The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-03-29
fusely decorated with flags, and at
night banquets were held and the city
Illuminated.
AN ARMY SCANDAL.


at St. Paul for two or three weeks
which is attracting much attention.
The court was held to try the charges
made against Major Reno, of the 7th
Infantry, by Captain Bell of the came
regiment. The court was composed as
follows:
General w. B. Hazen, Colonel 9th Infantry,
President OF the Court. 80
General George Sykes, Colonel Twentaesn
Infantry.
Colonel Pinckney Lugenbeel, First In.
Colonel Lewis C. Hunt, Twentieth In
fantry.
General w P. Carlin, Lieutenant Colonel,
Seventeenth Infantry.
Colonel Daniel Hustan, Sixth Infantry.
Colonel 4. A. Croften, Major Seventh IN
Colonel c. G. Bartlett, Major Eleventh In
fantry.
Colonel Thomas F. Barr, Judge Advocate Of
the Court.
Counsel for Defense-Hon. C. Z. Davis,
| Stanford Newell, Esq.
The charge was in substance that
Major Reno, commanding at Fort Alb.
ercrombie, had been guilty OF conduct
unbecoming an officer and a gentle
man in attempting improper liberties
with the wife of Capt. j. NJ. Bell, with
| circulating slanderOus reports against
her character, with the malicious at
tempt to injure her, and force her out
of the garrison. All this while her
husband was absent in attendance on
sick father. The first specification
under this general charge was that on
the 10Th of December last, Maj. Reno,
while calling at the quarters OF Mrs.
Bell, took both her hands in his and
attempted to draw her towards him,
and to take other liberties with her
person. This was proved by the testi-
mony of Mrs. Bell herself. The de-
tense laid stress on the fact that Mrs.
Bell did not resent this liberty; but
laughingly spoke of Reno's grasp as
Masonic grip. The prosecution ex-
planned this, however, by her ignor-
ance at that time of the designs OF
Major Reno, and by her natural desire
not to put construction on his con.
duct which would oblige her to break
off all relations with the commanding
officer Of the garrison. The defense
also laid great stress on the fact that
subsequently to this Mrs. Bell invited
Major Reno to escort her to the house
of neighbor. But in this she was
prompted by the same views. But
Major Reno seems to have miSinter
preted the motives of the lady. While
passing through closed porch which
covers the front of the two adjacent
quarters of Capt. Bell and Major Var
Horne, Major Reno caught her in his
arms and attempted to embrace her
She Indignantly repealed this assault
and as she reached the door of OF Mrs
Van Horne angrily warned him not tc
repeat the indignity. He said it was
.sno HARM and retreated from the
wrath Of the lady, who went immedi
ately to Mrs. Van Horne and detailed
the insult that had been offered her
This assault is the subject OF the sec
ond specification, which also rest
upon the evidence of Mrs. Bell.
t Four days after this Mrs. Bel hat
4 a barty of the ladies and gentlemen o
the garrison. ALI the officers ant
) their wives were invited except Majo
Reno. The lady took this way to ex
, press her Indignation and contemp
v for the man who had insulted her. Il
: small garrison like AbercrOmbie
: social slight Of this kind is very sig
g nifcant. 1t was very marked in thi
case, for everybody knew that Mrs. Bel
0 had thereby meant so signify that sh
t had broken off all social iutercours
with the commanding officer Of tn
0 garrison. Major Reno was deeply in
e dignant at this slight. During the pre-
gress of the party festivities he ga
nursing his wrath in the club room
which is in the building occupied
the post-trader. waiting to find OF
from Mr.. Hazelhurst, the post-tradel
e on his return from the party, who wa
j. there. Mr.. Hazelhurst returned in til
d small hours of the morning and foun
b him there. He complained bitterly {
# the slight which Mrs. Bell had put NJ
n on him. "It is the cut Direct
r said, cit means war. She has throw
s. down the gauntlet, and / mean to tax
$. it up" He said he would .make
a. hot for her and would drive her out I
p the regiment" This was the thil
% specification. He proceeded to NAL
it hot for her by system of on
E. rageous prosecutions. About this tin
!. or about Christmas, Rev. Mr.. Wal
re wright, Episcopal missionary, arriv,
le at the post in the course of his roun
Id among the garrisons which he visits
~ turn for the purpose Of holding reli
J. ious services. He had been previol
!. ly invited by Capt. Bell to stay at b
i house when he arrived at Abercrombi
at He was met outside the post by Maj
1t Reno, who informed him that CAPITA
as Bell was absent, and asked him to cor
to his house. Mr.. Wainwright sa
that the absence of Capt. Bell made
difference /; that he accepted CAPITA
Bells invitation and would go to
r. house to see if he was expected.
ne not he would gladly accept the hos
A talities of Major Reno.
~ He found Mrs. Bell prepared to W
q come him, and he SO advised MAJ
in Reno. Having failed in this attem
by he then went to the Chaplain and
Is, formed him that his stay at Mrs. Bel
nm house In the absence Of her busba
of was occasioning unpleasant common
~ intimated that the lady had bad r
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