The New York herald., 1877-03-21
MAJOR RENO's TRIAL.

THE GRAVE CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS
AGAINST HIM-coNDucr UNDEcoMISG AN
OFFICER AND GENTLEMAN IN AssAULTINo
THE WIFE OF A FELLOW oFFIcER AND THEN
MALIGNING AND PROSECUTING uER-cLoss
OF THE CASE VERDICT
[HY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp1
sr. PAUL, Minn., March 20, 1871.
Tho court martial tor the trial OF Mayor Marcus A.
Reno, Seventh cavalry. ended to-day. Tho Court
consisted OF General william H. Hazcn, Colonel sixth
infantry. President; General George Sykes. Colonel
Twentieth infantry; General George r. Buell. Lieu
tenant Colonel Eleventh Infantry Lieutenant Colonel
Pinkney Lusenbeci, First Infantry; General ]. G.
Hunt, Lieutenant Colonel Twentieth Infantry; Lieu
tenant Colonel Daniel Huslin, Jr.. Sixth Infantry:
General w. p Carlin. Lieutenant Colonel Seventeenth
infantry; Lieutenant Colonel II. Il. A. Crofton Major
Seventeenth infantry, and Lieutenant Colonel Charles
G. Bartlett, Major Eleventh Infantry Major Thomas
+. Barr Judge Advocate conducted tho case. and
Governor Cushman X. Davis defended Major Reno
rnE CHARGES AGAINST RESo.
Stripped OF vcrbiago tho charges that Reno has
been guilty OF conduct unbecoming an officer and u
gentleman attempting improper liberties with tho
wife OF Captain J. NJ. Belt Company r, Seventh
airy; with maiicously slanderlng her, ana with humi.
iatng her before tho garrison all Fort Abercrombe
in the absence OF her husband who ut the bedside
OF his SICK father, In Now York. Tho specifications
arc briefly as foilows-
Fsrst--That on December 10 last Reno, boIng the
commander OF tie post whc calling at the quarters
Of Mrs Bell took both her hands his and attempted
10 draw her TO his person. at tho same time taking
other liberties.
the door, but shortly afler Mrs. Bell gong call
on neghbor, when Major Reno, standing within the
storm door, caught her ia his arms attempting 10 en-
brace her, aud saying II was no harm. THIS Outrage
she resented and Immediately reported II to the OIL.
GERS wife on whom sue called.
ThiTd-Thut aterward, In conversation with the post
trader. mrs Bell having sighted Rono by not inviting
HIM to social gathering at her quarters Reno threat
cned TO make IT hot Tor her and drive her out oil tho
regiment, saying ''This means war"
Fourt--That our days afterward, about Christmas,
Chaplain Wainwright arrived AZ Abercrombio 10 con-
duct religious icises, intending 10 stop with Mrs
Bell Reno protested against his going 10 Bclls say
Ing It would create scandal.
quarters, Reno next morning sent HIM note saying
would conduce to tho peace OF the garrison II he held
upon by Wainwright, Reno said Wanwright's action
in stopping at Bells during Beps absence. had
ssansazod tho gssnsSn and .sss tue post
with his family II Wainwright allowed
to conduct divine service; but tho post
having made such u threat
SizG-Reno told Wainwright that Mrs. Belts repu-
tation bad like spoiled egg II could not bo ~
Jured, but out Of regard Tor tho chapaIns rcpu
tatiou, tho goou OF tho service and tho
ligon, he ielt 10 duty bound to him, and gave
Tor the statement mi urous to Mrs. Bells character
both which officers deny ever making such state.
ments
Secsnh--Rcno said to Lieutenant Wallace that Mrs.
Bell bad better cease lighting him, her character
TOO vulnerable he could easily blast II.
EiyhM-rhat ON tho Sunday evening thereafter Rono
publicly humiated Mrs. Bell before the garrison by
ordering that sho should not play tho organ ut divine
service, and by sending second message cmbodying
the threat 10 the assemblage taat II snc allowed
play he would stop the service ana break up the meet
ing.
The charge aud specifications were brought In tho
name OF Captain Bell Mrs. Bell, Chaplain VAIN
wright Captain Bentecn. Lieutenant Wallace and
erai other witnesses for the prosecution swore tho
truth OF the specifications
PLEA FOR THE DgPRxCE.
For tho defence few witnesses were sworn. Many
others summoned for tho purpose OF impeaching
tho reputation and character OF Mrs Boil, but tho
declined TO hear evidence either against or for
her character. Ia summing up for Reno yesterday,
Governor Davis argued that the only witness by which
MIRA Bell could bo directly contradcted was tho ac-
cused bmself whose evidence was inadmlssablc; but
her testimony weakened by her not having de-
mandod apology for tho alleged offence. but conin
uny to associate with him aftcrward. Tho charge OF
slandering was met by tho plea that tho comm nca
tons were, In line OF official duty, confidential their
nature, and not intonded to nJure the lady, but
protect Others Tho charge vi humiating her was
answered by averring that tho acts specified were
retaliation for the social slight put upon accused
by Mrs. Bell
TIKI DErEycn AxALyzEp
Major Barr, In summing up to-day, noted tho ncon-
sistcacy OF this ingenious defence. II she continued
to associate with hun how did she slight him? II
character was bad why did no wish associate with
herr and why did he care Tor her sights? He char
acterized the proven conduct OF the accused full Of
malice, tyranny and hypocrisy, and vehementy
denounced the protrcr which had been made
Of evidence against tho ladys character Even could
he prove her character bad that would not relieve
HIM. The offences here charged were his own, and
the proof lett him no excuse. not tho unnany
Int IN vuS hud mona yh IN 10 hafh
falsely others had sai1 about her II were pos.
sibe to allow all he claimed. stIl hts conduct was, as
charged, unbccoming an officer and q gentleman.
PROBABLE RESULT.
The common opinion here s that a verdict of guilty
and sentence OF dismissal from the will be SUBJ
mitcd by the court martial and that the verdict
sentence must be confirmed Every possible effort
been madc to conceal all the iacts relating this
trial from the public but conceancnt has been found
la.s.o ~