By E. G. ASAY, esq.: Q. Did you ever see any other lady at any time go into Dr. Ar except this one? A. Not from the hall. Q. Did they go off to their meals together? A. I have seen them come down on the stairs together. By the JUDGE ADVOCATE : Q. Was this before July last? A. This was before July last. Q. Did you ever see the bed in that room? A. Yes, sir. The room was so small that I have not been in the room since last in the room since eight or nine months or bed being in the room since that. ST. LEGER know that I did. of the circumstance! show him the draft? witness for the defence, being resilien, pendel w reement on it? of that indorsement. was applied to the senders of the order. Al Deland? setudorsement was on the letter' Q. Do you say that you have seen th room? A. I cannot tell positively that I e from the bed-room into the front roo Q. Was there, as far as your lady's movements? A. I saw no particular stealth PETER GEDDIS, a witness f duly sworn by the judge adv as follows: By the accused: Q. State to the court where I reside. (A draft was show Q. Look at that possession. A. I have rec Ne bandwriting July, of mine. -ployment in Austin? ffice. ith county; his father ested and prosecuted for forgery? ced, prosecuted, and tried for forgery. ther application was ever made to the governor of Texas Louston was visited several times by Major Shanks, who was an ad of his in the days of the revolution, for the purpose of getting in behalf of John T. Shanks, and having him assisted in the A. If he was in. Governor Houston was visited shortly after the arrest of Q. I Shanks by his friends, who desired to assist in the matter of the trial he remained some time in jail in Travis, as I was informed, and I he was. Did you, at the request of Shanks's father, make application to Governor I cannot say that my recollection is distinct as to that, but I visited GovHouston with his father, and used what little influence I possessed, and also the time of the trial, and he was found guilty. father? Q. Did you request a pardon from Governor Houston at the request of his A. I am not prepared to say that I urged a pardon; it is my belief that a new trial was obtained for Shanks, and that an effort was made to have him pardoned. Q. Do you remember whether you insisted upon a pardon to Governor Houston at the request of Shanks's father? er having an interview with Governor Houston and Shanks's father, ks's behalf; the object was for a pardon. mber whether this application was for a new trial or a writ of to say in reference to that matter. the fore part of October, 1861. I recollect seeing it was Governor Houston or Governor Clark 's successor. into the ranks of the rebel army? om prison in Austin? penitentiary after he was con s found guilty upon trial. against him? GEORGE ST. LEGFR GRE, You show him the draft! ll of the circumstance! know that I did. tness for the defence, being realisi, 199 you found this letter, addivssy it? orsement. to the senders of the order. was on the letter ! ersonal knowledge I know nothing of the number of indict re pending against him. were a member of the legislature, were you not? -es, sir, I was. Have you any knowledge of the passage of a bill to pay Captain Mullett for his services in making the arrest of John T. Shanks ? A. I believe I have, sir. I voted against the bill myself. Captain Mullett had lived in Tyler, Smith county, Texas, and had brought his friends there to influence in his behalf. I voted against it because he was not entitled to it. The arrest was made by John B. York, a sheriff of some other county; but the bill passed. Q. Do you recollect the amount appropriated? A. I do not; it was some hundreds of dollars. Q. Where was he arrested? A. On the west fork of the Trinity, on Gilmore's ferry-boat. Q. Do you remember Maurice S. Davis? Q. Do you remember seeing him about the time of the festival given in honor of General Houston's election? A. I believe I did. Q. State whether Maurice Davis, who has testified here, was the man who was prosecuted for killing Colonel Sublett? A. Yes, sir, he is. Q. Were you in Austin at the time this occurred? MILITARY COMMISSION, CINCINNATI, OHIO, The commission met pursuant to adjournment. Present, all the members excepting Colonel Benj. Spooner; also present, the judge advocate, the assistant counsel, the accused, and their counsel. The proceedings were read and approved. A. BANNING NORTON, a witness for the defence, was then introduced, and being duly sworn by the judge advocate, testified as follows: By the accused: Q. Please state your name and place of residence. A. A. Banning Norton; at the time of the secession of Texas I resided in Travis county, of that State. Q. Please state your present locality and the cause of it. I left Texas in consequence of that country becoming too hot a place for a Union man. Q. Where are your family at present? 66 A. The last information I had of them they were in Jasper county. I was a member of the State legislature of Texas at the time of secession, and voted against it, and I was editor of a Union paper at Austin, known as the Southern Intelligencer," and was adjutant general of the State also at that time. Q. Did you know John T. Shanks? A. I did, sir. Q. How long did you know him in Austin? A. I think I became acquainted with him in the winter of 1854 or '55. I am not positive as to where I became acquainted with him. Q. Where did he reside at that time? A. He may have lived at Nacogdoches or at Tyler, in Smith county; his father I know resided in Nacogdoches. Q. Did you know his father? A. Yes, sir, I did; he was an old friend of mine. Q. What was John T. Shanks's employment in Austin? A. He was a clerk in the land office. Q. Was John T. Shanks arrested and prosecuted for forgery? A. Yes, sir, he was arrested, prosecuted, and tried for forgery. Q. Do you know whether application was ever made to the governor of Texas for his pardon? A. Governor Houston was visited several times by Major Shanks, who was an old Texas friend of his in the days of the revolution, for the purpose of getting his influence in behalf of John T. Shanks, and having him assisted in the difficulty he was in. Governor Houston was visited shortly after the arrest of John T. Shanks by his friends, who desired to assist in the matter of the trial. Before that he remained some time in jail in Travis, as I was informed, and I believe he was. Q. Did you, at the request of Shanks's father, make application to Governor Houston for his pardon? A. I cannot say that my recollection is distinct as to that, but I visited Governor Houston with his father, and used what little influence I possessed, and also at the time of the trial, and he was found guilty. Q. Did you request a pardon from Governor Houston at the request of his father? A. I am not prepared to say that I urged a pardon; it is my belief that a new trial was obtained for Shanks, and that an effort was made to have him pardoned. Q. Do you remember whether you insisted upon a pardon to Governor Houston at the request of Shanks's father? A. I remember having an interview with Governor Houston and Shanks's father, in John T. Shanks's behalf; the object was for a pardon. Q. Do you remember whether this application was for a new trial or a writ of error to the supreme court, to reverse the judgment? A. I am not prepared to say in reference to that matter. Q. Were you in Austin at the time he was pardoned? A. I was in Austin until the fore part of October, 1861. I recollect seeing him at large. Q. Do you recollect whether it was Governor Houston or Governor Clark who pardoned him? Q. Do you remember when he went into the ranks of the rebel army ? A. No, sir, I do not. Q. Do you know how he was released from prison in Austin? A. I do not. Q. Do you know whether he was sent to the penitentiary after he was con victed? A. I am not prepared to state as to that. He was found guilty upon trial. Q. What was the charge against him? A. Forgery during the time he was in the land office. Q. Do you recollect what kind of an instrument he was charged with forging? A. I do not. It was in the course of his business as clerk in the land office. Q. Was it a single forgery, or a series of forgeries that he persevered in for some time? (Question objected to by the judge advocate as immaterial, and withdrawn.) Q. Have you any recollection of the number of indictments that were pending against him, at the time he was tried? A. Of my own personal knowledge I know nothing of the number of indictments which were pending against him. Q. You were a member of the legislature, were you not? A. Yes, sir, I was. Q. Have you any knowledge of the passage of a bill to pay Captain Mullett for his services in making the arrest of John T. Shanks? A. I believe I have, sir. I voted against the bill myself. Captain Mullett had lived in Tyler, Smith county, Texas, and had brought his friends there to influence in his behalf. I voted against it because he was not entitled to it. The arrest was made by John B. York, a sheriff of some other county; but the bill passed. Q. Do you recollect the amount appropriated? A. I do not; it was some hundreds of dollars. Q. Where was he arrested? A. On the west fork of the Trinity, on Gilmore's ferry-boat. Q. Do you remember Maurice S. Davis? A. Yes, sir, I do. Q. Did you see him in court yesterday? A. Yes, sir. Q. Where did you know him in Texas? A. In Austin. Q. Do you remember seeing him about the time of the festival given in honor of General Houston's election? A. I believe I did. Q. State whether Maurice Davis, who has testified here, was the man who was prosecuted for killing Colonel Sublett? A. Yes, sir, he is. Q. Were you in Austin at the time this occurred? A. No, sir; but I was there at the time of his trial, and I know him to be the same man. Q. Did you see John T. Shanks in the room yesterday? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you recognize him as the same man you knew in Texas? A. Yes, sir; but he appeared to be in a little better condition; healthier looking, and had a little more appendage. Q. Where did his father reside? A. In Nacogdoches, Texas, and has lived there from the days of the Texas revolution, and is a most estimable man. He carried on a pretty large business for that country at wagon-making. Q. Was it at his instance that you made the application in behalf of his son? A. It was. Q. Were you acquainted with John T. Shank's skill as a penman? A. Yes, sir. He was one of the best penmen I ever knew, and was one of the best clerks they ever had in the land office in Austin. Q. What capability had he in varying his handwriting? (The question was objected to by the judge advocate.) The court was cleared for deliberation. On being reopened the judge advocate announced that the objection was sustained.) A. He was very ready with the pen-one of the best penmen I have known. He had a considerable amount of business in the land office department, and in the preparation of all business, and in the readiness and correctness with which he transacted business, he had no equal in that State land office. There was an immense amount of business there. (John T. Shanks appeared in court.) Q. Is that John T. Shanks ? A. Yes, sir; this is John T. Shanks, the same man. Q. Do you recognize that handwriting-C. C. Copeland? A. I should judge it to be a disguised handwriting. Shanks's hand was a very fine one, rather a small handwriting. He would be capable of writing that, but I cannot express an opinion as to whether he did or not. Q. Do you know Wesley Johnson and Phelps? A. I knew them very well; they came to Austin and purchased one of the best buildings in the city. They were merchants, and had a very large stock of goods, and they were counted first-rate men, and there was no objection to them, except that they came from Illinois at that time. (A draft was here offered in evidence by the accused, which was objected to by the judge advocate. (No cross-examination.) (The court was cleared for deliberation. On being reopened, the judge advo cate announced that the objection was overruled.) THOMAS LORREGAN, a witness for the defence, was here introduced, and being duly sworn by the judge advocate, testified as follows: By the accused : Q. State your name, residence, and occupation. A. Thomas Larney Lorregan; I reside in Chicago; I have been in the fruit trade for the last twelve years. Q. Do you know Mr. Walsh? A. I do. Q. Have you ever been a member of a political secret organization? |