The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-26

but went down tho bluffs to look at the dead
body Of one of his officers. All the Indians had
he remained quiet At last Capt Thomas i.
Weir: who had been irciting and ming. start
his company without orders When they had
gono about mile Heno let thc rest 20 after. Ky
that time the firing down the river had ceased.
and they met the Indians returning. In nm
selves and Reno practically disappear;
command to Capt. Brnteen. II is true that he
gave a few orders and was now and then visible
lion WINS nsked "Wln pS' il Rnpo H. i,1 lnrned
NJ after dark with flask of whiskcy and q car
b.nc. struck an un9rincd man In the ince Tor NO
offence but answering his question cfvilly. and
Threatened To shoot him ut once. The man was
y poor citizen packer. aud therefore snie game.
In fNct Reno seems rather proud Qt this than
otherwise, for he asked On tho trial through his
He wasn't n coward then was heY" II IL un-
necessary to remark that this question produced
quito little sensation in rourt-it sounded
so brave This little scene terminates all that
In OF importance in the behavior ~ Reno on the
first day: and the second was repetition nf tho
shmr sncaking policy, without the addition OF
the consequences of his conduct became mani
fest when Terry rescued the remnant OF tho
regiment from the Indians. Tho dead bodies
of Custer and all his men were then found.
sNEERING At THE DEAD CUSTER
II only remains to describe = few scenes that
transprcd during the trial in Chicago this year.
now closed. While the cnse was IN progress
Reno and Brnteen were inseparablc and licno's
counsel, u gentleman strongly resembling tho
lamcntcd Oily Cannon. made up u hap
at ali all times. and nd The hotel lSan Fingers
said they frequently slept three IN bed. though
this we cannot youoh for. Whom B'ntecn was Civ
ing his evidence. Mr.. GummOn-wC should say
Gilbcrt-could not control his feelings. and kept
jumping up and down. promEting the witness
Court. Col. King. openly r,buked him with:
Mr., Gilbert SIT down and don't Interfere with
me Kec9rdcr or make suggestions TO ne wit
great gun. He had been pulled in advance as
a hero and a martyr; ns wonderful Indian
fighter and lady killer. and the room was
crammcd with mdics come to hear the grent
Indian fighter testify. IN. B.-Most OF these
ladies' came from Shcridan's hcadqunrters.l
And yet what was the testimony Of
to say that before he had i'm the stand he had
convinced every one In the room except Reno
and Cannon that he could not he trusted. His
statements were confined To- n series of malig-
nant snecrs Ht his dead commander Custer;
To- an expression OF opinion that Custer had
given "scnsccss' orders: thnt)he had blum
dcrcd into a trap; that he had been killed in a
pnnic; that his Hight had only lasted about ten
minutes and go on. in spit, OF tho Hiring heard
for two long hours on lirno's hill 10y every one
OF the Reno inquiry. Every witness who wanted
to slandcr Custer was allowed 10 do So. but no
word was allowed on tho other side because IL
was Reno. not Custer. who was to loo invcsti
cHtcd. Gen. sheridan sent Ia his brother. tho
Colonel. better known in Chicago as N ko
who never was in action, was permitted To- Offer
his military Judgment on the probable fate Of
Poor Nike 10y the by. was suffering from q
recent wound contracted by humping his head
against the top OF an ambulance while cam
paigning after imaginary Indians; so we must
not be severe on him. He gave his evidence
like little man.
MoCKERY OF JUSTICE.
Reno himself was allowed to sheer ut Custer
for his civil war record. nm appeal to the old
rivalry between Custer and Merritt. now one OF
tho court. and not without effect Bentecn was
allowed Ia sheer at Custer. but n question as to
Benteen. too. was not on trial. In short. 10y the
rulings Of the court and the terms OF the order
under which they acted the whole proceeding
became at last the merest mockery of lustce.
despite of the honesty Of Co.'s. King and Royal.
and the energy of Recorder Lee. All that could
tc done was to accumulate facts; and. thanks
to the Recorder. enough facts were established
To sink Reno ten times over IL was proven
that Custer went into action on that fatal day
with two subordinntes who hated and distrustcd
him. affecting 10 despise his ability as soldier.
and that these men deliberately refused to hear
the firing in his direction. though their atten-
ton was called to II.
The verdict OF tho court on these facts has
gone to Washingt IN, sealed and Is supposed 10
be secret, but enough has leaked out TO show
that 1t will be partial whitewash. though the
the counts II not all. Tho reason OF this white
wash and the excuse offered for II Is found in
an upwHry remark Of Col Merriit made I, on the 1S
| substance said the gallant Colonel-Custers old
| rival" that this thing was brought on now. II
! will hurt the army badly 1t ought not to nave
bcen allowed TO come out" Cob Merritt was
| afterward closeted with the Recorder alone for
several hours. and. II is understood. did most
| Of the work Of the de'ision. the Recorder hay-
| ing no voice save to present the case on trial:
| His remark shows the spirit in which he looked
| at the case. Better TO continue Reno in the
army and try to hush things up than to cut out
| this fostering sore and save the army 10y hon
esty at the eleventh hour. The American peo-
pie will know how 20 treat this verdict when II
| appears. If II be clean whitcwash. and To- whose
influence to ascribe II. f. W.