The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-12
THE TRIAL or CAPT BLAIR.
DID the Captain Legally Marry the widow
Of Mnior-Gen. Gordon QrnnEerl


Judge Advocate Major Swain, whose ILL
ness has keut the Blair court martial waiting
one week. kept the uniformed officers waiting
only an hour yesterday morning. As soon as
he entered the room Capt. Thomas Blair entered
also The anxious look was still on his face.
but before the session was over it disappeared.
and he laughed heartily at times. and entered
with zeal into the details Of the trial
Gen. Mcmahon, counsel for Capt Blair.
opened the proceedings by denying tho juris-
diction of the court on tho ground that Con.
sherman. being the accuser. was not authorized
by law to select tho judges
Judge Advocate Swain replied that Gen. Sher-
man was not the accuser OF Capt. Blair. In No
vember last. the Judge Advocate continued. the
United States Consul in Glasgow wrote to the
Secretary OF War enclosing a forged paper pur-
porting to be Capt Blair's resignation. He
wrote that Capt Blair was the husband OF a
lady in Glasgow. and that she had expressed
her determination to sail for America and bring
him to speedy reckoning. She had letter
from Con. sherman showing that Blair was in
the service and had married. The Secretary of
War wrote TO the Consul that tho complaint
must be substantiated. and he Major Swain
and tho Consul Investigated the case. and the
Judge Advocate was now ready to substuntiate
the charges before the court martial. Gen.
sherman had nothing to do as either accuser or
prosecutor The woman In Scotland is the
accuscr.
The Court decided that Gen. McMahon's plea
in bar was not sustained.
Then II plea was made that it was more thnu
eight days after his arrest before Capt Blair
was told what tho charges were. and that a true
copy Of the charges had not been served. the
paper that was served not being signed.
The Court. without passing upon this plea
called upon Capt. Blair 10 plead to the second
specincation Of the charge. which is that in
caused to be made u paper purporting TO be
special order issued by authority and signedby
William II. kobbe. in which his resignation
was stated To bc accepted. TO take effect Sept. 30.
1878. and a leave OF absence granted from the
lst to the 30th Of that month which document
Glasgow. Scotland. with intent to deceive her.
being about to marry another woman.
- Not guilty Mls the accused Captains plea.
To the first specification. which charges that.
In February. 1861. no was married in Glasgow.
Scotland. by and under the name OF Thomns
Nichols. and TINT on Sept. II, 1878, he married
Mrs. Maria l.. Granger, in lancasteri ny. the
Csptan answered MS before: Not guilty
hcor aud gentleman. he answered: Not
guilty"
Then Gen. Mcmahon said that It was abso-
lutely necessary that Capt Blair should haye
time T. collect materials Tor his defence He
wanted time to 20 TO Scotland and get the test-
mony that he alone could get. II this was
granted, he would show that he hnd not been
guilty OF conduct unbecoming an officer aud
The Judge Advocate said that previous to
discussing the request for delqy he would offer
"
written hy Capt. Blair TO the Secretary OF War
on the 10th OF January. after his arrest. 1t ac-
knowedged the receipt Of the charges against
him. and ask KIDD leave OF absence for forty days
70 90 TO scotland to get evidence 10 establish the
fact that the alleged marriage with Ann Yaillie
WAS not a legal marriage. and would not BE- so
held 10y the courts 81 that country, which alone
had jurisdiction. That marriage, the Captains
letter proceeds to say. was obtained by fraud
and deceit brought about by the woman's
| brother acting for her, II succeed" the
Captains letter goes on. the first specification
| tn fhastr md fh4 lft h ION
from the second II do not succeed will re-
turn lust the same and stand my trial. for do
not Wish to add cow9rdiee t9 tho crimes Of
" / offer this letter" the Judge Advocate said
as ms, IN ths cham OF cireumstantial evil
dence that shall produce. To show that the ne
cused Captain married the woman IN Scotland"
Gen. McMahon said that the intent was an
important element in the defence. They would
show that there was no marriage in Scotland
and that Capt. Blair did not believe himself to
| Of Major Gen. Gordon Granger.
The Court decided that the letter might be
| used in evidence.
Next the Judge Advocate introduced tho
| paper purportlDg TO be the forged resignation.
| signed by W II. Kobbt." II was written in
words:
S9ys sSP9' :s RSS' yS9 are %
less shall ave you my address shall IRON time
1raa a' street. SS DI baSsi0n ROAD you ' 70 NO
Gen. Mcmahon objected to this document. but
| the Court admitted II rs evidence.
Other letters were admitted despite Gen Nc
| Mahon's objections. one Of them being ad-
| dressed TO ." My Dear Ann" In 1t the writer
| said that he was glad TO learn that she and the
| children We're 81 well. He was still well. thank
| God The Judge Advocate also offered In evl-
| denco what purported 10 be certified copy Of
| the record OF the marriage OF Thomas Nicholl
| and Ann Baltic in Glasgow
| To this Gen. Mcmahon said he should object
| seriously. principally on the ground that the
| original record was false. As he wanted to
| MAKE an elaborate argument. the court ad-
| Iourned until this morning.