Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-03-29

planned this, however, by her ignor.
ance at that time of the designs of
Major Reno, and by her natural desire
not to put a 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 a 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 a closed porch which,
covers the front of the two adjacent
quarters of Capt. Bell and Major Van
Horne, Major Reno caught her in his
arms and attempted to embrace her.
She Indignantly repelled this assault,
and as she reached the door of of Mrs.
Van Horne angrily warned him not to
repeat the indignity. He said it was
ssnO 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 rests
upon the evidence of Mrs. Bell.
Four days after this Mrs. Bell had
a party of the ladies and gentlemen Of
the garrison. All the officers and
their wives were invited except Major
Reno. The lady took this way to ex.
press her Indignation and contempt
tor the man who had insulted her. In
a small garrison like Abercrombie a
social slight of this kind is very sig
nificant. 1t was very marked in this
case, for everybody knew that Mrs. Bell
had thereby meant so signify that she
had broken off all social intercourse
with the commanding officer of the
garrison. Major Reno was deeply in.
dignant at this slight. During the pro.
gress of the party festivities he sat
nursing his wrath in the club room,
which is in the building occupied by
the post-trader, waiting to find out
from Mr.. Hazelhurst, the post-trader,
on his return from the party, who was
there. Mr.. Hazelhurst returned in the
small hours of the morning and found
him there. He complained bitterly of
the slight which Mrs. Bell had put up.
on him. s'It is the cut direct" he
said, s'It means war. She has thrown
down the gauntlet, and mean to take
/ it up" He said he would snake it
hot for her and would drive her out of
the regiment. This was the third
specification. He proceeded to make
it hot for her by a system of out
rageous prosecutions. About this time
or about Christmas, Rev. Mr.. Vain
wright, Episcopal missionary, arrived
at the post in the course of his rounds
among the garrisons which he visits in
turn for the purpose Of holding relig'
ious services. He had been previous
ly invited by Capt. Bell to stay at his
house when he arrived at AbercrOmbie
He was met outside the post by Major
Reno, who informed him that Captain
Bell was absent, and asked him to come
to his house. Mr.. Wainwright said
that the absence of Capt. Bell made NJ
difference that he accepted Captain
Bells invitation and would 60 to his
house to see if he was expected. II
not he would gladly accept the hospi
talities of Major Reno.
He found Mrs. Bell prepared to vel
come him, and he so advised Major
Reno. Having failed in this attemp
he then went to the Chaplain and in
formed him that his stay at Mrs. Bell'
house in the absence of her husband
was occasi0ning unpleasant comments
intimated that the lady had bad rep
utation; said he had been requested
by several officers to get her out of tn
regiment, and that's group of officer
in the club.room had connected hi
name and that of Mrs. Bell with oh
} scene suggestions in these words
'sEvery preacher has his goose ant
J Wainwright can get his of Mrs. Bell.
This was the subject of the fourtl
specification. The Chaplain, insteas
Of being alarmed by these representa-
; tions, was shocked that lady Of WHOM
, he had heard nothing but good hereto
, fore should be so grossly calumnlatet
in the absence of her husband by tn
commanding officer whose duty it wa
to have protected her. He made In
uuiries of the officers, and could fin
no ground for Major Reno's impu!B
+ tions. No unpleasant comments tina
} he could hear of had been made on hi
, stay at Mrs. Bells house except b
Major Reno himself. All whom b
, consulted advised him that it would b
, an insult to Mrs. Bell and her husban
) to withdraw from her house under th
circumstances. The Christmas SUI
> day was approaching. The chaplai
. was still at Mrs. Bells house. Majo
Reno, as q last resort, sent him q not
Z that It would cOnduce to the peac
Of the garrison if he held no religion
, services there. The chaplain inquire
8 what this meant, and was told b