The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-10
IMPORTANT COURT MARTIAL.

The Cnse or Col. Roberts and Capt. McLane.
The Court appointed to try Captain McLsne, for al
legged misconduct al Washington met, per adjournment
at the QuarteImasters Office State street at 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning and after all the members had been
seyeray sworn the Judge Advocate read over to Cap
tain McLarc the charges which he was arrsigned =
i CBAaGrs AND serc,rrc.r,oss TO CHANGES preferred
against Brevet Captain George McLans First Lieutenant
! in the Regiment Of Mounted Rifemeu United States
Army by order Of Major General Scott commanding
| the army
Icon uct unbecoming officer and gentle
man
Specification In this that he Brevet Captain George
MeLane First Lieutenant in the Regiment Of Mounted
Rihemep DID at Washington City on the 25th day Of
Oc.ob,r. 1909 seok Breyet Captain and Second Lieu
tenant homund Il +. Uardcsse, OF the corps OF ropo-
graphical Engineers with design to provoke an ARRAY
WIN cara ,apisin hardcasue and did then aud there
loudly and publicly TO the scandal OF the service In tho
hearing and presence Of officers of the army and navy
and OF citizens, address to the said Captain ardcasle,
much gross insulting Language.
Specification Pin this, that be, Brevst Captain
George McLane, First Lieutenant in the Regiment OF
Mounted Rihenen did at Washington City. on the 18th
day Of October 1892 seek Breve Lieutenant Colonel
min S. Roberts, Captain in the said Regiment, with
sign TO provoke ARRAY with said Lieutenant Colonel
Roberts and aid, then and thense publicly to the
DOL Of the service IN the presence OF offices OF the army
Lieutenant Colonel Roberts and strike him repeatedly
violent blows with his fist
Charge Conduct to the prejudice Of good order and
Disqualification Tn this, that he, Brevet Captain
George 1cLane. First Lieutenant in the Regiment OF
|
OF October 1862 70 10 public office where Brevet Cap
tain and second Lieutenant Edmund l. Y. uardcsstls
OF the corps Of Typographical Engiaeers engaged In
the execution Of his public duty and did then and
| there with desisu to provoke aIIsy with said Cap
tain Hardcastlc address TO him, In violent manner
Bssy eross i'm uls
Specification AIN this that be, Brevst Captain Mo-
lane, Inst Lieutenant in tho Regiment Of Mounted
Rifles did at Washington City on the 2'h day OF octo.
Der, 1852 go 10 the office 81 Breve Lieutenant Colonel
Bepjsnin 5. Roberts Captain in the came Regiment,
and then ana there duty tire Bureau of ropographi
cal Engineers. of the War department with design to
provoke an aay with said lieutenant Colonel Roberts,
ana dio then nnd there, make an asanit on SAID Lieu
ttcaDt Colonel Roberts ana strike him repeatedly violent
| blows with his hst by command of Major General
| Scott (signed) }. r. LEE,
For Capt. MANSFIELD all. Special Judge Advocate
The accused pleaded not guilty. Mr. Il G. Barrett
claimed permission to act the Captains counsel, and
bad his request accorded
The Trial then proceeded with The frat witness
called Captain Hsrocsse, Of the Typographical En-
eineers who duly sworn. and depossd rs follows
Q-po you know the accused
Q-Wero you at Washing ton City ON tho 25th of octo-
Der last
Al was sir
| Odd you the accused there.
Q-Was there any unfiendly Intercourse between
yourself and biIn On that day
A-Thsie was, sir.
Q-Captan please state all the nature Of that inter-
A. On that day the accused came into my Office where
was engaged public duty he asked me II he could
have woid with Zoe and replied certainly aud left
the roon following him. az socn as we passed the door,
cloed 1t; he said to that he had unoersood had
been writing and publishing certain charges against him
depecatoy OF his characters 10 which replied such
hot the case he then said be had 1T FROM pretty good au
thoIty and was inclined to believe 1t; replied cared
rot what the authority was denied ii he then sgsn
said he had come down to Washington Tor the purpose
of chastsng me, If it had been so, and il l had
not denied it; he then went TO ask aud demand
whether had not been talking abont him and Whist
had said OF him; replied whatever had said or writ
ten responsible for, and ready to for: rs
things, that lie would have suspected Of saying
anything b, hind his back he referred to the former
Intimacy having existed between VA; he then said some
thing about his not being graduate OF the Military
Academy, ard spoke Of the manner in which he had
been asaled in the public by officers Of the
army in the lie had proper to take in reference
to the matter Of General Pierce; replied that would
any specific charges, but could not generally;
then he spoke of the contempt he had for and int
that he had great contempt mo and did
not believe what had said and that would not dare
resent it, he then said that lie intended to make this
insult as public as possible that would give me any
satisfaction; that he going to Baltimore that after
noon unless desired him to remain in Washington
told him did not desire It, ne said yery well then he
would be in gsltimore where could lind him to which
replied when want you viii send for he left and
was leaving when made that remark Thatwas about
the substance OF our conversation.
Q-What was his general tone of voice?
Q-wtre there any ether persons in view at tn time
Ayes. Quite . crowd. Perhaps thirty forty
Q.-what description Of persons
Al suppose they wtrs officers OF the army and navy
and clerks aStacDed 10 the O1Icc l. ulu not Know
They seemed TO come out Of the adjacent Offices.
Q-Wbat those Offices
ntn navy and treasury have Offices in that building
Q-Whnt was the appearance Of the accused during
the conversation?
Ale appeared excited, and his manner violent
and very ins ultirg.
BarIott requested the advocate to ask the following
GLOW long have you known the accused and what
is your mutual relations?
AAhout six years; aud til about four years ago our
had cen very little OF him-perhaps twice-and then
only for few moments
Q--When the accused first approached you was not
his manner &, ntlemsnly.
Alt va, sir; ttat was while were in the Office
Q--Did you write letter, or letters, concerning the
matter to General Pierce
Al wrote letter relating to General Pierce
Q:--To whom; and If you have copies Of such letters,
Al did write letters to which suppose his CONVEX.
ration related have copy Of letter wrote to Cover
Thomas relative to General Pierce in to
received from him. woe two others perhaps three
the copies Of which bave not on the same subject.
Captain Bardcastle produced the copy of the orgisa
letter Governor Thomas had been to produce
the original letter but had net done 50 nor had the
then read by the Judge Advocate
WAsnISsror Sept 0, 1852.
DEAR Stn-Your favor Of yesterday was received to-
day, and hasten to reply TO you
am sorry to say that il is not in my power to give
you the facts connected with tho personal difficulty
which Is said 10 have occurred between General Pierce
and Captain Magrudern for was present such
occasion, and have heard word uttered upon
the subject by any person who claimed to have been
present 1t would give me great pleasure to be able
by simple statement Of the facts in the and do
justice to the reputation OF gallant soldier TO whose
distinguished ealantry was an .isnsss the bat
tie field CT Moline del Rey, the oeadlies and blooiesr
OF all the battles fought throughout the in Mexico
but can only give you my impression and state the
circumstances pnier WHICH th.y have been ioumod /
will first mark, hoxever that entertain doubt
that the change which you state Is made viz General
Pierce received and tamey submitted to gros, insult
snd ipdigoi'y oh.red 10 him by Captain Magruderu
wi BE- promptly responded TO refuted by officers Of
the orJ who were present and eye vtnesse, on the oc
csson alluded 10 Hsuch is not the case will admit
that have entirely micoueeiyed the character Of the
man.
wac no, atache you suppose to General Piercs's
commspd but belonged TO the army and knew
him weland ntDseiy during his service in the valley
OF Mexico where formed too high opinion OF him,
boz officer and gentleman to credit any such i'm.
pntation against his character. When eli Der General
Scott or General Pierce "tsmely submitsn to .
gross ininlt end indignity Offered item by any