Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-07
FLIPPER.
The Whereabouts and WhatabOuts Of
the Col0red Cadet-He Proposes 60 he
Restored 90 the Army.

was the colored officer who was
arrested by order of Col w. r. Shafter at Fort
Davis. or rather at the village few miles dis
tant, the allegation being that he was about TO
leave for the Mexican republic, and was a de-
faulter. This was in July. 1881, and "a Col. and
Mrs. Shater drove through the village they saw
Lieut. Flipper's horse with sadde-bas-s htched
TO post and the colonel instructed his adju-
tant to place flppcr in the guardhouse. pro-
ceeding contrary to precedent or usage in the
case of an officer unless the same is violent or is
detected in an attempt to escape. At this time
Lieut. flpper was conmssars officer at Fort
paws and second lieutenant of the tenth cav
airy.
FiPPER INTERVIEWED.
Your correspondent saw and talked with Mr.
FHpper to-day. He is clerk in laundry and
was surrounded bv Chinese and negro experts
lis it fact that your case will be brought I'D
before Congress in December?"
Yes, sir. My friends will endeavor TO have
my commission restored to me on the ground
of Illegal finding. MANY persons imagine that
l was dismissed the service after being found
guilty of embeZZlement. This is not true as
was acquitted on the charge Of embeZzle,nent
but found guilty Of conduct unbecomng all
officer and gentleman. The specifications
on the latter charge contained clauses which
could not be sustained inasmuch as had been
acquitted upon the charge OF ENHANCEMENT.
For instance. the first specification read some
thing az follows: In that he, Lieut. Henry o.
Fiipper of the 10th cavalry. being on duty as
commssary officer at Fort Davis. and in such
capacity being RESPONSIBLE for public funds TO
the amount of $3. 977. when ordered 10y his COM
handing officer 10 submit his funds for inspec-
ton did state that such funds were in transit to
the chief cOmmssary OF subsistence at San An
tonic, Texas, he knowing such statement to be
false and intended to deceive his commanding
officer. said funds not being in transit. but hav-
Ing been embeZZled bv him converted to his
own use or benefit Now. 1t is rule in the mill
tary service that to sustain a finding of guilty to
a specification to a Charge every averment to
THAT specification must be proved or the parts
not proved excepted L was charged with en-
beZzlement (active embezzement) and tried Tor
constructive embeZzlement under section of
the Revised Statutes of the United States and
fully acquitted. SO that the concluding words in
the specification on the charge of conduct unbe-
Coming gentleman should have been stricken
out and 1t is upon this that base my right to
another hearing and a setting aside of the SEN
tence."
But you stated that the funds were in tran
sit to the chief cOmnissary at san Antonio.
which was untrue. This was certainly uube-
coming an officer in the United States army"
81 did misrepresent the matter in order to
gain time to
DISCOVER THE THIEF OR REPLACE THE FUNDS
particular. My sentence was not only Illegal
but unduly severe, and l refer you to the case of
Paymaster Reese. who in 1876. while on duty in
New York, was tried upon a similar charge.
He had overdrawn his public bank account for
a period of two years and at one time was
$4,000 Overdrawu. During the whole OF this
period he misrapreSented his public bank ac-
count in his returns to the government. The
Charges against him were einbeZZlement and
a
and when convicted he was simply sentenced to
tour months suspension. He was a major an
experienced business and military man who was
convicted upon both charges. while was an in
experienced lieutenant-a mere boy at the time
and was acquitted of the more grave charge of
enhancement. and yet was dismissed from the
service tor the latter charge.
There is just one more pertinent case wish
to cite before you go. Ny predecessor as com
missary officer at Fort Davis was Lieut.. Quinby,
a white man. under the same commanding Off
Ger. Col. Shaiter. He found short some
81 500 in his accounts. and yet the affair was
suppressed and the amount was made up by his
friends"
Flpper here waited upon a customer who
brought In bundle of clothes to be- washed and
the opportunity was taken to scrutinIze him.
He is over six feet. weighing fully 1913 pounds
and about IS years of age
''Do You know who stole the money for which
you were held responsible 2"
are two very different things. Early in July.
1881. a scouting party left Davis to run down
some Indians who had ra,ded some of the cat
tie ranges. and in addition to the first lieuten-
ant, who was in charge Of the soldiers. there
went along number Of citizens and stock
men. One of the latter was the state hide
inspector. and upon his return he told me that
the lieutenant had told him while out on the
plains that he had Found q way to get rid OF
the nigger. 1 was thus warned of impending
danger. and suspected that the attempt to hurt
me would come from the white cOmmissary ser
geant who occupied quarters opposite to my
office. So | removed my funds from the safe
and took them to my private quarters. where |
secreted them. There were checks for about
81 800 and some 2.074 10 cash. The cash was
stolen but the checks were left"
1t will be borne in mind that Flippers' private
rooms were presided over by lady who basked
in his smilea.
Then you expect to tear yourself from this
laundry and rejoin the army!"
II expect to be reinstated upon the ground Of
illegal finding OF the verdict"
Who has your matter in hand?"
Il must decline to answer that question"
COL. ANsON MILLS. lisa,
who is in command Of Fort Davis, I met at the
Central. Col. Mills was one Of the members of
the court-martial who considered the case Of
Paymaster WATSON. recently con, icted. and with
him was Col. Joshua Fletcher. of Fort Bliss Ell
Paso, accompanied by his adjutant. both in full
uniform.
do you know that Flipper is here in charge
OF a laundry" asked Col Mills.
NO. laughing heartily.
"What kind of a fellow ia hep"
"Flipper was rather popular man, kept his
place and did not Obtrude. / do not think he
was treated exactly right. but would not for q
moment advocate his reinstatement in the army.
His commission made him an officer and o gen.
tleman, but then. you know, one couldn't meet
q colored man on social equality"
Further than this Col Mills would not commit
himself, but from other military men something
was learned of the situation.
1t appears that Col. Mills was In Europe with
his family when the announcement Of his pro-
motion WAS issued. He returned to the states
and proceeded to Fort ConchO, taking Mrs. Col.
Mills with him. When they arrived they dis
covered that among the officers was Lieut.
Flipper and delicate question Of military
ethics occurred, but it was found that Flipper
was at Fort Sill, and SO out Of Immediate con-
sideration
THEY DIDN'T CALL.
brother officer Of Col Mills tells the follow
ing story: The colonel and were talking in his
Office at Davis when an orderly came in and
said that company Of cavalry were approach
ing. Soon after Capt. Nolan entered the Office
accompanied by young officer; they were uni
formed almost alike and both appeared sun
burnt. as frontier soldiers naturally would
Col Mills!" asked Capt. Nolan.