The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-17
IA PRETTY MESS"
(Original.1

III 1000 1 was detailed on court mar
tial to sit at Nashville for the purpose
Of trying cases of delinquency that had
occurred in the Army of the Cumber-
land. One young fellow, Sergeant Mil
ton Troop, who was brought before us,
engaged my attention the moment
saw him. His bearing was soldierly,
and his countenance bore the stamp of
strong character. He was charged
with desertiOn to the enemy.
His disappearance occurred while his
regiment was In proximity to the Con-
federates. Later on the command at
tackled and surprised small body Of
the enemy. taking a number Of prison
| ers. among them the accused. His sto-
ry was that on the evening Of his dis
appearance he had pointed out to his
captain that the command was liable
to be surrounded by the enemy. The
captain had declared that there was no
7, enemy near. Troop offered to ride out
and reconnoiter. The captain gave his
consent. Troop had not gone far before
he was called upon from the rear to
surrender. He had ridden between the
enemy's vedettes.
| The captain, Croker, being called,
fatty denied the whole story, declared
that he had had no such warning and
had not given the sergeant permission
or orders to scout The matter rested
on u question of veracity between the
two men. The scale was turned against
the accused by the producing of q
scrap of paper found In his knapsack
on which was written. "Meet me to-
night at the bridge south Of the tav-
ern." 1t was not signed. and as the
handwriting was manifestly disguised
1t was impossible to tell whether the
writer was man or woman. At the time
the message was written the location
described was within the enemy's lines.
When asked to explain this paper. the
prisoner at first refused to do 90, but
afterward said that he had formed
the acquaintance Of young country
girl. who had appointed the meeting.
The captains evidence was % direct
and the accused's explanation 20 lame
that he was found guilty and sentenced
to be shot Az be was led away he
made an exclamation which convinced
me Of his innocence:
Here's a pretty mess"
1t seemed a very small and unimpor-
tant piece Of evidence on which to ad-
judge man innocent. and yet 1t occur
red to me very natural remark for an
innocent one to make under the cir
cumstances. A timid man would be
crushed by fear Of the gallows; q
plucky man would naturally first con-
slider what terrible scrape he had got
into.
l called on the general commanding,
before whom the verdict must 60 for
approval, and told him that l feared
an innocent man was to suffer, giving
him my impressions. for l had no rea-
son. The general said that he would
not hurry in approving the sentence.
A month passed, when the general
sent for me and told me that they were
asking at general headquarters for the
papers in the Troop case. and he must
forward them. If he disapproved of
them without reason, 1t would place
him in bad position and would not
save the prisoner. As l had nothing on
which to base my faith in Troops in
nocence except his remark when con.
victed, l could do nothing. The gen.
eral approved the papers and sent
them onward and upward. In a few
weeks they were returned. with an or
der to carry out the sentence. Shortly
before the execution was to take plact
an outpost defended by Captain Croker
was attacked, and the captain, desert
ing his command, fed to the rear
There being only one other officer pres
ent with the company and he being &
weakling. the men stuck together and
: without leader beat of the enemy.
Then came charges of cowardic,
: against Captain Croker. I reported tn
D matter to the general. asking IL b,
could not stave of Troops execution II
the hope that something might turn VI
: to throw light on his case. UnfOrtu
! nately there was no court in session 4
/ try Captain Croker. and there was al
: imperative order TO shoot Sergean
e Troop. At the generals suggestion
4 visited Croker and asked him If b.
t did not have some further informa
e ton as to Troops desertion that ha,
e not appeared at the trial. | found hin
t dogged. though Respondent. and lef
: him without gaining anything.
a The general made up his mind TO col
y vene a court and try Croker at one.
= The court met. Croker was brought b,
fore it, convicted Of cowardice and Sci
, fenced to be dismissed from the servic,
}. AS soon as the papers Were forwarde
II to the general for his approval he sell
(. for me.
e "Go to Captain Croker" he said. ian
g tell him that if he can and will cle;l
d Sergeant Troop | will disapprove I'll
N findings of the court and permit him I
l. resign"
n | found the coward disposed to saw
what he could Of his reputation b
J. confessing himself villain. He ha
d overheard a conversation between tw
A Of his men detailing plan to depos
II him. Their difficulty was, first. this
" they did not know how to go about /
J. and, second, there was no officer in ii
y. company fit to put in his place. The
t finally decided upon Sergeant Troo
who, though Il noncOmmissiOned office
lie would De acceptable to all If they coul
f. secure his appointment. Troop ha
e, gone on his scout Immediately aft
)f this conversation. and when he was r
a captured the temptation to get him o'
le of the way was too great for the ca
IN tain to withstand.
at Troop was pardoned for an offense
c. had never committed as the simple
at | way out of pretty ness" and mat
captain of his company. Croker's resi-
| SIM