Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-03-11


as the public cowhiding of an army
onicer almost in front of the white
house would be 'scare-headed" from
Maine to Manila to-day, but the papers
nae. no space for it then. Squire Ben
ton had touched up McKinnon's new
uniform TO the tune of 80 lashes before
the police could step in and spoil the
sport, and only in a local journal and
one or two in the far west was the
AFFAIR rsfcrrsd 10.
Paul LaGue, convalescent. had been
twice subjected to rigid questioning
with the hope of establishing the guilty
connivance in his escape of a certain
baitlmore household, as well as a GER
tain union officer. and with the result
OF establishing nothing beyond the fact
that even in his weakness he had more
strength. and sand" than the prosecu-
ton. Then he was rendered release
on parole, for long investigation had
tailed to unearth a thing TO warrant
detention as a spy.
romantic turn in the tide of affairs
nad come when a certain senator called
on the secretary and offered 10 show
that the discriminating papers which
Benton had refused to surrender and
which Miss Benton now would be will
ing to show, if necessary to save the
prisoners life, were personal letters
and nothing more Stanton knew this.
probably as we'll as the senator. but
was wroth that any one else should
know it. and furious that an officer
should dare refuse to surrender them.
no matter what or whose they were.
Then Ladue's Baltimore friends had
sent word across the line that Ladue
was TO be tried as a spy and hanged
whether convicted or not. and an Ala
beIna brigade declared in reply that
they would hang the first YanFee lieu
tenant they cauc'p if hair of Paul's
head were I'M Cd.
One thing. il was said. that had
made Stanton so forceful a prosecutor
In the past was the ease with which
he could always persuade himself of
q prisoners guilt, the jury following
as the night the day. Something had
10 be done, he had said. to stop this
wholesale transmission OF state and
military secrets to the enemy, and a
'NSNAAh W o. lie udu
this confederate officer, caught in
civilian dress, in Old Capitol prison.
and II he wasn't a spy, then he must
have neglected his opportunities and
deserved to be hanged" What made
Stanton so hot against Ladue was that
SO many women. clergymen, church
people, and Others took TO pleading for
the lad. Then IL was that McKinnon
began to find favor at the war de-
partment, Then it was that Capt.
BentOn's limits were restricted instead
OF being enlarged. Then it was that
Soft-hearted surgeons at the Old Cap
itol hospital were replaced by men of
sterner stuff. Then il was that the
Ch!ltnsrS were notified that theS must
leave Washington forthwith. and the
Squire. bursting with wrath at being
forbidden to see the doctor and his
daughter, had had brief conferences
with Fred, now almost fretting his
heart out at the barracks; had learned
through an officer of rank in the reg
ular service that beyond possibility of
doubt Maj. Mckinnon was at the bot
tom of all these new and most oppres,
siYe orders; had gone to the white
house with n demand TO see the presi-
dent; had been promised an opportun-
ity Immediately after cabinet meeting
that afternoon; had met McKinnon
sauntering down the avenue in COM
pany with fellow soldier-lawyer, and
had hurled himself upon him then and
there, to the end that the major was
niCknI nm
the squire escorted to the police sta
ton, and the interview didn't come off.
1t is recorded of the president that
when told of the incident that evening.
his sad face frightened for the first
time in a week II wonder If the
squire would let me make him a gen.
eral," said he. AT least he fights"
That night soldier of the regular
service did a thing that, had Stanton
known it, would doubtless have sent
that soldier TO close arrest, if not to
cell. He was an officer of rank. a
gentleman of gentlemen, and a fellow
beloved of his fellow men. Entrusted
with an order TO see that DR.. Chiffon
and daughter were safely sent to the
steamer for Old Point Comfort. a suit
able guard going with them, he had
called on the kindly old Virginian late
in the afternoon.
There had been a brief, courteous
talk. The officer deeply regretted, he
said, to have to be the means of car
rylng out the order but he would call
with carriage at $3.50. Was there,
anything he or his wife could do for
Miss Chiffon?
There is, sir" answered voice,
and with cheeks flushing through their
pallor and eyes that flashed despite evil
dence OF recent tears, Rosalie Chiffon
swept quickly into the room. I'VE hear
that Mr.. Benton-Squire Benton-too.
has been arrested and--my aunt will
not admit of anything-but | feel that
1t is TO him we are indebted for most
generous aid. Major / wish to see
MIN, to thank him, to-tell him some
thing-as his daughter is not here.
Can that be ARRANGED before we go3"