Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-20
WAS HE DRUNK?
An Army OfIlcer In = Very Peculiar
Situation.

Secretary Endicott II at present engaged in
the consideration Of Q question of military
ethics that IL interesting all the army officers
who are aware Of its existence. II il Q delicate
question, involving the honor and veracity Of
two officers, one of whom must be right only
at the moral expense Of the other. The story
ID not widely known, but Q STAR reporter
learned the other day that the case il as fol-
lows; In certain artillery regiment stationed
In the division Of the Atlantic there is q cap
tain who has taste for strong drink. He in
dulges, or In view Of the recent happenings, he
INDUCED to such an extent that the colonel
commanding the - artillery came to the
conclusion that Captain Blank was injuring
the morals both Of himself and the regiment.
With kindly motive he admonished the cap
tain Of the evil Of his ways with such convince
ing logic that the subordinate was melted into
repentance and promised to reform. To clinch
the bargain between the colonel and the cap
tain the Latter wrote his resignation from the
army and placed IL In the hands Of the COM
handing officer with the understanding that at
the first breach Of the captains pledge to re-
frain from intoxication the document was to
War.
THE RESIGNATION.
It would seem that for Q time all went well,
and the officers Of - began TO congratulate
themselves that Capt. Blank was saved, but not
many days ago the Secretary of War received
through the mails the formal resignation Of
Capt. Blank from further service in the army
of the United States. The routine of current
business caused delay in the action upon the
resignation, and the next day the Secretary
was informed by Capt Blank that his resigna-
ton was prematurely presented, that 1t was
not sent in good faith, and he finally asked
permission to withdraw it. Something in the
atmosphere Of the case caused the Secretary
to hesitate. and he advised Capt. Blank that he
would hold the matter under consideration,
but that he could not allow the resignation to
be withdrawn until he had fully acquainted
himself with the facts Of the case, and perhaps
not then.
The colonel next put In his appearance and
the Secretary was enlightened as to the cause
Of the resignation Of Capt. Blank. After some
research the Secretary discovered that the
question to be settled was whether Capt Blank
was intoxicated or not. The colonel averred
that the captain had strayed from the paths OF
righteousness, and that he had merely per-
formed his part Of the contract by mailing the
resignation to the Secretary, Is he had promised.
On the other hand. the captain acclaimed that
he had yielded to temptation, and that the col
onel must have been under an hallucination
when he mailed the document.
Thus il is that the Secretary finds himself
confronted with the difficult task OF deciding
between the verscity and honor Of . colonel
and captain, both Of whom present claims for
credence., II the colonel's word goes, the cap
tain goes with ii, but il the captain is believed,
he stays in the army-maybe-andt there will
Is thought that the Secretary, finding the prob
lem difficult one to solve, is quietly investi-
eating the case, and meanwhile Capt. Blanks
resignation hangs fire.