Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-04-13
AREAL ENOCH ARDEN
A Union Soldier Killed In Bat
tie Returns After Nearly Thir-
ty Years and Is Recognized
by His Claimant Not
Sustained In Court.

by His Family-Claimant Not
Sustained In Court.
On April 6, 1862, William Newly,
private in an Illinois regiment, was
killed and buried on the field of Shi.
loh. At all events, no question of the
fact was raised for nearly 80 wears.
He left in the town of Carmi, Ills. a
widow and mother.
Nearly four years ago man walk
ed into Carmi. hatless and hy no
means well clad, and announced that
he was Newly, the lost soldier. No
body recognized him mt first, and this
was not surprising after such a lapse
of time. But he talked with old res
dents of the place and recalled so
many ante-war incidents, with remin-
Iscences of persons and places, that fin
ally they were convinced Of his iden-
ity. lie explained that he had been
shot in the head and left on the battle
field. Afterward he recovered con-
sciousness and was made prisoner, be-
ing taken to Libby prison.
Being partly deprived of reason by
his wound, he spent many years in
Southern poorhouses until at length
he landed in the almshouse at Tay-
lorsville, Ills, where he came to him.
self again and remembered who he
was.
Now, it is quite true that he was for
a time i'm the almshouse at Tay,ors-
vile. There he met an old man nam
ed Joseph Newly, brother Of the vii.
liam who fought at Shiloh.
This aged pauper was rather gar
rulous and had many stories to i'm
part about his brother William, the
history of the family, incidents re-
specting old residents of Carmi and its
neighborhood, etc. incidentally it
was made 10 appear that William, if
he were alive, would be entitled to
500, 1000 in pension arrears.
The new acquaintance listened until
he was chock full Of information. Then
he declared to the astonished Joseph
that he was in very truth his long lost
brother, William Newly.
This part of the story did not come
out until later. Meanwhile friendly
citizens OF Carmi sent to Tennessee for
William Newby's wife. She came,
but at first repudiaied the alleged lost
soldier. Nevertheless he succeeded in
persuading her fully of his identity,
while his supposed mother recognized
him almost immediately as her son.
Presumably there would never have
been any further dispute in the mat
ter, and the sol disant Newly would
have received the $4,000 pension
money for which he at once applied
had ii not been that he was accident
ally recognized by an ex-convict, who
declared that he had met him in the
penitentiary at Nashville, where he was
known as Rickety Dan Benton and
was serving an Is years sentence for
horse stealing.
This caused an investigation. Thos.
II. Mcbride, one of the most expert
officers in the employ Of the pension
office was sent to look the matter up.
He traced the history of Dan Benton
back to his earliest childhood, account
ing for every year of his life
He was borne in Tennessee and was
rickety from infancy. His wife and
son were found who recognized him
without hesitation. In short, the
meshes were woven about him so
closely that there seemed no possibili-
ty of escape.
But the other side was equally
strong. The alleged Newly was
recognized with as great positiveness
by his supposed wife and mother
Many of the best citizens of Carmi
and its vicinity were entirely satisfied
of his identity, including men promi-
nent in the G.. A. r.
The case came up for trial. The
proceedings occupied II days. The
defense used 200 witnesses, the govern
ment about 60.
There was almost riot in and
about the courtroom. Attempts were
made to intimidate the jurors. Never
theless Newly. or Rickety Dan. was
found guilty of perjury and of making
false claim for pension.
Motion for new trial being over
ruled, an appeal was made 10 the
supreme court of the United States. |
This was lismissa,l an tachnical |
grounds. Again on writ Of error
the case was taken to the supreme
court, only to be again dismissed a
few days ago and remanded to the
lower court for the accomplishment of
the sentence. Rickety Dan Benton
has been clapped into Jail by this time.