Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-30
THE FORT MYER COURT.MARTIAL.
Gen. Hazen Defends His Action I'm Elk.
Guiding Counsel and Denies Certain
Reports.

Gen. Hazen said to q STAR reporter to-day
that he had no Information about the Fort
Myer court-martial beyond that contained in
the newspapers The order he issued yesterday,
excluding Mr.. H.W. Garrett from being present
at the proceedings of the court, he said had
nothing to do with Mr.. Garnetts previous reIa-
lions with the court, but was caused entirely
by the publication of Mr.. Garnett's interview
in which he abused him personally and his
management of the signal corps. mo man
who talks that way about me-" said he, "can be
present at any proceedings over which have
control"
DENIALs BY GEN. HAZEN.
A report is in circulation that Lieut. JAS Al
Swift, in command of Fort Myer when the
complaint was made by the men against the
conduct of Lieut.. Greene, their instructor,
recommended that that officer make an apology
General Hasen he reprimanded Lieut.. swift
ior his course, and upheld Lieut.: Greene
6y ordering court-martial OF the men.
attention to this report He replied: 81 never
for an instant, upheld Lieut.. Greene in his use
OF abusive ianguage On the contrary, repri-
"And as to Lieut.. Swift" asked the reporter
HE was reprimanded too. His recommended
be entertained You can punish an officer. or
you can shoot him, but you cannot humble
tirely destroy his usefulness"
THE OFFICIAL PAPERS IN THE CASE
Will show you just what was DONE" said Gen1
Hazen, ringing his bell and calling for the
papers in question" They were as follows:
OCTOBER 22nd, 1885.
Lieut.. Frank Greene. o. s. Signal Cbrps:
Referring to communication of October 18TH from
Private Frank L. Harrod and Others complaining Of
certain abusive and prOfane language used by you
endorsement thereon in which you admit the fact bnt
rsrs certain in the chief
graph s. OF the army regulations the Imperative pro-
The deer seea e to ssy by
from his knowledge ofyour many soldery Qualities he
against T military Discipline: ,-,,
very respectfully your obedient servant
Second Lieut.. Signal Corps, U. S A."
| periors of every grade are forbidden to injure
those under them by tyrannical or capricious
conduct or by abusive language'l
OCTOBER 22nd. 'S5.
SIR: Referring to communication Of the 18th inst
from Private Frank L. Harrud and seventeen other
Lieut. Frank Greene on account of certain Language
used by him at morning drill on the 18th inst the
ngly regrets that the ofcer in charge Of the post
should SO greatly misunderstand the requirements Of
concert against their superior officers and that the
ton with recommendation that the company com
nander be required to publicly humble himself before
was sent direct this without being mt through
ermediate commanders but il is believed that the
officer in charge had no knowledge Of this fact.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
PuR-, Second Lieut."
| THE LETTER OF THE COMPLAINANTs.
"Can 1 see the letter of complaint of the
young mem" asked the reporter, after he had
copied the above letters.
| mo, think will not give that out" was the
| reply. 81 will say, however that the letter
| itself is not Objectionable in any way 1t is a
plain statement of facts eouched in respectful
| language. l find no fault with the complaint
1t is the way in which it was made that was
| the cause of the court-martial'
| GEN. HAzEN's ORDER EXCLUDING COUNSEL
| GARNET FROM THE FORT
The order issued by Gen. Hazen yesterday to
the officer in charge Of Fort Myer is as follows:
| "The authorities ON courts martial make il
| the duty OF a court to exclude counsel who are
abusive or otherwise objectional, and you will
| therefore, If he has been truthfully reported In
| the Washington Post Of this morning, advise
the court to exclude Mr. Garnett from further
| appearing before it. As published, he has
stated what Is not true regarding myself, and
/ until he corrects or repudiates it,.you will ex
clude him from the reservation.
NV. B. HAzEN, Chief Signal Officer"