Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-09

The Accused Notified-Gov. Beaver
summoned as q Witness.

The Armes court-martial will convene at IL
o'clock on Thursday morning. Capt. Armes
was waited upon yesterday afternoon by an
army officer and served with a notice to ap-
pear before the court. The detail of the court
was read to him, and on being asked if he had
any objections to any Of the members he re-
piled that he had not. He will probably ap-
pear before the court without counsel but this
will in no way prejudice his case. 1t is differ
emit in a court-martial from a civil court,
where the jury is composed Of men Of all
grades of intelligence and cannot question the
witnesses. In military court each member
constitutes himself a special questioner if he
more Importance than the arguments, are sure
to come out.
Capt Goodale. of the twenty third infantry,
has been ordered on the court instead of Capt
knower, of the third artillery, as announced in
The STAR.
AN APPEAL TO GOV. BEAVER.
A Philadelphia Press special from Harris
burg, April 8, says: Major Armes is pleading
for mercy. He is afraid of a court-martial,
and is doing everything in his power to avert
1t. He has written a letter to Gov. Beaver,
making a most abject apology for his cowardly
assault upon him and begging him to make an
appeal to the War department in his behalf. In
this letter Armes says he was not responsible
for his actions when he attacked the governor
He then asks the governor to write letter to
the War department in his behalf, saying he is
sure that word from him will stop the pro-
ceedlngs against him. He says he will never
stand trial and be put to the disgrace of being
cashiered; that he will take his life before he
will face a court-martial. Finally, he begs that
bis wife and children may be saved from the
disgrace which would surely follow court
martial
Gov Beaver has not given the letter any at
tention. He has never made any complaint
against Armes, and. in fact, since the episode
In Washington. has not mentioned the matter in
public. He does not think Armes responsible
for his actions, and rather pities him. 1t is al
together probable that if he thought he could
save the mans family from the disgrace that
follows his dismissal from the army that he
would interfere. A friend of the governor
said tonight that the matter had gone so far
now that it would be almost impossible to pre-
vent Armes from being court-martialed.
WHAT CAPTAIN ARMIES SAYS.
When Capt. Armes was shown the above dis
patch by STAR reporter, read it very care
fully and then said with don't care" air,
what trash these newspapers do originator
but is the letter authentic2" asked The
STAR man.
'Well, 1 don't care to say just now whether 1
have or have not written such a letter. 1t
would only add fuel to the flames. But if Gov.
Beaver has letter with my signature attached
he is at liberty to publish it.
Il have received the charges against me and
also the order directing me to appear before
the court at IL o'clock Thursday, and there is
nothing left but to obey it. No, have not en-
gagged counsel yet and cannot say whether /
will do so or not"
Then you will not make any effort to pre-
vent the courtf asked the reporter
"Well, l have written long letter to the
Secretary of War, giving detailed statement
of the case, but 1 expect all the same to be
on hand Thursday morning. 1 am satisfied,
since the change in the court, that there won't
the court remained as it was originally de-
tailed.
What I want to find out" said the captain,
warming up to the subject, sis who it is that
is throwing out these insinuations about my
not being responsible for my actions. When
attacked Gov. Beaver in the Riggs house l
didn't know what would happen. | wasn't
armed, but 1 thought perhaps he was,
and being an old soldier, that he might
shoot me. I was prepared for that, andleft
some private papers with friend in case l
should turn up missing. I always prefer death
to disgrace"
GOV. BEAVER SUMMONED AS WITNESS.
There is no possibility of any interference on
the part of Gov. Beaver in behalf of Capt.
Armes resulting in a postponement or final re-
vocation of the order. The governor at first
refused to take steps toward his prosecution.
Then the War department took cognzance of
the episode and investigated the matter in its
own interest. This precludes the chance of the
governors averting the trial even if he desired
TO do so. He may, however, have sufficient in
huence to reduce Armes sentence, whatever it
may be. The governor has been summoned as
q witness