Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-02
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
"A PRETTY MESS"
(OriginaL.l

lldi 10 SIR Ut NdSllNllle LOT Tue 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
n 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 Il number of prison
ers, among them the accused. His sto-
~ was that oil the evening of his dis
appearance me had pointed out to his
captain that the command was liable
to he surrounded by the enemy. The
captain had declared that there was no
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 VedctteS.
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
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
it 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 ut first refused to do so, but
afterward said that he had formed
the acquaintance of Il young country
girl. who had appointed the meeting.
The captains evidence was so direct
and the accused's explanation so lame
that he was found guilty and sentenced
TO be shot. AS he was led away he
made an exclamation which convinced
me of his innocence:
Here's n pretty mess"
1t seemed Il very small and unimpor-
tant piece of evidence on which to aG-
judge man innocent, and yet it occur
red TO me very natural remark for an
innocent one to make under the cir
cumstanccs. \ timid man would be
crushed by fear of the gallOws;
plucky man would naturally first con-
slider what IL terrible scrape lie had got
into.
called on the general commanding.
hot.
approval, and told him that feared
an innocent man was TO suffer- giving
him my impressions. for / 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 ut general headquarters for the
papers in the Troop case. and he must
forward them. If he disapproved of
them without reason, it would place
him in a bad position and would not
save the prisoner. AS | had nothing on
which to base my faith i'm 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 Il few
weeks they were returned, with an or
der TO carry out the Sentence. Shortly
before the execution was to take place
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 off the enemy.
Then came charges of cowardice
against Captain Croker. l reported the
matter TO the general. asking If he
could not stave off Troops execution in
the hope that something might turn up
20 throw light on his case. -Uufortu-
nately there was no court in session TO
try Captain Croker. and there was an
imperative order to shoot Sergeant
Troop. At the generals suggestion 1
visited Croker and asked him if he
did not have some further informa-
ton as TO Troops desertion that had
not appeared at the trial. l found him
logged. though respondent. and left
him without gaining anything.
The general made up his mind TO con-
vene a court and try Croker at once.
The court met Croker was brought be-
fore il. convicted of cowardice and SEN
fenced to be dismissed from the service.
AS soon as the papers were forwarded
to the general for his approval he sent
for me.
go TO Captain Croker" he said. land
tell him that If he can and will clear
Sergeant Troop ! will disapprove the
findings of the court and permit him to
resign
found the coward disposed to save
what he could of his reputation 10y
confessing himself a villain. He had
overheard a conversation between two
of his men detailing n plan to depose
him. Their difficulty was first, that
they did not know how TO go about il.
and, second. there was no officer in the
company fit to put in his place. They
finally decided upon Sergeant Troop.
who. though noncommissioned officer,