The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-09
CAPTAIN LITTLE'S CASE,

bill for his restoration to the army.
The bill was defeated in the house, and
in the Geographic reports Judge Up
son was wrongly reported as making
certain remarks in regard to the bill.
The bill recites Captain Llttle's
meritorious services during the war and
relates the trivial circumstance that led
to his dismissal, to-wit: a complaint
against lewd woman at Bracket tor
robbing him of sum of money while
he was in her house. Captain Little
had Just returned from long scout,
and fatigued and worn down, he had
taken a drink or two of liquor which
led to the circumstance related above.
1t seemed very hard case that Capt.
Little should be dismissed from the
army, particularly on account of his at
tempt to recover his property. We
have known him for several years as
an exemplary father and husband dur
ing his residence in this city.
Judge Epson writes the following
letter to Captain Little:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. I, 'S2.
CAPT. THOS. LITTLE.
My dear Sill deeply regret to in
form you that your bill was defeated
in the house to-day. The cause was
the reading of that statement which
was signed and sworn to byyou before
Justice Arnett, which was asked to be
read by Gen. McCook. l objected to
its being read, but was overruled by
the char. Gen. McCook and another
republican made speeches against you
and had no one to assist me. Nc
Cook spoke first, followed him, and
am confident the house was almost
unanimously with me at the close of
my remarks and would have voted for
your bill by very large majority, had
it not been for the reading ofyour pur-
ported testimony before Arnett. l had
no idea there would be any opposition,
after had accepted the substitute to
my bill. Those who had manifested
a disposition to oppose your bill had
agreed to make no opposition to it, if
T nermitted an amendment. which Won
will see in the record.
l did all | could for you under the
circumstances. l espooused your
cause earnestly, because believed
you had been greatly wronged.
As SO much time was taken up on
the apportionment bill | did not believe
your bill would be reached to-day. 1t
was the only bill disposed of on the
private calendar to-day. and at late
hour of the day. l was perfectly sur
prised at the conduct of Gen. McCook
He being a member Of my committee,
and having made no particular opposi-
ton to your bill in the committee, sim
ply saying that he would not vote for
it, had no reason to believe that he
would make any active opposition to
it in the house; but outside influence,
am confident, had been working
against you-and you had no inhuen-
tial friends to work for you. | deeply
sympathize with you in your misfor-
tune, but l endeavored to discharge
my duty towards you.
The Judge alludes to the Kirby case
over which there had been a warm
debate, which also injured Capt.
Little's case.
In conclusion Judge Epson says:
II have the consolation of believing |
did my duty towards an honest and
worthy man who had been greatly
wronged"
The army is a close corporation now
a-days, and it requires hard work to
get into it, and if an officer slips out,
no matter by what kind of an accident,
the waters of oblivion seem to close
over him. It's a shame that such
matters are left to congress at all.
NEW ENGLAND IN CONGRESS