Louisville Ky.
July 19^th 1864
Hon Joseph Holt
Judge Advocate Gen'l
Dear Sir,

Your communication of the 13^th instant has just reached me.

At our last May term of court one William Buffum claiming to be a Captain in the U.S. Army was convicted of Robbery; The Captain in company with two other soldiers (privates) entered the little Shoe Shop of a humble German of this City and demanded to look at his stock of boots. — Each man took a pair. — The Captain tried his on, & the party were about leaving the shop, when the Shopman asked for his pay. Upon which one of the Soldiers drew a pistol (it was the Captain) and presented it at the body of the shopman, having a moment before this, drawn his sword from the scabbard and placed it upon the counter. As the soldiers entered the Shop, Capt. Buffum told them "here was a shoe Store & to come in" he

Buffum leading the way. After the presentation of the pistol & the exhibition of the sword, the German and Wife & daughter (13 years of age) fled in alarm from the room, the three robbers marching off rapidly, with a pair of boots each under his arm.

The facts were proven by the German & Wife & daughter as they occurred inside the Shop. The entrance & exit, were proven by several neighbors & Buffum was arrested with the identical Boots on his feet.

Buffum plead mental derangement. His confederates have never been taken. There is another indictment pending in our Court against this same Buffum, charging him with the larceny of a Pistol about two years ago. — Buffum is a consumate scoundrel.

There were no circumstances of mitigation in his case

Respectfully
(signed) J. R. Dupuy.
Com. Atty.