Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-03
CASE OF CAPT. ARMIES.
: -H'''1 VT NhH To NUMESs
Outcome of the Inauguration Day Epi-
sode.


sode.
CAPT. ARMIES MAY BE TRIED BY coURT-MARrIAL
on THE CBARGhs PREFERRED BY CAPT. BoURkE,
WHICH HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY INVESTIGATED
WHAT WAR DEPARTMENT. OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT 1T.
The present outlook is that Capt. Armes will
shortly be tried by court-martial for conduct
unbecoming an officer and gentleman" A
rumor to this effect flew around the War de-
pertinent this morning. and in its travels was
encountered by STAR reporter, who
Immediately escorted it to the Of
flee of Lieut.-Col Lawton. an Inspector
general. Upon being confronted with the
report the colonel reached for copy of the
army regulations, and pointed ont a paragraph
forblddlng an inspector from indulging in pro-
miscuous conversations concerning cases sub
mltted to them. He consented, however. to
divuige the fact that he has of late been inves-
tigatlng certain charges against Capt. Armes,
and that his report had been about completed
Further than that he would make no statement
AN EXPLANATION BY CAPT. ARMIES MAY AVERT 4
TRIAL.
A short time after the reporter visited Gen.
Breckenridge, the inspector-general, who said
that he had received Col. Lawton's report on
the Armes case and would transmit it later in
happen. however," he added, that we may re-
ceive a letter to-day from Capt. Armes contain
ing an explanation, in which case our report TO
Gen. Drum will be somewhat delayed. You see
the regulations require that when charges are
brought against a man he shall be given an
opportunity to offer an explanation before this
department makes its final report. We gave
the captain the necessary time, but have as yet
received no reply> He may prefer to wait
until We have madeour report and then pre-
sent his explanation to the Secretary of War
Ordinarily We make no recommendations in a
case, but merely present our findings of fact
IL sometimes happens that our findings are
such that we prefer charges against an officer
but not often. l cannot tell You what our re-
port contains, or which way it leans"
WHAT GEN. DRUM SAYS.
Then the reporter went to see Gen. Drum
who stated that he had referred the charges
preferred by Capt. Bourke against Capt. Armes
to Major General Schofieid, and that he had
probably referred them to the inspector-gen-
eral. These charges, he explained, were merely
those relating to the inauguration-day episode
when Armes was put out of the procession, and
contained no reference to the trouble between
Gen. Beaver and Armes in the lobby of the
Riggs house.
1t is extremely likely, however, that the
latter event has had considerable weight in
bringing the matter to an issue, for at the time
he did not think that anything would be done
with them.
THE LYDECKER COURT MAY BE NEEDED AGAIN.
In addition to these facts it was learned that
the members of the Lydecker court-martial
have been told that it would be better if they
should not go home Immediately, but should
wait for further orders. This is thought to be
an intimation that this court will be utilized
for the trial OF Armes, In case the Secretary
deems it well to bring him before tribunal.
Changes at the Navy-Yard.
SECRETARY TRACY SAYS HE WANTS GOOD, THOR
OUCH woRKMEN EMPLOYED.
Secretary Tracy talked with a STAR reporter
for little while yesterday about changes
the navy-yard. 1t has been charged that q
large number of democratic employees were re-
Gently discharged for no other reason than that
they were democrats and their places filled by
republicans and it was on this that the Secre-
tary was asked to say something.
Commander Meade" he said, generally
controls those matters, and | am satisfied that
there have been no such changes as you refer
to-"
lone of the stories as to this clean sweep,
said the reporter, ''refers to your protestation;
that every man in the navy-yard is to stand OF
his own merits alone. Have you given utter
ance to any such assurance"
Il have not was the decided reply. Il die
say that the navy-yards should not, with my
consent, be converted into asvlums for the
worthless and incompetent. 1 want good
thorough workmen, and propose to get them
/ have not said that they must be republicans
neither have l insisted that they shall be dem
ocrats."