The National tribune., 1889-12-19
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
GEN. SWAIN Will RETIRE.

ago and he tells me that in the Fall of 1891,
when be shall have completed 30 years OF sery-
ice, he intends TO demand that his name b.
placed upon the Retired List. under the law.
1t is scarcely likely that his demand will be
disspproved by President Harrison, aud that
will end one Of the most remarkable cases ever
known in court martial history in this or any
other country; for while his suspension from
rank aud command under his sentence 10y tho
general court martial that tried him does not
expire until 1897, after the date be would be
imperatiVely retired by law. this retirement
would put an end TO the punishment he is now
suffering under.
The ideas Of the writer on the general SUBJ
iect of general and other courts martial has
greatly changed during the past dozen or more
years, and some ve=y prominent cases have
come TO his observation 20 bring about that
change
During the early days Of the history of the
American army down TO, and even after, the
rebellion. court-martial was about fair q
tribunal as an accused man could be summoned
before. III he was guilty OF the oifeuses charged
against him woe be 10 him. for he got his just
deserts with heavy vengeance. If he was in
nocent, il was safe TO conclude that the MEM
bers OF the court would let no mere legal quib-
bes OF the rules of evidence" turn them
aside from getting at the real facts.
In more recent years the court is checked by
the sharp demands OF skilled criminal lawyers
and huge tones Of calibound legal citations
are as common in a court martial room as in a
New York civil court in " Doodle case. In
the oldcn times the members of the court and
the Judgc-AdyOcate managed the case on trial,
but now the attorneys FOR the defense have
more 10 say than anyone else.
IN Oiden times. when two hot-headed young
steTs had an alteration, and one saw fit to in
terfcre with the others nasal circulation. or TO
hit him in the eye, the court went TO work TO
find out whether the charged assault was the
result Of the honorable resentment Of an in
suit or a mere brawl produced by oyer-indul-
gence IN eXhilerants. Thus the court was
enabled to decide clearly whether the alleged
assault was conduct uubecoming an officer
and gentleman" or not.
OF late years, this case Of Gen. Swam's trial
is the most prominent OF all. He, the head OF
the law branch Of the staff Corps Of the Army,
was charged with an olense that should have
OblIteraicd his name from the Army rolls if he
were guilty as charged. The court. composed
OF famous soldiers high in rank, did not be-
lieYe be was so guilty, but did believe that be
had committed minor iBdiscTetions that were
also charged besides the chief ofense. They
considered the evidence, after the lawyers
military and civilian-bad duly wrangled over
il, and found verdict Of mild reprO0f.
There is a history behind all this that is yet
unwTitten, and possibly never viii be, but the
fact was, that there was project ahead 70 put
another man into the place that Gen. Swain
still legally holds. When the verdict in its
transmission through the usual military chan
nels was known at each point OF its military
detention for examination, IL produced con-
Eternstion. because OF its mildness, and an or
der was promulgated hastily that the court that
tried Gen. Swain should reconyene and recon
slider lis findings. Indignantly, it did so, and
sent forward new sentence.
The court was again ordered 70 reassemble,
and il is within my knowledge that pretty
plain hints. if not instructions, were sent to it
as 70 the sentence that should be found. This
action was so outrageous that il Infatuated every
member Of the court, and after an all-day ses-
sion, it returned the absurd verdict that sus-
pended Cen Swain from rank and duty for
term Of years that carried him just beyond the
age that the Statute book fxes for imperative
retirement
Then the court dignifedly refused TO take
further action Of any sort, and was duly dis
solved.
The movement Of two wears ago TO retire Gen.
Swain for alleged disability was in the same
direction Of getting his official position On the
Active List for another man, but this time was
IN the interest OF another person. Funny!
isn't IT. hoS things work sometimes; and then
again, how the best managed schemes won't
work.
Gen. Swain. who brought some means TO
Washington with him when be was made Brig
Adier-General By President Hayes in 1881,
made such fortunate investments In real et tate
here that be is enabled to live comfortably, and
even elegantly, beyond the actual need Of his
military salary. and his broad porched house
beyond the northern boundary Of the Capital,
- one Of the hAndsonest out on Fourteenth
street or in its neighbOrhoOd
This will be the first notice OF his intention
that Army officials will have
THAT BIG STEAL
The committee appointed 10 investigate the
oeislcatjOn in the Office Of the Sergeant-at-
Arms OF the House Of Representatives COM
pleted their labOrs on Thursday last The
amount taken is placed at ST, 500. 1t seems
that Cashier SilcOtt has been forging the names
Of various Members from time 70 time and re-
ceiying their salaries upon these forged youch-
ers. In August last he forged the names OF
some 70 members, on which he realized the
SUN OF $3.50. But these notes, like the IS
Others which the dishonest cashier had forged
were all taken up, and il will be hard 10 con-
Wet him Ga these charges should he be caught
The committee ezonerates the teller aud book
Keeper from any blame, but ccngurcs Sergeant
alarms Leedom severely for his carelessuess
IN not more thoroughly acquainting himself
with biicOtts business methods and manner
Of LIVING. Mr. Leedom is not held entirely
blAneless BY the committee, and it is generally
understood that be will receive scoring from
The committee, and that many of his Demo
cratic friends propose 70 blister him. they hold
ing that the Democratic party has been sean
nsllDed by the defaicatiop and that Ieedom's
course since the discovery Of the theft has not
been sGeH as 70 entitle him TO sympathy from
anybody. Nothing has been discovered Of the
whereabouts Of Silcott. although there have
bsen rDmors Of his location IN several parts of
canada. The latest rnmor however saws that
he took passage on sailing vessel for South
America and ar this vessel will not reach the
port for which she sailed for some time moth
ing can be asceTtained regarding the rulnor
in ali probability the biggest rogue of the sea.
son viii finally be found and then il IL Is DOS
sible, he wall be given the full extent Of the
Law.
10 is bow understood that the bond Of Ser
Reant-at- Arms Leedom for $4,000 expired with
the Both Congress, as did the bond Of Silcott
for The same amount that had been given 10 Mr.
Ieedom personally by the dishonest cashier.
Therefore nothing can be gotten from either
Of these sources, aud the entire amount of
al,5DD viii be total loss 10 either the Mem.
bers Of Congress or the Government Who will
lose the amount has not yet been determined.
but the best legal minds Of the country are
working It q solution Of the question.
WAsHisGTOs's INAUGURATION cELEBRhTEn.
The Inauguration Of Gen. George Washing
ton AS the FIRST President of the United States
~Ah c"mmcmorated at the Capitol on Wedncs-
DAY last, by an Grafton by Chief Justice Fuller.
IN The presence Of the President both Houses
OF Congress, the heads Of the Executive be-
partIDenis and Judiciary, the Army and Navy.