Litchfield enquirer., 1846-02-19

: The GENERAL COURT MARTIAL.
| This formiaable tribunal composed Of
officers Of the 81 Division of COnnec,icut
Militia, assembled at New Milford on Tues
day, the 10Th inst, and continued in session
during the week. The Court was cOnstitu-
ted as follows
Brig. Gen. WIN. t. KING, of Sharon,
Pres ideni.
MISUNDERSTOOD DAVID S. BEARDsLKE,
Col JUDs0N CURTIS,
Col. JOSEPH BTRGE, Jr.,
> g stGFI Col. ALBEET L. HoDGE,
Col Henry L. FULLER,
--u.zszsss5 Lt.sCOl. VA. "A. Down, -
1t Col. OEv1LLE H BEARDsLEE,
z.. 1t. Col. JOHN NJ. BRISTOL,
m r. Maj. JOSEPH PERRY, Jr.,
Mai. CHAs. c. WHITTLESEY,
Maj. PHILo C. MERWIN.
Judge Aduocate-FRANc1s BACON, ESQ.,, of
Itch field.
Three officers were under arrest for neglect
of duty at the regimental musterS in Septem-
Der last. Col. Hantord Stevens, Of the 9Th
Regiment, Infantry, first presented himself
for trial. ,.... coy, ..
Charge--UNoFFIcERLIKE CONDUCT.
Specification Isl. That he has in repeated
instances, when appeals have been made
to him by Privates, fined by their Com
manders, received compensation from
those privatcs, under plea of payment for
WI IN off n
their excuses.
Specification 2nR.-That sometime during
the fail of 43, and spring OF IA, Capt.
Leander G.. Wilcox, commander Of the
3rd Company, 9Th Reg't, inflicted fine
upon a large number of his privates for
non-appearance at Company aud Regi-
mental drill and exercise, and the period
having elapsed IN which appeals might
be taken to the Colonel; and no appeals
having been taken-he issued warrants
| for the collection of said fines. That pen
ding the life of said Warrants, after being
| issued, and before their return, he, the said
.HanfordStevens, as Colonel of the 9Th Reg
iment, issued notice to Capt. Wilcox to
attend at time and place mentioned in
said notice, to be heard in the matter OF
the excuse OF these pfivates, against whom
warrants had been issued as aforesaid, and
the abatement of the fine so inflicted by
said Cant. Wilcox. That at the time and
place mentioned in said notice, the said
! Hartford Stevens excused said privates
from the payments of the fines inflicted by
Capt. Wilcox.
Specification 3rd. That the said Hanford
| Stevens has frequently taken money, or
| ind v,;I nn1c ioh1 hvy
| law TO the performance of military duty,
and has ordered Commanders of Compa-
MES to place the names OF these individu-
ais on an C exempt list" as he, termed it,
| thereby intending to excuse them from
the entire performance of military duty
SpeciGcaiion Ah. That at the Officer drill
of the 9Th Regiment, at Stamford, on the
26th of August, 1915, he, the said Col
Stevens, appeared ON parade, on the at.
ternuon of said day, and took charge Of
the officers in situation unbecoming tC
hin, as a. man, and entirely disgraceful &c
him as an officer, being greatly disguised
and under the influence of intoxicating
drinks, by his conduct bringing ridicule
on the Military system and upon the Off
GERS serving under him.
SeeciGcaiion 5th. That the said Col. Han.
ford Stevens, ON the 26th Of August lS4s
~. nRn4.~ Arii; at Stamford. did give ar
order to member OF the lst Rifle corps
(who had no commission to call out sale
company for Regimental Review and In
spection, while under the influence of Iii.
toxicating drinks; by which act, and the
course he pursued that day, he caused the
Capt. of said Company to be grossly insul,
ted -.. r.-
Specification 6h.-That the said Hanford
l. Stevens, Col. of the 9th Regiment, al
New Canaan, the 23d Sept. for Regim.
entail Review, did represent to the Briga.
der General, that the First Rife Compa.
ny was without officers, (and wanted
the General to give an order to memb-
er of the company to take command. who
had no commission,) which said Colonel
Stevens knew was not so, as the Captain
of the above named Company had issued
orders in pursuance of Regimental Order'
for that day. That the Captain, Lieuten
ant, and members, were present, in acco
dance to those orders; that the Capt. made
his return accordingly, on that morning
after Inspection, to the Adjutant and Bri.
gade Inspector.
To each and all of the above charges, Col
Stevens plead not guilty.
After receiving the testimony in this case,
the Court adjourned till the first Monday in
| March. 81 .%
| INq,L,T1 EST,TNn NTEMOpYAT CpnM