The New York herald., 1879-02-11
MAJOR RENO'S CASE.
MR.. GILBERT REVIEWS THE EVIDENCE, MAKING
FAVORABLE SHOWING FOR HIS CLIENT.
rDY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD1

CHICAGO. Feb. 10, 1879.
= The Reno court inquiry convened at the usual
hour this morning. Mr.. Gilbert, Major Reno's
counsel read o final statement for the defence of
Reno. He began by expressing his gratitude to the
Court for the justice OF it's rulings and to the
Recorder for the fairness with which he had
conducted his part of the investigation He believed
that the sole aim Of everybody connected with the
inquiry had been reach the truth and after setting
forth the evils that would arise from allowing the
fame of officers to be impugned by camp
followers, whose stories at variance with
those Of reliable officers proceeded to review the evil
dence Of each of the unfavorable witnesses in
cession. Girards the interpreters) evidence he
said was inconsistent :.. in t that after wit
'i in his testimony which he was afterward
Obliged to correct The testimony OF Herendcen, the
scout, who claimed that the movement from tho
wood took its start from Reno's fright at
the death of Bloody Knife. was commendablc
only as representing an effort to estimate Reno's
state of mind from half-Ininute glance
at his face The testimony Of the Doctor varied in
many points. regarding the movements Of the CON-
testimony of the packers. who declared Reno to be
drunk. overshot the mark by making him too drunk.
CONTRAST RESo's Favor.
The testimony of such officers Lieutenant
Wallace consistent and clear. surely to be be-
lieved in preference to such as that of these wit.
Reno's command in the timber and on the skirmish
lines Mr. Gilbert showed from the tes-
timony of Lieutenants Hare and Dc Rudio,
was justinable in view of the large number of In
dians. and the facts that IL the command had either
advanced or remained longer in the timber IL would
have been cut TO pieces. The justification
for the movement out Of the bottom to
the hill was similarly established. and then
the testimony OF the various officers - to the COM
ncndability of Reno personal conduct brought
ont, il being shown that Captain Moylan and other
officers testified that Reno was always where no
ought to he and doing what he ought to be
doing. In comparison with such testimony. Mr..
Gilbert claimed. the evidence of George Herendren,
who drew his conclusions from a survey of Rcnos
back, and that of DR. Porter. who aftcrward said no
scared he didn't know which end he was
sideration.
RESos PRUDENT ACTION.
Colonel Bentecn's testimony, which strongly
in support of the disposition Of the troops and the
viewed with minute detail to prove that Reno did
the very best that could be done in that
position; ana then II was shown that rs Custer's
command was probably dead at an early hour
quent aggressive action by Reno would
have afforded no relief to Custer. but re-
suited in the annihation of the remaining
men. The closing part of his argument was an elo-
quent portrayal OF the gallantry OF the officers and
men during the bitter ordeal OF their two days
siege the hill and recaptulston Of the points In
Reno's favor.
RECORDER LEES REPLY DELAYED.
Lieutenant Lee said that he thought there WAS
nothing he could say that would influence tho decis-
ion Of any member of the Court. but there some
few points he would like to advert to.
and as he had not. Of course. had time or
opportunity to prepare to answer them al brought
out by Mr. Gilbert he would ask that be
taken until three o'clock. Tho court met again
at three o'clock. but did nothing. and adjourned
til ton O'Clock tomorrow.