The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-29
MAJOR RENo's CASE.

CONTINUATION or THE INVESTIGATION AT
CHICAGO SCOUTS FRANK opINIoS-TEsTI-
MoNY FAVORABLE TO THE ACCUSED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO. Jan 90. 1879.
One of the most interested watchers of the Reno
trial is Captain Frank whitaker the instigator of
the inquiry. He sits in court each day among the
crowd. After reading the minutes at the opening
this morning the Recorder addressed the Court say
ing that he held in his hand paper containing seven
questions which Captain Whitaker wished the Court
to ask Herendeen. the witness of yesterday. After
the Recorder hal read the paper Captain Whitaker
asked that he might be permitted to question the
present well other witnesses himself. The
paper was signed 'Major Reno's accuser." The Re-
corder said that-though he did not consider
himself in the light OF prosecutor-he
thought he was conducting the examna-
ton thoroughly, and he also felt that
he was able to continue the management of the
himself Mr. Gilbert did not object to the questions
being put. but he did objec. to Captain Whitaker,
not otherwise interested i'll the investigation other
than that ga sensation, to be allowed to examine
witnesses The court cleared, and it de-
cded that the Captains request to examine witnesses
should not be granted; but il the Recorder desired,
in whom the Court had the greatest confidence, he
could ask the questions submitted
ASKING CAPTAIN wHITAKER's QUESTIONS.
The questions were then asked the first relating
to the evidence OF cowarice the part Of Reno in
the timber The witness replied that he did not see
Major RenO's face nor very carefully consider his
conduct He remembered. however, conversation
subsequently haG by himself with Major Reno. in
Knife, Major Reno said that he splattcrcd with
the blood and brains of the savage when he shot.
The witness believed that the flight from the woods
was ordered and attended by fright ut tho yolley
OF the Indians, who were not more than thirty feet
away The soldier who was shot yelled out MY
and this probably conspired to alarm the men,. The
witness did not mean to say that he thought Major
Reno was coward but that particular volley from
the Indians resulting i'll the sudden death of Bloody
Knife within ten feet of him and the wounding OF
the soldier conspired to prompt Major Reno to sud-
denly give the command to mount and start OIL AS
he did, ahead of the men. Herendeen has certainly
been d straiphtforward witness and he gave the
above opinions with great frankness and without
confusion. though Major Reno leaned forward in his
chair and eyed the scout sharply lie expressed
his opinions.
LIEUTENANT HARE's TESTIMONY
Lieutenant Hare was then recalled, who detailed
having come down in order to join Reno. just be-
fore he left on this mission he heard two distinct
vollcys fired from where Custer was supposed to be;
Major Reno might, with Captain Bcnteen, have then
gone to the assistance or Custer leaving his wounded
with the pack train under Captain McDougal. The
witness believed that il Reno had remained in the
woods twenty minutes longer than he did. the In
dams would have shut them in: the retreat,
dered did strike the witness absolutely neces-
snry at the time: il 1000 Indians had attacked
the command on their flight the force would not
have lasted ten minutes the whole fighting force of
least less; the witness evidence of coward
ice on the part Of the Major during the engagement;
the only particular evidence of galantry he in
that officer when Captain Bcneen came up;
Reno then turned to the men and said, in very
spirited way. that "Now We have assistance will
go and revenge the loss of comrades; Lieuten-
ant Hare deemed the disposition Of the troops wise
one since he brought his command out alive.
GOOD WORD RENO.
The examination concluded with description Of
what tho witness while buryng the dead on the
Custer battlefield, and then Mr.. Gilbert commenced
the cross-examination. Witness believed that il
Major Reno's command had gone mounted 500 yards
farther down the bottom not man would ever have
got out alive and the command would not have lived
more than Ave minutes; he thought the movement
back the river was the only thing that saved
tho command; 1t would have been iinpractcable
fors Rcnos command to have continued down the
bottom to create diversion in favor of Clusters
command attacking the Indians at another point,
and afterward Rcno's command could not have
moved down the river from the hill where it was
enl enched, for the whole country in front filed
with Indians
Tho name Of Captain De Rudio then called,
but Us that officer rot Immediately forthcoming
it was decided to begin the examination tomorrow
with De Rudios testimony. The court adjourned
until eleven O'Clock tomorrow.