Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-05-13
NEWS OF LOCAL INTEREST
INs OF THE REV W. Il.
M'EWdk.
The Controversy Between DUPONT
and the. Veteran Guard Over the
Alleged characterization of tbe
Latter.

Editor Gazette In your issue Of Friday
October 9th, 1885, the following appeared
suspended from the q. A. r., DUPONT Pos
| No. 9, q. A. r., at Its meeting lat evening
court-martialed William OConnAr, Dayart
| Shellady, .Tohn Bullock, james Brown, Hauct
| j. 5haffnsr, George Connor, Charles Maser
| Lawis O arubb, Mathew Macklem, John
| Jcsephl Vlckers, Johu @. Wicks (Weich)
Casper Fredeiichs. End suspended them from
the organic alton for two years he char ee
preferred and 1stalned we're: Conduct preju-
dicial to order and discipline, Decentralization
| In not obeying the orders of the post The
cards OF the msmbers were also revoked. II
appears that the suspended memb r, COM
disagreement with the organization proper
they left the ranks, taking the guns.
Now, to set ourselves right before the
public, we will state the following: That
when we were court-martialed we were not
In dupont Post, No. 2, q. A. r., we having
taken transfer cards from DUPONT Post on
or about June 18th, 1885. Therefore we
were not under the orders of the post, and
they could not legally try us by court
martial, but they, at that time, having the
reins Of government Of the G. A. II. of this
department In this hands, abused the power
with which they were entrusted. But this
matters little, as the commander-in- chief
has since set the sentence OF that noble
court aside. They say we took the guns.
This we acknowledge, they being our prop
erty, bought out Of the funds OF the guard.
CINE guard was a separate organization
from the post.) But the post claiming the
guns, and we wishing to do right, we sent
the following communication TO the DUPONT
Post, No. 2, Dept of Del, G. A. r.:
WILMINGTON, DEL, April 81, 1856 TO The
0gloeTs and Menbsrs Gf S, n DUPONT Post, No. 2,
department Of Deidpdre, @. A. R-GENTLEMBN:
At a meeting held by the Veteran Guard of
Delaware, and on the above date, the secretary
fn In Inn tt,V.
TO :. Il. DUPONT Post, No. 2, Department of Dei-
aware, u. A. r.:
In consideration Of the "a rifles Of which your
post claims to be the owners, q In our possess
sion and three In yours, and to settle the matter
forever and prove ownership 10 said rifles, we
Will say that we are ready, as we always were to
settle the matter before a legal tribunal, and
VIII oner you the following; DUPONT Post to
turn over the three rifles TO the Veteran Guard
to be held by the Veteran Guard on the same
terms by which they claim the "a rifles and the
guard to accept service OF the posts writ of
replevin, and give bonds for 81 rifles and costs,
In case the suit goes against the guard. As an
act of justice 10 you and to us, and TO stop tie
street talk, we ofrer the above, believing IL TO be
the only practi al way to settle the rife ques-
ton. We remain yours, respectfully.
WILLIAM o. CoNN0R, President
JAMES BROWN, Secretary.
On April Goth the above was returned with
the following:
WILMINGTON, DEL, April goth, 1886 William
OConnor, Esq.-SIR: lam Instructed by Pont
Post, No. 2, Department Of Delaware, g. a. X,
to respectfully return the enclosed communica-
ton. Very respectfully,
w. II, DAWSON, Adjutant
Seal of Post attached.
We do this that the public may know how
we stand on the rifle question.
=s. W. 0'CoNNoR,
Captain, commanding Veteran Guards OF
Delaware, Qate Post 2 Guard)
WILMINGTON, DEL, May Sth, 1886.