Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-13
AHdaUtt 0fJudge Conway

| AGdautt ofJudge Conway.
1 am informed that DIR. Simon., late sur
| geon in the United States army, has recently
| been declared by a court martial to have LETT
his post without justification during the pre-
valence Of the cholera at Fort Riley last Au.
| gust, and in consequence has been dismissed
| by the President from the public service. AL
| though but a casual acquaintance of DR.. ST.
| mons, yet deem il my duty under the cir-
| instances TO submit a word or two Of testi-
mony.
L was present at Fort Riley during the pc
| riod of the visitation Of cholera, and when the
ravages Of that fearful scourge were at thei.
height, and am, therefore, somewhat cogni-
zant Of the bearing eff DR.. SimOns under the
trying circumstances Of bis condition
It is true that DR. left the post during
the prevalence Of the epidemic, but not until
worn down by strenuous efforts to arrest its
progress, and himself one If its most helpless
victims; nor, may add, until be had Sc
cured to those Of lis fellow-sufferers who re-
mained at the fort, that medical assistance
rendered necessary by the exigencieS Of their
situation.
At the time oe the cholera DR.. Si7hons was
the only surgeon at the fort, and although L
did not meet with MIN there, / WAS iufYrned
by those with whom / cOnversed, and wh0
had been eye witnesses of his conduct, that
his labOrs in responding TO the demands of the
sick, and the dying IN every direction day
and night were arduOus aid devoted and al
most without intermissioI.
His exertons were said to have been exees-
| sive, and such az were calculated to exhaust
the energies of the strongest constitution. 1t
was, therefore, concluded by everybody with
whom l had occasion to speak after the re-
ports of his illness had spread through the
community, that his sickness was due, in a
great degree, to over-exertiOn in the fulfill
ment Of his pressing and extensive duties.
L saw Doctor S. myself Immediately after
he had left the Fort. We were both on our
way eastward at the same time. lie passed
me on the road in a carriage and stopped at q
house a few miles below. The carriage was
filled with men women, and children fleeing
from the pestience. When L reached this
stopping place found the company resting
themselves under the shade Of some trees near
the house. Doctor Simons was sitting down
reposing on a pillow against q tree and at
tended upon either side by lady. L ap-
preached, spoke to him and extended my
hand he feeblv presented his arm without
uttering word; he appeared extremely de-
bilitated his face was pale, emsciated and
haggard, and his skin cold and clammy like
that of one approaching dissolution; he was,
to all appearances, as sick person as 1 ever
beheld inquired of those around as to his
case, and was told that he had been taken
usual remedies, but seemed so far to have re-
ceived no benefit from them. felt convinced
that his was one of the worst cases of cholera,
and supposed he would be dead before night.
1t may also be proper for me to state that
Doctor Whitehorne, a well known practising
physician resident at the town of Juniata, u
the neighborhood Of the Fort, informed me
that he had been sent for by Doctor Simons
and engaged to act as physician at the post
during the absence Of the former.
The extraordinary result of the court mar
tial in this case, as well as the action of the
President thereon, have affected me with deep
surprise.
The facts as understood by those who were
on the spot at the time Of the alleged dere-
LECTION, seemed to place DR. Simons above
the slightest suspicion Of disposition to shrink
from the brave and full performance of his
duty. No one supposed him capable Of en-
tertaining such disposition. His reputation
was that of a man Of tried courage; a man
who was in two wars and in times Of immi-
nent peril had displayed the greatest intre-
pidity.
1 cannot, therefore, but fear that some un-
fortunate and malign influence has presided
over these proceedings-proceedings by which
the public service has been deprived Of a
valuable officer, and great injustice infict ted
upon an exemplary man.
Signed, N. f. CONWAY.
This twenty-ninth day of February, 1856,
personally appeared before me, Justice Of
the Peace for the city of Washington, ID. C
Martin F. Conway, Of the Territory Of Kan.
sas, and made oath to the truth Of the state
ment of facts contained in the foregoing paper
Subscribed and sworn before
Signed, JOHN d. CLARKE.
Ertract from Letters of Judge Contcay of
5th March, 1856.
"Permit me to say in reply for your kind
thanks for my testimony in regard to DR. ST.
mons, that neither DR.. s Eor any Of his
friends, are under the slightest obligations to
me. L have simply told what it had accident
ally fallen to my lot to know, and to have
been able to serve the cause of truth and jus
tice, in so doing is source of qualification,
for which myself am profoundly grateful"
With much respect, your obedient servant,
Signed, M. F. CONWAY.
To L. Cuttings, Esq, Baltimore.
Afkavit of Mr.. Bo,cen.
Copy-Personally appeared before me,
Henry Fleming, Esq, one of the Justices IF