The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-30
CORBETT'S FILTRATION.
THE LoyE-sTnucK SOLDIER IN coURT-wHAT
HE SAYS OF MS FILTRATION AND HIS LAW

| THE LovE-sTRUcK SOLDIER IN coURT-wHLT
| HE SAYS OF HIS FILTRATION AND HIS LAW
| YER SAYS or HIS IMPRISONMENT.
John J. corbet the enlisted soldier stationed at
Fort Wadsworln, Staten Island who seems have
lost his heart, not his head at the sight of pretty
young lady, was produced before Judge Benedict in
the United States Court, in Brooklyn yesterday, in
answer TO the writ OF haDcas corpus recently granted
In his behalf Private corbeu lett the guardhouse Mt
the tori in company with Sergeant Burke, of Battery
!, Third artillery. and he walked into the court
room tho small number OF spectators were little sur
prscd TO observe very ordinary looking
one not calculated seemingly to create stir under
any circumstances
Mr. W. L. Severance represented the soldier and
Assistant United States District Attorney Hull tho
government Tho morning session was brief and
destitute OF Interesting incident. Mr. Severance
started the ball by calling Tor the return OF the
writ granted, and obtaining IL from the Court
glanced oycr It hurredly, aud with confident tone,
said that was merely the body ofCorbelt,
without any Justification as 10 the of his being
held under guard, and in his opinion should be
explicit Mr.. severance then sat down, feeling well
assured that ho had made "a point General Gibson at
once responded and begged 10 say tho Court that
he WAS not aware that circumstantnl statement OF
tho case was required. Had he known It ne could
readily have furnished all tho particulars In writing.
verbally state tho that the soldier was still In
confinement Judge Benedict on igntcned Genera
Gibson. He told him that written return was ncccs.
sary, and 1t must certify the cause Corr
belts detention, and then, TO straighten matters
once, The Court suggested that General Gibson had
better take time TO make sucn amended return. Tho
General thanked the Court adding that he had
papers IN reference to the which no desired
present, and WAS told TO add them his answer.
Mr.. Severance desired the privilege OF commitment
ing with MS client, which the Court granted and then
adjourned the further consideration tho case until
O'Clock.
Corbett aud his lawyer had long and CONF Dental
talk.
coRBETT uAs TO SAY.
When Corbatt had tod his counsel tho whole story
OF his arrest aud Imprisonment he looked around tho
court room rather vacantly but with tho OF one
| who was satisfied with himself. Then the reporters
stepped up aud accostcd tho soldier Hc was inclined
to tank, anu 10 tho HERALD representative said,
blanu smie:-
"a have been misrcprcsenied by ono OF tho news-
papers, II having becn said OF mo that claim TO have
asupeinatural power-a sort OF magnetic influence
| over All wumankind with whom come contact.
That IS not the case; do not possess that wonderful
influence That idea comes q conspiracy TO make
appear That am insane. fGe doctor the tort ex-
amined me 10 my sanity. end he was satisfied
tnat was OF perfectly sound minu have been IN
the Quilted States army since $780, have bui Two
months more 10 serve. / am charged with having
been guilty OF conduct prcuulcia To good order ana
military discipline IL stated | told llu o
my superior olicer wncn questioned by him to my
signaling with the young lady. They charge that
when said James pot,s and William Moran tho
signalling going on between The lady ana myself, that
tod lie. On tho court MARTIAL Moran admitted
thar he was with me when the Signalling was gong
on. Potts sad Oh his examination that he did
know anything about il. The court martial was
posed Of Six otccrs:-Captain st Clare, Lieutenants
Turnout, lIaskins, Thurston, Calorl and Houghton.
The phrascoiusy Of the irst letter sent 70 lady
was somewhat dierent IRON the form IN winch II was
published. wanted II 70 appear That had no en-
was nothing insulting IL my letters When got out
OF the army certainly PROPOSE" continued CorDett,
ITO renew my addresses believe thai she has
noticed mo iavorabiy but enc CLOSELY watched
AT the court martial trial she sat by tho side OF ner
sister ali tho time. she then admitted that sue
might havo raised her mum TO her iacc the
day l met her, but dia not remember il.
! asked her why sho looked hXedly
me when she was walking with her mother,
and she said shc dia not remember having
done 50 The girl was terrified by her relatives Why,
Corporal Dc Witt Pntaam and another Witness, said
Corpetl Win evident gi,e, "testiied that on Noven
Der ~ they saw the lady waive her handkerchief AT
me while was walking on posi- at the fort did not
take much notice oi that incident. as thought she
| was only in i playful mood out when subsequent
| currences came before my mind ! said 10 myself,
An, the plot thicken'" ana The soldier US he spoke
laughed heartily
/ BACK TO fort wApswonrM
Tho court proceediogs IN lho aiteraoon can be
summed up briefly. The Assistant District Attorney
read General GiDsons written return TO tDe writ OF
Eaboas corpus 1t celia that Corbet under arrest
and had been tried By court marital for preju
oscai to good order aud military discipline, aud that
the prisoner was now awaiting tho decision, which
/ had Dsch transmitted 70 General Hancock.
AIR. severance demurrcd to the insull.
Client. holding that the question C court martial
nothing with The case and ii lorbcit were 10
DO detained at all he should DO held on charged
! In answer the Assistant District Attorney read
from Articles oil War 90 10 that soldier
charged Win crime must he Imprisoned and kept con
fined unit Tue charges disposed that ollcor
soldier shall DC placed uIacr arrest Kept
hncment Tor longer period than eight days until
such period M court nartla eau be ASSEMBLED Cor
bet nad tried Tor conGuCt preJuhlcal TO good
order and military discipline waiting
tao decision VI such trai.
Mr. Severance combatcd the Assistant District At
torucys position lie suiu ms cioII arrested on
| the 2yth OF November last and no until
| tho lOih OF December. Meanwhile no had been
charged with writing letters 10 young lady, which
was Lorbetls private business, anu further that hc
| hal lied To his superior oticefs---
Assistant District Attorney (ntcrrupiiugl-For that
| he should be punished
| CorbetLs Counsel--Wo, officers as well as prlvatos
| lie.
Continuing his argument, Corbctt's counsel held
that his clicnt had been already confined In. eight
days required by the articles OF war In such
made ana provided, and should now be released.
Judge Benedict then took the papers, promising to
render mis- decision on tho dem Monday morn
lug AZ eleven O'Clock.
Mr. Severance, nj this junciurc moved that Corbett
In the meantime be rcmanded to the custody Mar
snt Harlow nasmucl us his client had aready tasted
sufficiently OF fort Wadsworth confinement for a.
lcgca oIenco tho military authorities had no iur.sdic
i tion over.
Judge Benedict denied the motion, aud Sergeant
| Burke escort d Corbctt back to Fort Wgdsworln.
"LOSI AND WON"