The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-03-28
The Case Of b. r. Saider.

1
with committing perjury, was allowed
to 60 yesterday morning, having depos
tied 81 900 bail.
The arrest was made by the United
States officers after thorough examina
ton OF the facts in the case. Hunt, as he
has always given his name, applied for &
pension, stating the company in which
he served and where he had formerly
lived. In the course OF the investiga
ton it was learned that RIM. Hunt, who
lived in Missouri, was dead, and thai
his widow was still living The Port
land Hunt maintained there was mis-
take, and gave so much information
concerning the Hunt family that there
was some doubt, although, as has turned
out to be the case, it was believed thai
he was deserter, who formerly knew
Hunt and assumed his name.
The Hood River man was held before
a commissioner and brought to- the county
Jail, where he has been under arrest un-
| til his release now on bail. Some weeks
ago, Hunt, or Snider, detailed the story
Of his desertion to the Telegram, but
asked that it be not published until his
release on bond. He admits that he
took the name of Hunt and that he de-
serted from the army, but declares he
had no intention OF defrauding the gov.
ernment. He is able, however, to give
no clear reason for his efforts to Sc
cure pension. His statement is an in
teresting one, however. 1t isas follows
"My name is Benjamin F, Snider.
was born in Springfield, Ills. went with
my parents to Missouri when an infant
and was raised near Ridgely, Plat
county. l had an older brother, Elijah
Snider. who enlisted in Prices army
and never returned My mother died
in March, 1854, and soon after / enlist.
ed in company K, 18th Missouri infant.
ry, and served to the end OF the war and
was honorably discharged in 1865. re-
enlisted in company E, 18th United
States infantry, and served in that COM
pany until 1866, and deserted near Den
YER, Colo, and went over to the
teamsters camp. / put on citizens
clothes and went with that command
up North to Fort Phil Kearney, and
served as teamster until 1869 or 1870
Then | drifted up the Union Pacific,
that was in course of construction, as q
teamster, hunter and scout, until the
road was completed. During this time
| was known as Richard M. Hunt, the
name Of man who served in company
X, 18th Missouri, as comrade of mine.
| took his name because was we'll ac-
quainted with his family and could an
swer questions but had no idea of ap-
plying for pension. have been known
by that name up to the present time
and my record under that name is good
! served in the Nez Perces war and as q
scout, under Captain Rube Robens, from
Boise City in the Chief Joseph war, af
ter which l drifted back through the
Idaho mountains and Nevada as team
ster and miner. In 1877 | married my
present wife, and have lived with her
and raised four children of my own and
five stepchildren. have never done
anything to disgrace my name except to
desert, and that is no charge now.
made application for a pension under
the name of Richard NJ. Hunt, and was
arrested December Is, 1901. When
finally have this matter cleared up,
will live as good man and citizen and
soldier. am not afraid to face any
thing have done. | have been a good
citizen all my life, and taught my child
rem to fear and respect the law. There
is no place ever lived but that l can
go back and meet my old friends and
neighbors. This is my whole history,
from the time enlisted to the present
day, and think there is nothing in it
that any man need be ashamed Of, with
the exception of desertion, ,and under the
circumstances any other man would
have done the same. was nothing but
boy, and had seen service only in the
volunteers. Service with the regulars
was so different that it made many men,
Older and stronger than myself, desert.
! had incurred the dislike OF our First
Sergeant, and every chance he had he
inflicted undeserved punishment. A
few days before / deserted, for some
breach Of discipline, he placed me under
arrest and tied me up by the thumbs
Tor two hours out of every "a, and then
! was made spread eagle for two hours.
made up my mind to quit, and having
a friend who was wagon master, went
to him. He told me he would furnish
me with citizens clothes, and | went
with the command as teamster, and
rendered as good service as if had been
a regular soldier. was favorite with
all the soldiers, and they all knew me
by the name of Hunt, so that | could
not drop that name.
When was married, l could not
change my name. We have lived to-
gether l5 years, through all kinds Of
trouble, and she has been a true and
loving wife to me. If have done wrong
it was through ignorance of the law. I
would never have signed the papers,
knowing, as do now, that l could have
made application under my own name.
! will now have to lose my pension from
1891 to the present time.
The 81 900 bond was signed by the fol-
lowing citizens: A. S. Blowers, NJ. NJ.
Russell, &. E. Williams, T. G, Dallas,
0. b. Hartley, r. Rand, S. II. Cox, NJ.
A. Cook, H. NJ. Abbott, j. E. Rand, j.
b. Rand, G. P. Crowell S. Z. Bartmess,
w. B. and II. G. Mcclure, f. E. Jack
son and Ed Mayes. The case will come
on some time this summer.-P
Telegram, March 18th.