A Richmond embalmer was charged with helping to conduct Confederate deserters north with his coffin wagon. He was caught as part of a sting operation conducted by the police.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 13, 1864:
Local Matters.
Bribery and aiding Confederate deserters to escape.
–On Friday of last week Dr. William Maclure, the embalmer, and Robert Kirby, and M. Harris, were arrested a few miles from Richmond by Detectives John Rees and Robert Craddock, of Gen. Winder’s police, on the charge of aiding deserters from the Confederate service to escape to the North, and offering to bribe the guard who arrested them. Yesterday Maclure was brought to trial before C. S. Commissioner A. H. Sands, when the following testimony was given:
John Rees, C. S. Detective, sworn.–On Friday last myself and Robert Craddock, a Detective, were directed by Capt. McCubbin, Chief of Police, to proceed immediately out on the Mechaniesville turnpike and arrest all the parties who might be caught in a certain wagon on that road. Craddock went ahead, and I followed a short distance behind him — he in a buggy and I on horse back. On getting to Howard’s Grove I hid myself, and suffered the wagon in which Dr. Maclure, M. Harris, and John Weatherford were, to pass by me, thinking that we would stand a much better chance of capturing them, in case of flight, than we would it both were in front. After they passed on I followed behind, and in due time came up to a picket post where Craddock, the prisoners, and a Mr. Weatherford had come to a halt. There were also at this post three or four pickets. As I dismounted Craddock and Maclure came towards me, when Craddock remarked that the “thing had been gone through with.” I asked him if the passport was right, and his reply was that it was correct, at the same time remarking that Maclure had attempted to bribe him to let him off for $1,000. He had already paid over $450, and would give him $550 when he returned to Richmond. Soon after this Maclure approached and asked if he could speak to me. He then took me around a picket post and said he had agreed to give Craddock $1,000, and that if I would not implicate him in the scrape in which he was caught, he would also give me $1,000; he did not care what I did with the other fellows found in his company. This proposition I, with an oath, refused. Noticing a coffin in the wagon which he drove, I asked him whose it was. He replied that it was his; he was on his way to Essex county to take up a dead body. I abused Harris some for making all the money he could in the Confederacy, and then, when his services were needed in her defence, he was for running away. We then took the Doctor and his companion in custody and brought them to Richmond.
John L. Weatherlord. C. S. Detective, sworn.–I have recently been appointed a Government detective. A short time since I heard that Dr. Maclure’s office was the general depot of the underground railroad to the North, and reported the fact to headquarters. Was directed by Capt. McCubbin to ferret the matter out. Last Wednesday the 3d inst., I called on Dr. Maclure at his office and told him I wished to speak with him in private. He replied that he was then engaged, but would be at leisure at 9 o’clock that night. On informing him that I had a friend I wished to bring with me, the Doctor said “all right;” he thought he understood my business. I and my friend called according to promise, and stated that I had heard he could get us to the North. He told us he could do so; that his price was $3,000. My friend became frightened at the price and backed out. I told him, however, I would call again in the morning at eight o’clock. I did call. On this occasion I met with a man, who Maclure introduced as “Capt. Kirby, the man who passes us through the lines.” I was informed by the Doctor that he expected to make his next trip that (Thursday) evening, and that I must be on hand promptly. On re-appearing at the time appointed, Capt. K was again present. Maclure pointed to a chair on which were three passports, and remarked “there are the passports–one of them is yours, and you are to go by the name of Redford — the other two I have persons to assume them.” The names of the persons for whom these passports were made out were F. C. Redford, R. C. Huntly, and J. B. Phillips. The doctor then told me he could not go that evening, but that I must meet him at his office at 12 o’clock the next day. Before leaving he also told me that Captain Kirby required $1,000 for his share, which I paid down. Next day I called at the appointed time, and found Maclure’s wagon waiting in front of his office, with a coffin in it. Fearing that my appearance in this wagon on the public street would excite some suspicion, (so I told the doctor,) I declined getting in at that place, and remarked that I would get up somewhere else. He suggested on 17th street, near the Old Market. I went there, and soon after Maclure drove up. As I jumped up into the wagon, he got out and went a short distance up the street. Soon after, he came back and remarked that he had heard from Capt. Kirby I was a Government detective, and that “if you are you had better be saying your prayers; for I’ll bed — d if I don’t shoot you.”–He looked like he would do it, too. I told him I was sincere in my motives — not to mind what K. said; had nothing to do with him, anyhow. This seemed to satisfy him, and we drove off. As we approached Howard’s Grove Harris came up with a valise, and took a seat on the coffin by me. We soon got into conversation, when he remarked that perhaps we were going the same way. He said he was going North; hoped he would succeed in getting there, &c. Nothing further of interest occurred till we reached the picket post where Craddock and Rees were, and at which we halted.
By the defence:–I was to pay $3,000–$1,000 to Kirby, (which I paid,) $1,000 to Dr. Maclure while on the route, and $1,000 more to a ferryman between this city and Essex. Maclure never asked for the thousand which I was to pay him. The coffin was taken along for a blind. I do not know what was in the coffin; knocked on it, and it appeared to be empty.
Capts. Hudson and Irwing, of Gen. Elzey’s Staff, were then summoned, in order to prove the genuineness of the passports which Maclure used on his trip. They acknowledged having given him passports on two occasions for these men, (Huntley, Redford, and Phillips.) Maclure represented that they were to assist him in disinterring dead bodies. The passports were to go to Essex. No passes are granted from Gen. Elzey’s office, except those to cross the lines. It have been has only been a short time since passports have been issued from Gen. E’s office at all.
On account of the absence from the city of important witnesses, no further examination took place, and the Commissioner adjourned the case over till Monday. The parties were then recommitted to Castle Thunder for safekeeping.
According to Encyclopedia Virginia, due partly to a lack of reliable evidence,
Historians have argued over the proper way to interpret the act of desertion—whether it should be regarded as a protest against the state or a reaction to the specific and immediate problems that soldiers faced (such as inadequate rations, excessively strict officers, etc.).
