Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-04
THE TRIAL OF RENO.

Toeeeo0nj OAvo0 IN AZ t0o Fort meade
Csart Martial.
Fort Meade, Dakota, Dec, THE Reno
court martial convened at 10 A. NJ. Lieut..
d. NJ. Scott testified. Know Reno. Was
ct the billiard room Aug. 8. Reno and
other officers were there. Reno cAme about
tattoo, played billiards and took . good
many drinks Of whisky. Took . chair and
threw it against the partition then picked
it up, punched the window and broke the
glass. Reno gave q SIS or $40 bill to settle
with the bar keeper. Gave the money to
Smith, the bar.keeper, who returned the
change to me. Reno asked what he meant
BY giving the money to me. l told Smith
it Was Reno's money, and he held it out to
Reno, who knocked it out Of his hand.
Smith picked it up and offered it again.
Reno knocked it the second time. Staid
till 1870 A. NJ, and took Reno home. The
drinks made Reno unsteady in his walk.
When he threw the chair he could walk
straight ; had full possession of his mental
faculties. When. going home Reno fell
down three times. In my opinion Reno
that went on. l left him home at A. N.
He called me back and said he would have
Rosa, the housekeeper, get up and get lunch.
Officers and friends were allowed in the
club.roou; citizens also, but there were
none there that night. Scott, when cross
questioned bv accused, said il was Reno's
money knocked on the floor. The chair
was not thrown At the window he punched
it. Have seen worse things in the club
room other evenings. The spree was quiet,
except throwing the chair and knocking
the money. Can give no reason for his
throwing the chair. 1t was thrown at no
person, and was not in the way of those
going around the billiard table. Reno paid
the loss sustained bv breaking the glass.
Dr.. Bell, assistant surgeon, sworn. Know
Reno. Was In the club room when the
alteration between Reno and Nicholson
took place. Several officers were present.
The dispute was about an account. l kept
away, as l didn't want to hear it. Nichol-
con said he could whip Reno in any way,
or At any time. Reno paid no attention.
Nicholson repeated it several times. Reno
struck him with q cue. Nicholson threw
Reno ON the floor. We then separated them.
Nicholson did . good deal of talking. Reno
kept quiet. I asked Reno to 20 home; he
said he would. 1t was not Reno that Lieut..
Petit threatened to arrest think it was
| Nicholson. Reno used the cue with both
hands struck a blow on the arm protecting
the head. / was in the club room when the
glass was broken. Reno picked up a chair,
and swinging 1t against a window, broke a
pane of glass. I don't know whose hand
the money was knocked out of, but l heard
it fall on the floor. Accused had been
drinking, but was not drunk. He had full
possession of his faculties, as far as I could
Judge. Was at F~anshaw's, Aug.3. Reno,
Nicholson, and johnson we're there. Fan
shaw came home, and we all went home
with Reno to give Fanshaw a chance TO talk
with him. Came back to supper at Fam
shaw's. Saw Reno drink at supper. His
speech was a little thick no one assisted
him from the table or residence. The &C.
cused was slightly under the influence of
liquor; don't know how many times Reno
drank. Nicholeon is more powerful. phys
ically, than Reno.
w. s. Fanshaw. post-trsder, sworn. Reno
was at my house for supper, Aug. 3; drank
some at supper; was q little under the in
fuence of liquor; was drowsy and his
speech a little thick. Reno did not insult
myself or family at the time specified.
e. w. johnson and DR.. Brechmin were
also sworn and testifed about the same az
the above.
Adjourned to 10 A. N. Tuesday.