The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-24
Army Intelligence.
COURT MARTIAL UPON LIEUT.. HALDRNAN-NIN

TEENrn DAY.
The court assembled at IL o'clock Monday rnornin
pursuant to adjournment The members Of the cou
all in attendan .e-Brevet Lieut. Col Swords pr
siding. The Judge Advocate submitted his reply to
defence OF the accused, offered Saturday. II WI
lengthy, occupying honr and half. 1t began vii
expressing surprise at the violent attacks made upon
character and reputation Of Lieut.. Willard and serg
Head Had it not been for these attacks he would
he gaid have offered any reply, but allowed the case
be submitted upon the testimony before the court,
the defer Of accused II vas not his wish, as oic
OF the army to fsten upon fellow oihcer an offence
which he might not tie guilty A. IL was he should sin
ply the PLAN acts apparent in the eyidenc
and correlatively, with view 10 shield his witness
from the imputations brought against their charac
and veracy. He then proceeded to reiterate the ger
raj charges brought against The accused their suosan
being, first, CONDUCT unhecoming an officer az
a gentlemani second, embezzlement Of provision
belonging to United States sodiers. Under each char
were read the sunday specifications and some pre-
minary matters OF the defence we first noticed. =
TO the denial on the part of the accused, OF u
jurisdiction of the court Ii was contended that the pr
per time 10 enter thai plea when he called upc
TO plead TO the charges The plea that IL the spec
hcaticns were proved they did not support the char,
OF conduct unbecompg officer and enleman as in u
moneyed transactions referred to In the charges Ii
Ss alleged sf'fa rs SIMPLY Il c pirate
Hademan had received The money in trust for the dep
fund there did rest upon hun some respon bility
officer and gentleman 10 pay it to that fund. II
reply chara groundess the defence set up
he charges brought against Lieut.. Haldsman We
the result Of conspiracy and sought to vndcate Lieu
Willard fro any such imprtation repudiating idea tn
officers of The army would conspre with soldiers to mi
brother officers. Tho Judge Advocate now proceeded ,
general review Of the evidence. As the defence had
tempted TO discred the testimony of Sergeant Head
waived for the time the consideration of his tetimon
and examined the evidence as though his testimony
excluded. He alleged that, With expunging Sc
geant Heads evidence the case was not fatally weskens
for the prosecutions and endeavored to show the san
from the evidence The entire moneyed transactions
1900, TO sept ID were reviewed, as also the vario
transactions in regard to the alleged misappcation
provisions. consideration of the testimony Of Sergea
Head next followed with examination Of the gr0ur
on which the defence insisted 1t not credible 1t
conendtd that the assigned by witnesses for Il
defence for swearing that they would not believe him
oath were absurd, anc such to justify them in
swearing. 1t was insisted that it only shown tn
when he was under the influence Of liquor the witness
would not believe him, and the Judge Advocate su
mitted that this fact alone bore not the Sigh
est against the ctedbility of Sergeant Hea
The Judge Advocate defended ~ considerable length
character OF Sergeant Head lie insisted that every mpo
tan circumstance sworn to by the sergeant corrob
rated by other testimony which had not been called in
ton. The reply gave, the close scorchng
of the general character of the defence. The counsel
the accused it Ia stated denounced Sergeant Head
contended that his testimony was contradictory fro
beginning to end, and then, after writing defence
nearly two hundred pages. they excused themselves Il
not pointing out any Of these discrepancies; they do
wish to consume the time The argument OF the defen
was presented as, substantially: first that Lieut. Had
man was not responsible for the money he receive
secondly that he paio than he received ar
finally that he received no money at ALL The weight
such cogent defence he would let have its bearing vii
the Court.
The reply concluded with congratuating the membe
OF the court that the prolonged investigation a.tendai
upon the present ease had at length nearly reached
termination. The udpe Advocate added that the manag
ment OF the case had been aborious and painful du
to himself He had been ordered to perform H. and Ina
endeavored to obey the order.
The counsel for the accused asked the Court tine priv
lege of rej0iniDg to the reply.
The Court, after celebrating decided they might do
but that the rejOinder must be submitted writing.
Counsel for the accused stated this would necessar
require opportunity for preparation, and further ask
that an adjournment be granted till next day. when
motion to this effect made, and the Court adournt
TO II O'Clock Tuesday morning
TWENTIETH DAY.-Tbe court met Tuesday p1ornin
at II O'Clock, pursuant to adjournment-an the cou
prcsent-Brevet Lieut.. Col. Swords presiding.
Counsel for The accused submitted brief reioinder
the reply of the Judge Advocate made to their origin
mission the part the Judge Advocate that he act,
prosecuting officer Several minor discl epancies
pointed ont between the testimony and the facts int
preted by the Judge ADVOCATE The points OF the defen
recapuated and final plea made to the jursdictio
of the court.
The Judge Advocate followed with brief oral rep
lie said he had not pressed the conviction OF the
and il he had seemingly in the conduct Of the acte
for the prosecution than Judge Advocate,
because the furnished with able counse
and not with view 10 transcend fail OF the duties
his position.
The being now concluded, the court WAS order'
to he cleared for the members OF the court TO debe
upon their decision In the Meanwhile 1t was o.
pounced that there would he further open session
but that soon the count sgreed upon their verdi
the would be submitted TO General Scott for review
al, when the usual subsequent action would be take
according to the ultimate decision rendered