Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-12
seNo.s REMARKS.
Made la llis Own Defense az she Close OF
the Fera Meade Court Martial.

Made la TITS Own Defense AZ she close OF
she Fert Meade Court Martial.
st. Paul Pioneer Press Telegram.
Fort Meade, Dec. 9.-The court convened
Al IL O'Clock yesterday. Maj. Reno read
his defense "a follows
The evidence regarding the first specif.
cation ia that Of Lieuts. Nicholson, Petit
and Deabell. Ii must be apparent 10 the
court that the evidence of Nicholson il such
% to justify my action. He acknowledges
that he said to me he could lick me in two
minutes in anyway, and repeated this two
or three times. 1t was the bravado manner
which was in ended to attract the attention
of all that provoked me beyond the limits
of patience, aud not to attempt to avenge
the insult, would have been to acknowledge
myself . paltroon to whom insults might
be- addressed with impunity by any person.
The code OF q gentleman established in the
clubs of any city would have expelled me
had l acted otherwise. In answer to a
question, Judge Advocate Petit said Lieut..
Nicholson made the first threat by saving
that he could whip him (Reno) in such a
length of time. In the examination Petit
said il was purely a personal affair, and did
not disturb the garrison; that his threat
of arrest was more particularly
directed against Nicholson than
myself. That Is the summary of
the most reliable witnesses to this epeci6ca-
ton. The evidence clearly states that l
didn't create q disturbance, nor did l vio-
lently ASSAULT Nicholson, nor that l contin.
ued 10 persist in a disturbance, but that l
struck him under great provocation with a
billiard cue. Can there be anything Grim.
inal in that? Would /, as. an officer and
gentleman, have acted otherwise? As.o the
third specification, Lieut.. Nicholson says
there was nothing improper In my manner.
Fanshaw says that af,er supper 1 was a
little drowsy, but did no.. offer an insult in
speech or manner to him or his family. All
the witnesses agree that the bottle was not
full and five gentlemen drank out of it.
johnson said that had 1 been called upon l
could readily have used my faculties. Mrs.
Fanshaw was the only person out of the five
who said l did anything disgusting, bu, her
experience of such things is lin ted, and
any drunk would be disgusting to her, as to
all true women but, in truth, the condition
[ was in, whether disgusting or not. was not
intoxication, as l swore in my evidence. All
testify that l did not offer any insult or
commi, any improperly in what l said or
in my manner In regard to the evidence
as to the specification to the additional
charge in the testimony OF Miss Sturgis, it
was not the sight OF me that excited alarm,
but an imaginary sequence that had been
coniured up and had no existence in fact,
viz, that l would shoot her because she
knew l must have some hard feeling toward
her father. The testimony of Lieut.. Spill
nan is that he twice cav her through the
window; the second time he advanced a
step. but seeing Stursis smoking thought
there was no occasion to 60 in, and any
alarm must have subsidized. The cause Of
my being before the window is already be-
fore the court. If any alarm resulted to the
occupants by my looking in 1 did all a
gentleman could do in sending q free and
ample apology, for an u~nintentional ofanse,
and this apology, even in the mind of the
%accuser, it would be ungenerous not to &C.
cept as an atonement OF offense. If the
writer was thought to be influenced by i'm
proper motives, it has been demonstrated to
the court beyond doubt that the motive ac-
tuating me in sending the note was that of a
gentleman and officer. 1t has been nv
misfortune to have obtained a widespread
notoriety throughout the country by means
OF a press open 10 my enemies, who know
not why they are so, but like village ours
bark when their fellow, DO, and a great
degree of attention will be called to what
[ do then by other officers not SO widely adj
vertised. Such is the evidence. feel as.
surcd that the court cannot upon i: find
anything that will substantiate charges and
specifications, conviction upon which
would be the sacrifice Of a commission
which is the reward of over twenty-five
years bard aud faithful labor for my corn-
Try. In the present case the policy ofthe
law is plain. 1t is to preserve the cha.ac-
Ter and honor Of the army by excluding
from it d%isreputable characters who have
shown themselves unfit to associate with
gentlemen, whose retention would have the
effect OF demoralizing the ,cbaracte: Of 6
military community snd might eventually
c~ontaminate it. Conduct uubecoming az
officer, and q gentleman. in the intent O
the article, must be such conduct on the
part of the accused as shows him 10 have
forfeited all claim to the character of a gen
tleman. A mere hasty expression or &C
done inthe heat of passion and after ward.
repented Of, would insure dismissal If NAL
ice or i'll will should prompt the p1osecu.
ton. Such is not the spirit ofthe military
code; on the contrary it seeks to heal al
ofenses without resort 10 criminsl trial
In conclusion, l thank the court for tn
patience and kindness shown me durins
this somewhat prolonged trial, and J rel
confidently on the wisdom. justice and i'm
Partially of Its finding.
.F. --$