Wichita eagle., 1889-04-24
THE ARMIES COURT MARTIAL.

WASHINGTON. April 23.-Captain Armes
took the witness stand today before the
Armes court martial board and testified in
his own behalf. He said General Barnnm
had invited him to become a member of
his staff, but that he had declined, as he
expected to serve on Governor Beaver S
staff. He made an application in writing
for place on Governor Beavers staff and
on the 18th of February received an APP
pointment which he accepted three days
later. His name was in print on the letter
head, so that there could be no mistake
about it. A few days later several gentle
men were on his recommendation appoint
ed on the governors staff. On February
*, General Hastings told witness
that his appointment was q
mistake and when witness
asked why his name had been taken from
the list General Hastings said he didn't
want to talk about it. Captain Armes said
he then sent letter enclosed in an adver-
Using envelope marked Hell in Texas"
demanding a written explanation. Gen.
eral Hastings in reply wrote that witness
had not been appointed on the staff He
called at Inauguration headquarters the
next day and after some words General
Hastings lost his temper and ordered wit
ness out, but afterwards apologiZed. Sub
sequently witness was rendered a commits
sion as special aide, which brought him
nearer the president. While riding along
in the vice presidents carriage Mr.. Morton
and Senator Cullom bowed to
him and the aide returned the
salute. Captain Gibson and Captain
Bourke dashed up at this instant
and in drunken and boisterous condition
ordered witness out of the parade and
called on the police to aid them ejecting
him. Next day he swore out a warrant
against Captain Bourke and sent it to
Lieutenant Guy. He told the officer at
the station of this and asked him to
subpoena Governor Beaver before the gov
ernor left town. The next day he went TO
court as agreed upon at the police station
but the case was not called. After an
other day had elapsed he asked
his brother about the case and was told
that it had been nolle pressed the day be-
lore on account of lack of witnesses. He
then went to see the adjutant general and
after being informed that Captain Bourke
had preferred charges against witness
said he would send a letter preferring
charges against Captain Bourke and
Colonel Gibson.
OF the assault on Governor Beaver in
Riggs house Captain Armes testified as
follows: Il walked around beside Gov
err + Beaver and urged him to apologize.
He stopped and said that | must bear in
mind he WAS here as a private citizen-not
as governor of Pennsylvania. We were on
the same platform but he didn't propose to
do anything about that matter. Then he
turned to go away. l then reached up my
hand rs he started to stop him. He con-
sidered it an insult and some
words followed. A man seized
me and | ordered him to
let me GO" The witness
asked the court to notice that he had not
reflected on Governor Beavers character
iii the letters he had written. Witness
said General Hastings was a liar and a
coward. In the course of sketch of his
career Captain Armes revealed the nature
of secret testimony given by Colonel
Swords and SerSeant-at-Arms Canaday.
In effect it was that Armes was one of
ten picked men sworn to secrecy who
were to act as a special body guard of the
president His orders were secret; even
Governor Beaver did not know about
them