Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-11
GEN. HAZEN ON TRIAL.
The COurt-Martial Begins Work.
THE ACCUSED IS ARRAIGNED AND PLEADS
NOT GUILTY.

The red parlor of the Ebbitt House, where the
Swain courtmartial recently sat, was the scene
OF another distinguished military gathering this
morning, when the general court-martial to try
Gen. w. B. Hazen, chief signal officer, convened
there. Gen. Hazen is charged with conduct
prejudicial to good order and military disci-
pline In officially and publicly criticising the
action of the Secretary of War, Hon. Robt. T.
Lincoln, in not following his recommendation
to send relief expedition for Lieut. Greedy in
september, 1888. So much of the courtroom
as Is given up to spectators was crowded this
morning before the court convened, many
The court is constituted as follows: Major
Gen. Winfield S. Hancock; Major Gen. John NJ.
Schoheid; Brig. Gen. Oliver o. Howard; Brig.
Gen. Alfred II. Terry; Brig. Gen. Christopher G.
Augur; Brig. Gen. Robert Macfeely, commits
Sary general of subsistence: Brig. Gen. VIM. b.
RocneSter, paymaSter general Brig. Gen. sam
uel B. Holabird, quartermaster general: Brig
Gen. Robert Murray, surgeon general; Brig. Gen
John Newton, chief of engineers: Col. George l..
9th cavalry; Col Henry NJ. Black, 23d infan-
Try; Capt John w. Clous, 24th infantry, judge
All of the members of the court were present.
IN 'front.' OF Gen. Hancock's chair, at the head of
the long table, was placed a vase filled with
Gen. Howard at his left The accused, Gen.
HaZen, occupied with his counsel, Messrs. 7. ].
Mackey and n. Dumont, a small table, and OPP
poSlte them, at another little table, sat the
judge advocate, Capt. Clous. After the prelm-
mary orders were read, the accused was asked
whether he had any objection to any member
OF the court.
GEN. HAZEN OBJECTS TO GEN. MACFEELY.
~ have" said Gen. Hazen, rising after a brief
conference with his counsel. 81 object to Brig.
Gen. Robert Macfeely, commissary general of
subsistence, as a member of this court
The counsel for the accused having been in
troduced by the judge advocate, Mr.. Mackey
read the formal challenge of Gen. Macfeely.
which was based on the following grounds
First, that in 1875. and for many years prior,
the said Gen. Hazen was engaged in an active
effort TO relieve the enlisted men OF the army
from the pernciOus system of post-tradershps,
and reported to the War department. that the
with the act of Congress, approved July 20,
1866. providing that that department should
June 4, 1876, Gen. HaZen addressed letter to
the department asking to have the act enforced;
third, that that letter was referred to the gener
al OF the army, who transmitted it to Gen. Mac
1eely, who made an endorsement aSsailing Gen.
HaZen and accusing him of breach of disci-
pline in writing the letter; fourth, that in con-
sequence of these acts the relations of said Hazen
and said Macfeely have been unfriendly and
such as usually obtain between those who
aNOwed enemies. For these reasons the accused
believed that Gen. Macfeely could not act i'm
partially as member of the court.
Gen. Macfeely having been asked by Gen.
Hancock what he had to say to this challenge,
rose In his place and said that he had no preju-
dice against Gen. HaZen. A publication, he
said, appeared in the papers about nine years
ago over Gen. Hazen's signature, containing
statements which were not true, which he
(Gen. Macfeely) believed at the time were not
feeling of hostility against the accused" CON
tinued Gen. Macfeely, 81 have seen fit since
that time to have no social relations with him.
:! would state at the same time have no obec-
tion to being excused member OF the court"
Gen. Macfeely declared his belief that he could
act with perfect impartiality.
GEN. MACFEELY EXCUSED.
The court was cleared, and after short con-
Snlf otiOn tho doors
nounced that it would sustain the challenge,
and Gen. Macfeety was excused from sitting as
a member of the court.
Gen. Hazen having waived further challenge,
the members OF the court were sworn, and Mr..
James L. Andem was sworn as reporter.
THE CHARGES AGAINST GEN. HAzEN
The next step was the arragnment of the ac-
cused. Gen. Hazen stood up and twirled his
eyeglasses while the judge advocate read to
him the charges and Specifications, the reading
of which occupied about five minutes.
The charge, which alleged conduct preiudicial
to good order and military discipline, was sup
ported by three specifications. The first alleged
that in his annual report Brig. Gen. HaZen, chief
signal officer, had criticised the delay of the
Secretary of War in not sending an expedition
o reeye tba nient fb reey in dsS
that it was impracticable to send such an eXpe-
dition at that time; second, that Gen. Hazen,
without the authority or request of the Secre-
tary of War, wrote letter to the Secretary of
War, February 18th, 1885, further impugning
the acts of the Secretary of War regarding such
and the third that Gen. Hazen on
or about the I'd of March, in reply to an inquiry
of a reporter of THE EVENING STAR, stated
that he had written a letter, such as was de-
scribed in the second specification, and which
was described in the reporters ina uiry: his re-
ply being made with a knowledge that it would
be published.
oBJECTING TO THE FIRST AND SECOND sPEc1F1-
CATIONS.
When the specifications had been read Mr.
Mackey demurred, first to the first specification
alleging that, assuming the facts stated to be
true. it was not sufficient to sustain a charge of
second specification. Mr.. Mackey said that those
with the laws and regulations for
the government of the army would he led to the
belief that chief of a bureau of the War depart-
ment had no right to address a letter to the Sec
retary of War without first obtaining permis-
sion. Therewas no such requirement of mill
tary law. He moved. therefore, to strike out
the first and second specifications.
The judge advocate replied briefly, and the
court was cleared for consultation.
GEN. HAZEN PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
When the court was opened, the judge advo-
cate announced that the demurrers were over
ruled. The. accused thereupon pleaded not
guilty to the charges and specifications The
counsel for the accused said there were certain
facts which they would admit and it was agreed
that the defense should prepare statement of
facts and present 1t in the morning.
The court then, a few minutes after 1 O'clock
adjourned till tomorrow at IL O'Clock.
->D<-
The European War Cloud.
EFFECT ON THE LONDON MARKET.
London special cable dispatch to Green Il
New York, says: "War imminent be-
tween England and Russia. Consols at four
o'clock 81, a decline of 11-16 to 1915; stocks
weak"
Retrenchment at the White House.
THREE CLERKS AND a TELEGRAPH OPERATOR
DROPPED FROM THE ROLLS
Private Secretary Lamont has begun his work
cial records Of the White House, heretofore
cal force were yesterday notified that their SER
vices would not be required after the 18th inst.
Those selected for dismissal are Henry c. Nor
ton, of Ohio, 81 800 per annum; ]. S. Bolway Of
Ohio, 81 600; w. r. Duke, West Virginia, and
.: l.; Judd, telegraph operator, 81 400. This
House clerical force. None of the dismissed
clerks were on duty to-day. They have been
granted leave of absence until the 18th instant.
Political Notes.
Bridges, democratic senator in the Illinois
legislature, is said to be dying. The loss of his
vote to the democrats would be an offset to that
Of the republican assemblyman Logan, and the
legislature would again be at a tie
legislature begins balloting for Secretary Bay
ard S successor to the United States Senate
Lore is said to be far in the lead
in the canvass at present.
The republicans of Camden, n. J.. yesterday
carried the city on assessor at large, electing
Mr.. Thompson by about 1000 majority and
making gain of one member of council. The
new council will stand 10 republicans to 8 dem
OcratS.
For the first time in many years the republi-
cans elected their mayor and one councilman
In Charleston, w. Va, on Monday.