The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-01-26
BRAVE SOLDIER
/ DEFENDS RECORD
Ordered to Wear Ball and Chain
for Sixty Days, But Was Re-
heved of Punishment and
Rose to Second Lieutency.
Lawyer VS.. Veteran.

tk1Ot1mONO, VA, SREC4AL-1L
was a strange, strange chain of
compelled Major M. J. Enright, once
a fighting second Lieutenant in the
Union Army, TO defend his war re-
cord in the Quondam capital of the
Confederacy nearly forty-six years af-
/ ter the surrender of Robert Z. Lee at
Appomattox.
And yet that Is what Major En-
right had to do in the United States
] District Court today, and il is no in
Justice to him to say that he spent q
most unpleasant quarter of an hour
/ in setting things right How well he
| succeeded each individual reader of
this paper will have to judge for him.
self
On Saturday afternoon, as was ex-
planned in this paper that day, Major
Enright, who is the chief witness for
the prosecution in the case of the Gov
eminent against the Phil @. Kelly
Company. had a sharp clash of words
with Lawyer H NJ. Smith, Of the de-
| Tense.
This verbal duel came about when
\ Mr.. Smith asked Major Enright IL he
/ had not been soldier in the Union
Army, and If he had not been tried
by g drumhead court martial for de-
! sertion.
The witness Indignantly denied the
/ charge. Asked if the report question
/ ing his record as a Federal soldier had
/ ever reached his ears before, Major
Enright replied that il was 'all news
/ to him." He said he had never
heard of 1t before in any way, shape
or manner"
An adjournment Of the court be-
fore matters had progressed very far
on Saturday prevented a continuance
of the "unpleasantness of that occa-
sion, though both lawyer and witness
were tense with excitement at the
time.
Was First Man Called.
r1r1r~ L.
the stand again, and the questions
concerning his career as a soldier
were continued. AS he has been a
prominent figure in local Republican
politics, big crowd was in attend
ance, and all were eager to see what
would occur Curiosity was pitched
TO the highest key. for il was widely
whispered about that Mr.. Smith had
; an official statement of Major En-
rights record and was prepared to
make things disagreeable for him.
! The lawyer did not long keep the
crowd waiting. AS soon as the court
began its work he asked that Major
tnright take the witness chair.
Then the two men faced each other.
while everybody awaited developments
/ IN breathless suspense. The climax
was not long postponed.
Major Enright." said Mr.. Smith in
an ominously low. almost caressing
way. when on Saturday afternoon /
asked you a question which I regret
Z became my disagreeable duty to
tsk YOU. | stated that if I had done
you any injustice l would very cheer
tuily undo il, and l want to find out
now whether I have done you an in
justice. l see from The Richmond
Evening Journal that you stated that
YOU belonged TO Company H. of the
18th Ohio Volunteers. Is that true -
les, SIR. re ~ the witness.
whose flushed face .luinIy showed the
excitement under VII ch he was la
boring.
Are YOU the Michael J. Enright
who was enrolled at Toledo in August
S62. and was mustered in September
9th p"
Major Enright answered anrma-
lively and added that he had served
until June 26. 1865.
The Trial AT Bowling Green.
Were YOU ever on duty at Bowling
Green, Ky2"
Yes" came the reply.
4 Will now ask you this question"
said Mr.. Smith, in the same chilling.
even voice. L ask If on or about
November 16. 1862. YOU were not
found guilty by a general court-mar-
tial of quitting your post in the pres
/ cnce OF the enemy. without being duly
relieved, after having been duly posted
as a sentinel, and if. at that court
martial you were not convicted, found
guilty, sentenced TO hard labor for
sixty days and 20 wear a ball and
chain"
Mr.. Smith then explained that he
had letter from +. r. Ainsworth.
Adjutant General. addressed to Ma
jor Capers Ga lawyer having only A
professional connection with the mat
teri. in which the facts above out
lined were set forth. The contents
OF the letter-a brief communication
were outlined. and it was explained
that n certified copy would come later.
II ask YOU is that statement cor
rect?" said Mr.. Smith.
II don't know what the sentence
was" replied Major Enright. who had
previously craved permission to eX-
plain the whole business.
Were you convicted?" queried Mr..
Smith.
Il don't know" replied the veteran
witness.
You draw a pension from the Uni
ted States Government
Certainly"
You stated on Saturday." said Mr.
SHis5 y + ~ = eZe ; beard d.r it
ence to the charges about Major En-
rights record.
Tells Abut Row With officer
Never before in my life" emf
phaticany retorted Major Enright1
lyon asked Saturday if / was ac\
cused of desertiOn in the United States
Army, and If I had ever heard of it,"
Witness here intimated that Mr..
Smith had not been sufficiently eX-
seemingly evasive answer Saturday.
1.-The circumstances are these" said
Major Enright: There was trouble
Setween myself and a second heuten-
ant, y. II. Bowling"
Witness here explained that it grew
out of his inability to hold or shout
der his musket property on a certain
occasion when he had camp kettle
among his accoutrements. The dang
ling Kettle interfered with his mus
ket.
by God. sir. bring it down." saw
agely commanded the officer, refer
ring to the soldiers way of holding
his gun. by God. sir, ] cannot" hot
~ retorted the soldier.
AS a result Of this quarrel the Off
Ger was infar-9tr q. And he was quick
to make hilaself heard from.
Enright. then about seventeen or
eighteen years old, was ordered TO do
"Ntra picket after he had already BEEN
i post two hours. "You can't put
a Is.in on double picket duty" he said