Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-11
They Walk Away With Goods Right in
Face of Merchants.
LAUGHS At PROCEEDING.
Some officers and Men Of Command,
However, Sign Statement Deeply
DepIoring the Occurrencc-Prose-
cution of Colonel Probable.

MACON. GA, February 10-The mer-
chants and businessmen Of Macon are
highly indignant tonight over the
atroclous robberies committed by mem
bers Of the Second Ohio Regiment to-day,
as they were being mustered out Of the
number Of the merchants sent wagons
loaded with merchandise out TO the camp
to sell to the discharged soldiers The
colonel ordered them to leave the camp,
and upon their refusal to do so stood
by laughing while the goods were being
forcibly carried away.
The robberies committed by the men
did not end here. but they came to the
city, and while under the influence of
liquor went into several stores and
walked out with goods right in the face
of the amazed merchants. Several OF
them were arrested. and, after turning
over the goods. We're released. They also
went to various houses and committed
all kinds of depredations one Of the
charges against them being felonious
assault.
STATEMENT FROM OFFICERS.
This conduct was not general with the
members OF the regiment, and is deeply
deplored by large number of the better
class of the men. y number of officers
Of the regiment signed the following
written statement:
THE officers and men of the Second
Ohio Regiment, with the exception Of the
colonel, j. a. Kuert, feel very much cha
| grned at the outrage perpetrated this
morning upon several Of your merchants
at the camp-ground. They were there a.
| free American citizens. selling their goods
| and delivering them TO men who had pre-
| viously engaged them. The Colonel or
| dered them out Of the grounds and
| threatened TO turn the boys loose Oh theh
wares if they did not go. This was prac
| tcally telling the men 10 go ahead and
| rob the merchants, ana was an outrage
| by which a majority Of the men are very
much Inundated.
CsigneD Captain X. d. Smith. Lieuten
ant 9. c. Rutledge. Lieutenant j. f.
Henkle r.. f.. Syker. w II. Wilson. Ma
jor WorthingtOn Kaufman, John Corey
Major Campbell"
This statement was prepared hurriedly
| just before the train started, otherwist
many more signatures would have beer
added.
REGIMENT IN DISGRACE.
when the regiment came 10 Macon d
number Of the men looted stores along the
way. and were furious when the loca
papers took the matter up. The regiment
left the city i'm disgrace. and number
Of those who We're not included in the
rotous set stayed behind because they
were ashamed Of the conduct OF then
comrades. Three Of the men are held al
police headquarters now.
The loss to the Macon merchants viii
amount 10 considerable. one merchant
had ia close his store. so heavy was his
| loss, and he says that he is ruined for
ever He was even robbed Of his over
| coat. and his negro driver. who had on a
| pair Of gold-rimmed spectacles, was re-
| lieved of them
a requisitlon viii probably be made on
| the Governor Of Ohio for the return OF
| Colonel Kuert TO this State for prosecu'
| tion. as aiding and abetting the robbery
KITERT DENIES RESPONSIBILITY
MACON. GA, February 10-Colone
| Kuert Of the Second Ohio Regiment. was
| waited on before he left to-day by one OF
the merchants, and he said that he was
not responsible for the conduct Of th5
men. as they were no longer under his
command, and he had nothing 10 do with
| them.