Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-28
THE RENO SCANDAL.

A CircumRtnntiaI Account OF Lbe
AbercrOmhie RcandaI-WhsIL Led
10 the Recent Court Martial.
st, Paul Pioneer Press, 2l.l
Major Reno is the officer in COM
mand at Fort Abercrombie. Capt.
Bell, commanding company f of
the Seventh cavalry, is stationed at
the same post. In December last
Captain Bell was called East by the
intelligence that his father was
very i'll, leaving his wife, a very at
tractive lady and a general favorite
with the officers and their wives, at
the post. Major Reno called on
the evening of December 10th, we
believe, and while going out Of the
house with her to escort her to the
residence of q neighbor, as she
turned in the doorway to gather
her skirts he put his hand around
her waist. She resented the insult,
and Of course refused to 90 with
him. A few days afterward, or on
Christmas eve, Mrs. Bell gave a
party to which all the officers and
their wives were invited except
Major Reno. This cut direct in
the face of the whole command
aroused the majors ire. He de-
clared that he would "make it hot
for Mrs. Bell and that he would
drive her out of the regiment" 10
carry this threat into execution he
commenced a series Of annoying
prosecutions against the lady. Be-
fore Captain Bells departure for
the East he had invited an Episco-
pal missionary, Rev. Mr.. Vain
wright, who was in the habit of
going from one military post to the
other to hold services, when he
came to Fort Abercrombie to stay
at his house. He accepted the in
vitation, and arriving there during
Captain Bells absence became the
guest Of his wife Major Reno was
smitten with a strong desire to en-.
tertain him, but having already
accepted Captain Bells invitation
he declined that of Major Reno.
The major then informed the chap
lain that his stay at Captain Bells
house, during his absence, was the
subject Of unpleasant remarks.
And to the chaplain's inquiries
what he meant he intimated that
stories we're in circulation to the
discredit of Mrs. Bell, and he said
that he had been told by officers at
Fort Lincoln that the commanding
officer had been requested to put
Mrs. Bell ont of the regiment-an
assertion which, upon the testimony
of the officers he named as his au-
thority, turned out to be wholly
false. He evidently expected that
a clergyman, shocked by SO unex-
pected a revelation, would at once
depart from Mrs. Bells house, and
by accepting the hospitalities of the
commanding officer, inhict a wound
upon that lady. Mr.. Wainwright
however, was incredulous and
thought he would inquire Of the
other officers Of the command
They were profoundly indignant al
these attempts of Major Reno tc
asperse the character of lady Of
unsullied repute, and advised Mr.
Wainwright that his leaving Mrs
Bells house to accept Major RenO''
hospitalitics, under the circum-
stances, would be an insult to Capt,
Bell and his wife, and he staid til
his visit was concluded. This was
only one Of a series Of prosecutions
which Reno inflicted on the lady
who had in the public manner be-
fore mentioned, under the appro,
priate social forms, expressed hel
contempt for him. He took every
occasion to make disparaging re
marks about her. Mrs. Bell wal
accustomed to play the organ il
the post chapel, and on New Year,
eve all the officers and ladies Of tbt
garrison, except Major Reno. were
at her house practieing music 70.
the service on New Years day
Major Reno sent his post adjutan
to notify the assembly that the or
gan might be taken to the chape
and played, but that Mrs. Bel
.ho,,l1 ,,ok ,,lo,, - ooJ tbot ir sh,