The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-11
Colonel MarceIIus Pointer, Who Served Under Wheeler,
 Passes Away
WAS MADE COLONEL FOR
 BRAVERY ON TIE FIELD
Letter Is Found Signed By General Wheeler Which Declares Pointer To Be a Splendid Leader
 of Cavalry.

New York, July 10.-(Special. )-Marcel- Jus Pointer, 65 years of age, who was an aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Joe Wheeler during the civil war died today in the Atlantic hotel, New Bowery and Oliver street. The former confeder- ate officer was found dead in bed, ap- parently a victim of apoplexy
 The body will be taken care of by the Confederate camp here under the direc- ton of its commander, Col Edward R. Owen, and will be buried at Mt Hope cemetery.
 On and off during the last two years Pointer who was known to the lodgers in the hotel as Colonel" lived in a room on the third floor. He dressed better than the others in the place, and associated with only those who appeared to be of the better class. He always paid his room rent and never appeared to be without money. Since last October he had lived steadily in the hotel and recently he had gone out but seldom.
 When the police arrived on the case they started to 70 through the mans ef- fects. Many stacks of letters and docu- ments were found neatly piled up in a
 
 body and 49 cents which was found in his pockets to the Oak street station.
 War Papers Found.
 One of the first documents opened was one showing that MT Pointer lad served Curing the civil war as aide-de-camp of General Wheeler It showed, too, that he had been in more than 100 engagements Following one of the battles toward the close of the war another document showed he was made a colonel on the battle field for bravery in action He remained on General Wheeler's staff, however, until the end of the war.
 ! During the engagement of Marysville, Pointer was slightly wounded. Immedi- ately after the battle General Wheeler wrote a letter to oPinter's father. Dr. David Pointer, of Holly Springs, Miss. this letter being found among the effects. In it General Wheeler told of the mans bravery during the engagement.
 The police next found clipping from newspaper, one which was yellow with age. The article told of an exploit Of Pointer. He and General Wheeler were surprised by the Union cavalry but Point managed to fight his way through the lines, protecting the general, and the two managed to escape
 Just what the veteran did following ths war Is not shown in the papers found ex- cept that he was interested in selling stocks and bonds.
 Petition to Mckinley.
 One of the papers the police looked over was a petition to President Mckinley, asking that Pointer be appointed a bri- gadier general in the Spanish-American war. The petition was signed by General Wheeler, United States Senator Morgan of Alabama, Governor Culberson of Tex as and E. H. R. Green, chairman of the republican state committee of Texas. Att tached to the petition a letter signed by General Wheeler, in which he said that "a better cavalry officer could not be found in this country" Wheeler was himself known as the greatest cavalry leader in the Confederate army There was contract found which was signed on October 23 1908, at Port Royal. Va. by IS. Ross" It stipulated that he was to get a commission of 5 per cent in bonds and 10 per cent in stock in the Tuscarowa Valley railroad for the stock he sold, and in case the road was sold was to get $50 000 when the sale was consummated. Many letters were found addressed to guests at the Waldorf-Astoria and signed by General Wheeler. In the letters it was stated that Pointer wanted to talk about stocks.