The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-04-06
AN ARMY SCANDAL.
a Court Martial On Major Reno.

CHICAGO, March 15.-There is quite
commotion in army circles at St. Paul
hlnn., headquarters Of the Department o
Dakota. The cause is kept strictly within
the circumference of the aristocratic circles
A leak to the well confined matter has beer
sprung at the military headquarters O.
General Sheridan, in this city. A lively
army scandal is in consequence revealed
At present the court martial is in session al
st. Paul, with closed doors, trying Major
Marcus A. Reno, Seventh U. S. Cavalry,
for conduct unbecoming an officer and gen.
tlemen, &C., and if the charge be sustained
DIS commission in the army will be the for
felt. The unbecoming conduct is said to
consist in amorous proposals by the Major
to the wife of another officer-Captain Bell
OF the same regiment. The first advances
were made in November last, as report goes,
at Ft. Buford. The lady resented and in
formed her husband of the insult Bell at
once bruited the matter about and threat
ened to raise Reno's hair. Reno thereupon
reported it about that Bells wife was no
fit person for other army ladies to associate
with. The whole affair was officially re-
ported and both the officers were placed
under arrest, so they could not do each
ovlsT any bodily INJURY. Inc Eost COM
mander reported the matter to Washington
and a strictly private investigation was Or
dered from General Sheridan's headquar-
ters. The investigation resulted in the
conyocation of general court martial by
order from the Secretary Of War, ]. D.
Cameron.
Brevet Major General Hazen, colonel of
the Sixth U. S. Infantry was appointed
President, and Captain P. P. Hughes. of
the Third U. S. Infantry, Judge Advocate
of the court.
Tie court convened on the 9Th inst, and
proceeded with its star chamber examina
ton 50 that the scandal would not reach
greater interest when it is remembered
that Major Reno, the chief actor in this dis
reputable army episode, figured conspieu-
ously in the newspaper annals of the Custer
massacre. Captain Bell, the other party so
closely connected with the affair, was at
this time a Lieutenant on recruiting service
and received his promotion to captaincy
by the death of his comrades on the from
tier. Major Reno's wife, whom he married
at Harrisburg, Pa, recently died. Mrs.
Bell was married about three years ago.
CHICAGO, March 20.-The Trtbune's st.
Paul special says in the military tribunal
to-day, Judge Advocate Barr summed up
the evidence against Major Reno the spec
ifcations are:
lst-That Reno being commander of Ft.
Ate called at the quarters Of Mrs.
Bell while her husband was absent in New
York, at the bedside of sick father, and
took improper IlDertles, attempting to draw
her to his person.
2d-Being repelled he stepped outside,
but remained inside the storm door, and
when Mrs. Bell was passing out sometime
afterward, caught her hand and renewed
his attempts. This outrage she reported to
his wife.
3d-Reno afterward threatened to make
it hot for her because she did not invite
him to social gathering at her quarters,
and to drive her entirely out of the regi-
ment.
4th-That he cast reflections OH her
character in speaking to the chaplain of the
garrison, and had insisted on his not stop
ping at her place or holding religious SER
vices thers.
The fifth and sixth specifications cover
the same ground.
7th-Reuo said to Lieutenant Wallace,
Mrs. Bell had better cease fighting him, her
character was vulnerable and he could easi-
ly blast it.
8th-Afterwarls he publicly humiliated
Mrs. Bell by giving orders that she should
not play the organ at divine service and
to stop the service if she was
allowed to play.
The prosecution introduced the evidence
of Mrs. Bell, Chaplain Wainwright, Capt
Berton, Lieut.. Wallace, and others, and
clearly established each specification, The
defense had little evidence, the accused not
being allowed to testify, nor to produce
witnesses against Mrs. Bells character.
Ex-Governor Davis summed up the case
for r, no, and was answered by Mr.. Barr,
after which, the case was taken under adj
visement and the verdict will be forwarded
to the army headquarters. The general
opinion is that Reno will be found guilty
and dismissed from the service.
q tEHAoM MATT NFAHAN7oU