New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-11
TIE CASE OF PRIg47E BocKxLNAM

| COLONEL AUsrzN's ACTION c0NDyMSFD-HE MAKES
FULL EXPLANATION.
meeting of all the commissioned officers
Of ihe l4h Regiment VIA held In BrOokly Monday
evening 10 take action In regard TO the case OF Private
Charles c. Bockeman. who was drummed out OF the
camp in Peeksk week by order OF Colonel Austen
| n . was tho unanimous opinion OF all
present that Colonel Austen had oyersepped military
rules. IL was agreed that General Robbins bad no
authority to give such an order Colonel Austin
cuted severd Of those spoke said that they
saered the refusal OF Colonel Austen to allow Booklet
man TO remove his uniform before being drammed out
Of the camp a. an afront to the i4ta Regiment.
IL was decided the investigation OF the on
| the part oil the regiment to Colonel Mcieer
General Robbins to town yesterday ard held q
consultation with Cooael MeIeer 10 regard TO Colonel
Austes letter which the latter had received the day
previous.
do not wish to make any explanations or to say
ANYTHING about this affair until after the official invest
cation has been hed said General Robbins lie left
the Office of Colonel McLeer late In the afternoon.
The report Of Colonel Austen which was given 10 the
ress last evening" mp fourteen pages OF Official
fooscap paper. After rceounting the circumstances
under which Bockelnan's arrest occurred the writer
says:
General Robbins sent for the next morning and
informed that he intended TO make an example Of
Bockemar and he directed that the be drumn,ed
ont Of capp was told by the guard thatthe general
officers had talked the matter over and had all
agreed with General Robbins's proposition with
the exception General B lxxs who wanted the man to
be allowed TO take of his uniform"
In speaking OF the events which followed Bockslmans
dsgraee Colonel Austen says: heard that General
King came camp after and asserted that II be
had been there such proceeding would have taken
place. General Robbins sent to see me. Responded
I'm company with Lieutenant-Colou Gates. lie
objected to the expression by direction OF
General Robbins In my order and when. said
did know any other way 10 put IL, he replied that
he did 1t but only advised IT, and accepted the
responsibility General Robbins then said thai hs had
no authority give such order except by authority
Of the northumberland had doubt OF this but
Ihad a rirR 10 assume thu order emanated from
the oomm General Robbins than said
that tine suggestion to drum tho man out OF camp did
not come from him but from me- This emphstically
denied said II is question of veraeity bet
and emphaticaly deny that made any such sugges-
tion.' ,"
In closing Colonel Austen thus speaks of Bockelman:
He eeemed when before tharouKhly regretful
that I am inclined 10 think that the lesson
will be lifelong one. / am so firmly con-
WINGED OF this that trust the appointment which
[ have Understood you were TO give him viii not
be withheld, aud thai II the error OF Peekskil "a the
objection him, 1t shall not be the OF do
asked the TO investigate the facts and
10 place tho responsibility where II belongs. IL
injured and II 1t Ia decided that did otherwise than
oSsy orders the strict military shall consider
that have injured and your heuored command In
l. manner which no apoiogy could cover