfort
that ne was not to dse-his wife He
knew that, although all others looked
upon him with horror, she would love
him all the more that he suffered.