Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-17
MAzEn's TROUBLES.

He Again Pleads tho Statute Ok LiHsea'
tions to Escape Court MARTIAL en-
Charges Preferred by Col. Peck.
81, Paul Pioneer Press, June Il.
Gen. Hazen's controversy with General
Stanley 10 Only oae Of the numeroos quar-
rels In which he involved himself while
stationed on the Missouri river. ~ order,
apparently. to relieve the ennut OF hs exile
finn the metropolitan society IN whlch he,
cuts 90 dashinG . figure. He took shelter
from the charges Of cowardice aud false
hood preferred against him by Gen. Stan
lev BY pleading the statute of Limitations.
It now appears that he has sought to avoid
q trial by court.martial on the charges pre-
ferred against him by G. X. Peck. Of
Sioux City, by %interposing the same plea.
Mr.. Peck charged Hazen with the false In
dorsement upon honor Of official papers,
and also with perjury. Mr.. Peck. being in
st. Paul yesterday, received the following
dispatch from the secretary of war, in ans
wer to his letter incissing charees and spe-
~ciications against Gen. Hazen: 81
War department, Washington, June,
8, 1S79.-S1R: Acknowledging the re.
,ceipt of your letter Of the 10Th ultmo, en-
closing charges and specifications egainst
Col. Wm. B. Haven, sixth infantry, I have
respectfully to invite your attention I the
report Of the general of the army, to whom
the charges have been referred, quoted BE-
low. His views are concurred In BY this
department.
1.-THE subject matters herein charged 10
specifications, 1, . and 3, charge l. occurred
more than two years ago, and are conse-
Quently outlawed."
The second charge alleges. matters prior 10
May, 1877. therefore is outlawed. The
only vital charge is the third, perjury, .
civil crime, punishable by Indictment and
trial by . civil court. and not by . military
court. Very respectfully, your obedien'
servant,
CIV. McCRARY, Secretary of War.
G.. X. Peck, Esq Sioux City, la.
MI. Peck is unable to account for this
disposition Of the case by Gen. Sherman,
as be says it does not accord with the facts
The charges preferred by him agains
pers relate, he says, to transactions which
took place on May 10, 1877. The letter o
the secretary of war Acknowledges the re
ceipt of the charges on May 10, 1879. They
were thus filed within the period of twt
years fixed by the statute of limitations al
necessary to have expired in order to out.
law the charges. II filed at any time with
in the period they can, as lawyers advis
him. be taken up for trial at any time Their
after. Mr.. Peck proposes to write to tn
secretary of war. calling attention to tn
evident chronological miscalculation o.
which the report of the general of th
army Is based. and to press hl
demand that the charges be tried bv o
martial. It would seem . proceeding
very doubtful propriety on the part Of Gel
Hazen to seek to avoid . trial upo
grave charges affecting his honor - an of
, Ger BY pleading the statutes of limitation
!, but 70 interpose this technical bar Of ou
. lsWry when the facts do not wsrrant
= , implies IN anxiety to escape q trial whie
looks very much like q confession that Il
] charges cannot DO disproved.