The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-04-11
A MAD EXPLOIT.
By ALFRED R. CALHOUN.
Copyright, 1895, by the Author


that induced that act. | regret to say
that information obtained since then
confirms our suspicious and forces on us
tho conviction that you are spies from
the enemy who have entered our lines7
with forged papers and III the uniform
of friends. | have communicated with
General Gordon Granger at Triune and
General Rusecrans at Murfreesboro.
You are unknown by your present
names to our army These facts will be
proved to the drumhead court martial
which have summoned to try you. If
you can refute the charges and prove
that you are friends or at least that You
are not spies, for one will be glad of it,
and think | can say the same for every
officer here.
AT this point one of the lamps went
out, and an orderly lit number of can
dies and laid them along the table
about which the officers sat and before
which the prisoners stood, though chairs
had been placed for them.
Anton moved uneasiy and kept mois-
tening his lips and clearing his throat
while Colonel Baird was speaking. At
the conclusion he said in hoarse ven
triloquial voice that must have sounded |
strange to himself:
Gentlemen, l have made misrepre-
sensations as to myself and my compan-
ion, yet l must protest against our being |
treated as spies. ~
Following this there was nervous
coughing from the officers about the ia
BILE and shutting of feet on the bare
floor. Although there was no doubt as
! to his character, Anton's confession
( startled even Colonel Watkins, who was
| an old soldier, and not unfamiliar with
such scenes.
"If you are not spies, =" said Colonel
Baird, you will have chance to dis
prove the charge. Wewill now proceed
with the examination of the facts be-
fore us.
1T is unnecessary to go into an ex-
animation, " said Anton, and he leaned
both hands OH the back of chair for
support as he added, II am ready to
make confession for myself and my
companion.
He stopped and looked about him, as
if waiting for consent to proceed; then,
at nod from Colonel Baird, he contin-
ued:
I'VE are not in the Federal service
at this time.
Anton stopped again and coughed.
The silence was becoming painful, and
it was evident that no could not go ON
without prompting.
by the Federal service, said
Colonel Watkins, ''you mean the serv-
ice Of the United States?'
81 do. "
Were you ever in that service?"
81 was"
"When?''
up to the 10th of June, 1861"
"Where did you serve?'
"In the Second dragons.
, "And how did you leave the service?"
: 81 resigned.
r "What was your name in the Second
! dragoons?"
, Nv. Ortop Williams"
, And your rank?'
- First lieutenant.
"Why did you resign your commits
sion at that timer
The prisoner should have been pre-
pared for this question:; but, Judging by
its effect he evidently was not. He
moistened his lips again, and the hands
clutching the back of the chair strained
and trembled. He looked appealing at
Colonel Baird, as if he might say that
it was not necessary to answer, but the
commander at Franklin did not lift his
eyes from the papers he was nervously
shutting. AT length, and with hard
, effort, Anton replied:
81 resigned because about all my
, friends in the regiment had taken the
, side of the south. ="
"And what did you do after your
i resignation" asked the memorable Wat
II kins.
+ II went south
q "Why did you go south?"
because my family lived there"
"Was that your only reason?''
!, The prisoner moved uneasily again
!. and looked appealingly about him, but
he saw neither hope nor sympathy in
!. the stern, bronzed faces around him.
n Colonel Watkins still as calm as if the
70 scene in which he was so prominent an
IS actor was entirely familiar and COM
a monplace, asked:
Ibid you not Join the rebel army,
# Mr.. Williams?"
r. The prisoners face flushed as if q
If crimson light had been flashed ON it fol
an instant; then it turned ashy again,
ID but he replied with more spirit than he
R. had yet shown:
II Joined the army of the Confeder
acy."
And since joining the army of the
~ rebels, or the Confederacy, if that namt
. suits you better, you have neither re
~ signed nor been mustered out?"
v mo"
"Yet you have entered the Unior
of lines, with your companion, in our uni
is form and with forged papers ON youl
RS person. You have made representation
you know to be false and all this t
betray US to your friends, who are now
st assembling in force near by?"
1, Colonel Watkins evidently expected
no reply, for he half turned his chai1
: from the prisoner and began to drum OIL
the table with his fingers.
II protest, | protest." cried the pris
oner. 1--WE are not spiesp'
. "Then we are id foolsr" sait
Watkins.
The prisoners confession was writer
out, and he was asked to sign it witt
his companion. In this confession tn
word "spy" was not used, nor was thi
necessary to fix the crime of these mel
in the mind of the court
"As to myself, said Anton, 18th
I statement is true, but l shall refuse t
i sign it. "
"As you will" responded Colone
Baird. THE officers here assemble
have heard you" Then, turning t