The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-06-14

character.
Q,--Please state what his charact er wa,
r both officially and personally.
Alt was, up TO the time that the Cir
oumstances arose out OF which this tria
has grown honorable in all respects.
Both the judge advocate and the cour
declined 10 CrOss-question the witness VIII,
then resumed his seat at his place amonl
the members of the court.
The next witness was called and testified
T as follows:
Q.-Please state your name, rank and
station.
A-G. B, Russell, captain of the Ninth
United States infantry, detailed on duty as
inspector of accounts in the department o.
Texas and at San Antonio.
Q-Do you know the accused, and who is
he?"
Al do; Major ]. r. Wasson, paymas.
| ter.
Q-How long and where have you known
him. and what has been your Opportuni.
ties of ascertaining and ability to state his
character?
A. have known him ever since 1868;
first knew him when he was cadet at
West Point and when he was the classmate
OF my brother, and | met him frequently
during the years 1869, 1870 and 1871; | have
also known him subsequently in the de-
partment of Texas for the past two years
and half, where we both have been sta
TONED and where we tented and messed to-
gether during two trips.
Q-Have you had any official relations
with him
A.-Yes, sir had frequent occasion to
examine his accounts as dlsbursing officer.
Q.-Please state what his character was
as a cadet and an officer and personally
prior to the circumstances originating this
case
! A.-Asa cadet he was held high in the
esteem OF his classmates, his professors
and the officers on duty at the academy;
| he graduated No. in his class and was
reputation as an officer in the department
was very high indeed ard personally he
was highly respected and regarded by the
| officers, and in my opinion his reputation
was beyond reproach.
No cross-eXamination,l
The third witness sworn gave his testi-
mony as follows:
Q.-Please state your name, rank and
station.
A.-James r. Hickey, first lieutenant
Eighth Cavalry, United States army, and
adjutant of that regiment at San Antonio
post, department. of Texas.
Q.-Do you know the accused, and If so,
who is he?
AL know him: Major James R. Wasson,
paw HdSItT " UHlteu OJhItS
/ Q.-How long have you known him ana
please state what your opportunities have
| been to be able to give his character.
Al have known him since 1867; was a
class-mate of his tor four years at the mill
tary academy, and have also been with him
during his service in Texas and being in
the same department with him ana
having met him on several occasions whilst
he was going through the different posts
| n hn ha hQinp those
posts afforded me an opportunity OF meet
ing him and learning his character, and 1
have heard him frequently alluded to by
the different officers. :,
| Q.-What has his character been, both
personally and officially?
Awhile cadet at West Point no one
stood higher than he in the estimation OF
his classmates, his professors and the OIL.
GERS stationed there his conduct by them
was looked upon as being very exemplary
and strictly honorable, and since on service
| in the same department with him, his per-
sonal and official reputation among his
brother officers and the past where he and
have been, has been considered good, and
he has been regarded as the soul OF honor.
Q.-From your mutual association, what
have you found to be the habits OF the &C
cusedP
Ale has been temperate and not
given to dissipation and eXcesses.
Q.-How did he enter the academy, and
how was his reputation acquired
Ale entered entirely without prestige
and all of his honors and reputation were
acquired solely by himself and by his exer-
! tions.
Q.-Prior to the circumstances causing
this trial, have you heard any fact or cir
cumstance inconsistent with the character
,ou have here ascribed him ?
A.-No, never have.
The last witness sworn gave the follow
ing testimony:
Q-State your name, rank and station.
A.-C, H. Lester, second lieutenant
Eighth cavalry. stationed at San Antonio.
O DO you know the accused, and who
is he?
Al know him; Major Wasson, United
States paymaster.
Q.-How long have you known him !?
Al have known him ever since eth er
March, or April, 1917. =,
Q-What opportunities have you had oil
ascertaining his official and personal char
acter
Al have seen a great deal of him ever
since then, having been stationed with him
some months at Brownsville, where l saw
him almost every day and boarded at the
same place there with HIM.
Q.-State what was his personal and ofli-
cial character.
Alt was excellent so far as know, and
prior to the affair out of which this trial
has sprung have never heard that 1t was
ever otherwise.
O-What were your means of ascertain.
Ing his official reputation for probity and
integrity
Al have been at various posts visited
by him for the purpose OF paying the
troops, and at them his reputation was the
very best.
O. What were his personal habits?
Avery good; excellent.
Q.-Have you heard ofany circumstances
prior 10 those from which this trial origi-
mated inconsistent TO the character you
have ascribed 10 him?
A.-No; none.
Q.-As man Of business would you have
trusted him with the handling OF considera-
bic sums Of money?
Al would have entrusted him with
many thousand dollars.
At the conclusion Of the evidence the
accused then read the following motion,
which was granted:
The accused would respectfully request
of the court that an adjournment be now
granted until Monday next. A material
witness for the defence, Horace Wilson, OF
San Francisco, summoned by order of the
court, is now en- route but cannot arrive be-
fore next Sunday morning. This de-
Law will also enable the accused
10 complete the preparation Of his written
statement to the court in time TO present 1t
on that day and complete the case for his
defense 90 far as be can judge.
The motion was granted and the presi.
dent declared the court adjourned until
Monday morning at 10 O'Clock.
At that time Major WassOn will read the
statement alluded 10 and which is q very
vOluminOus one, In which be minutely de-
tails ell the circumstances connected Wi;hthe
transaction on which his trial is prvdicated,
and his statement will be a very interesting
one. The witness be speaks Of as the one
who is 10 testify Monday morning is Pro-
civil engineering with him at the Imperial
university ct Toxic. the Japanese capital
The trial will very probably conclude
amer the accused has submitted his state