Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-18
THE TRIAL OF GEN. HAzEN.
How His Letter to the Secretary May
Have Found It's Way to the News
papers-What Might Have Been DOn<
i'm Two Days.


The Hazen courtmartial reconvened at IL
O'Clock this morning, and the cross-examina-
tion OF the accused was continued. A question
involving an apparent discrepancy in the wit
ness testimony as to whether or not he had
blamed the Secretary Of War for not fitting out
an expedition in two days, which arose Just
before adjournment yesterday, was not pressed.
The judge advocate questioned the witness
further as to his motives for holding the letter
TO Secretary Lincoln back for nine days before
Its delivery, but nothing of any Importance
was developed, and the cross-examination
closed.
THE DELAY IN THE DELIVERY OF THE LETTER.
Mr. Mackey then took up the redirect exami.
nation and developed the fact that there were
four holidays during the time the letter was
held. Witness said that his purpose in keeping
the letter SO long was to read 1t carefully and
correct 1t. The letter sent was changed in many
particulars from the first draft
to shirk any responsibility for the letter, and
that his application for leave to 60 south was
not the result of a desire to be away when the
letter was received and when the Secretary OF
War went out of office. He stated further rea.
sons for his assumption that the Secretary OF
war nad given out his Gen. Hazen'sl letter
retary of War concerning n relief expedition to
be that some sealer already fitted out and
ready to sail be chartered at st. Johns and
sent at once on the relief trip, and the two days
time was allowed for the Secretary of War to
dispatch the vessel, not to fit it out.
THE ROUGH DRAFT MISSING.
The redirect examination was then closed
and the judge advocate announced that he had
no further questions to ask.
Gen. Schofield then asked what became of the
original rough draft by Gen. Hazen's letter
after the engrossed copy was made.
witness replied that he did not know, but
supposed 1t must have gone to the waste.
"Might not that account for its publications.
Gen. Schoteid asked.
1T might" said the witness.
Inc witness was then discharged and imme
diately recalled.
THE TEMPERATURE AT LADY FRANKLIN BAY
MIR. Mackey then offered in testimony state
ment OF the temperature at Lady Franklin bay
made by Lieut.. Greedy, for the purpose of con
troverting the statement of the Secretary O
War that the temperature was sixty degrees
below zero In that region during the months O
september and October. The statement showed
that in one case the temperature was 25 above
When II was stated in the report to have beer
The judge advocate objected to the paper, and
pending the decision the court retired, anC
then took a recess until 1870.
When the court recOnvened the Judge advO
cate announced that bis objection had beer
sustained by the court.
the letter of February 18th unaided by counsel
Witness replied that he did not.
DID You object to any paragraph proposed by
your counsel?" was asked.
81 did said the witness, "upOn the grounds
that they might not be respectful to the Secre
tar!y of War He said further that he excluded
from the letter everything that he thought
might be In any way improper or disrespectful
He stated to his counsel that he did not want Il
De disrespectful, and his counsel approved o.
his caution.
The witness was then dismissed, and Lieut.
PurSell was called to prove that Gen. Hazen':
letter was sent on the 25th instead of the 26th
but Lieut.. Pursell not being found the judge
advocate admitted the date.
THE TESTIMONY CLOSED.
Mr.. Mackey then announced the case Of the
defense closed. The judge advocate had III
further testimony to submit, and announced
that he had no objection to submitting the cas-,
without argument Mr.. Mackey objected tC
this and asked that he be given until II clocl
tomorrow to prepare. An adjournment wa
then taken until tomorrow.