Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-13
1mN swA1M couRr-MARrIAL.


THE SWAIN COURT-MARTTAL.
WAsHISGTON, Dec, 12.-When the
Swain court-martial convened to-day
Robert II. Lincoln, secretary OF war,
appeared as a witness, called by the
prosecution. His direct examination
was confined simply TO an inquiry as
to whether he nau received any report
or communication from Gen. Swain
prior to April Is, 1884, relative to the
pay accounts of Col, Morrow. The
secretary testified that he had received
no information ON the subject from
Gen. Swain prior to the date men
toned. Cross examination was CON
Quoted by Gen, Grosvener. 1t was dl-
rected TO showing that the secretary
had information prior to April is, 1884,
Of the duplication of Col, Morrow's
pay-nccount.
The first question asked was
whether at the time Glen. Swain re-
ferred To the alleged duplication Of
Col Morrow's pay accounts the secre.
tary had not full knowledge of the
condition OF those pay accounts The
question was objected TO 10y the Judge
advocate and long argument ensued.
| Gen, GTosvenor asserted that the de
Tense would show that date on
which, IL Is alleged, Gen. Swain
knew OF the alleg, d duplication of Col
MOrrow'a accounts, the secretary of
war and the general of the army had
knowledge OF such alleged duplication,
had known 10 for weeks and had
taken official action on the matter. He
said that he would state to she court
professionally that the defense will
prove hat official knowledge came to
the secretary as early as the 9TH of
April, 1883, not only Of the duplication
OF the accounts but OF the arrangement
TO pool these pay accounts, and that
Gen Swain knew at the date of this
pooling arrangement that thesecretary
OF war had that information. The
court refused TO sustain the objection
interpostd by the judge-advocnte, and
the questio was again put to the sec.
Rotary Of war.
He announced that he had no
knowledge whatever OF the du-
pl'catiOn of Col. Morrow,a
pay accounts, prior to the announce.
nent by Gen. Swain. He WINS then
asked II he had reports of the fact, but
this question was objected to and the
objection was sustained
Objection was also made to the next
question, as TO whether the secretary
had had Information that the accounts
were said TO be fraudulent. The court
sustained the objection and held that
the questions should be confined To the
secretaTy's "otiiciap information. The
secretary testified that he had had
no official information on the subject.
In answer 10 further questions n,
testified that Mai Carey, then acting
paymasteT-general came to SEE him
about letter which he had received
from Col. Morrow, asking that his
MorrOM'sl pay be stopped except In
order TO settle certain debts. His i'm
preston was that Mai. Carey simply
asked for instructions, aud lac did NOT
know what debts Col, Morrow wished
To settle He (the secretary thought
Col, Morrow's request unusual His
reply to Mai Carey was that he would
not consent 20 put the oiiicsr's name
. on the stoppage circular except for
some recognized cause, but he had no
oplec'ion TO making an arrangement
under which It would be understood
that Col. MoTrow's pay accounts
would only be paid by one paynaster.
Gen. Grosvenor here said
, that they had reached Inc
point where an Anomalous.
unique aud never. before.heard. of pa,
per, AN assignment by an officer OF
: three years pay In advance, an assign.
ment absolutely forbidden by law 10
be made or recognized, had been
! brought to the secretary OF war and
they wanted To show that az that time
! the secretary knew the circumstance
under which II had been made. :-.---. /.
Gen, Grosvenor then asked II the
secretary had. ever had 0.nversatlon
: WIN .fen. sherman on the subject of
Col MOErow's pay accounts. The wit
ness said that he had never had con-
versation with Gen. sherman ON the
subject aud had not received any e1m.
munication from HIN with +, gard To
pay accounts. He said, however that
he had conversation Ia the spring OF
1883 with Gen sherman touchin,
on complaints that had come to him
concerning the indebtedness OF Col.
Morrow.
He was asked ifR newspaper CORES.
pendent named Scott Smith had not
come TO him early In March. 1888. and
told him that Col. Morrnw's accounts
! w'le fraudulent. aud showed him a
publication on the subject. Thls cues.
ton Was objected TO and ruled out by
the court.
In answer 10 a oueatIon nv rot