The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-04
The Tucson Army Scandals.

The Tucson Army Scandals.
The old idea of the profession Of arms was
that while its vota1ies might have those
faults and folbles to which the fighting tenn.
permanent Is liable, they were sure to be free
from the special Vices Of q career devoted to
money-gettlng. While this is no doubt
true to a certain extent yet we have OF
late years witnessed trials by court martial
In which the eagerness OF some officers to
get money by hook or by crook, has APP
peared to overstep the bounds OF what is
permitted by law, to say nothing OF the OBJ
legations Of soldlerly honor.
In Arizona a series Of such trials will soon
be held relating to alleged irregularity or
fraud In money transactions. The detail
for the court includes Col. HENRY NJ. BLACK
Col. T. NJ. ANDERSON, Lieut.-Col. f. P. PEAR
SON, Lieut-Col. G. II. WEEKS, Lieut. Col.
ANsoN MILLS, Major S. b. NJ. YOUNG. Major
J. NJ. BACON, Major @. A. WIKoFF, Major S.
T. NoRvELL, Capt. G. B. RUSSELL, and Capt
+. H. EDMUNDs, with Capt. II. c. CARBAUdH
as Judge Advocate. Some Of these officers
are summoned from stations far distant
from Tucson, and this fact and the rank Of
the members of the court show the impor-
lance attached to Its proceedings.
The officer for whose trial the court Is con-
vened is Capt A1oNzo E. MIITIMoRE, Assist
ant Quartermaster. He served during the
war in Wisconsin regiments, first as pri-
vate in the infantry and then as private
and at last as Second Lieutenant In the
artillery. After the close Of the war he re-
celved commission in tho regular army as
Second Lieutenant In the First Artillery
and within few months was made First
Lieutenant. About eleven years ago he was
appointed to his present rank and duties
The charges against Capt. MILTIMoRE are,
In general, that he leased his own property
to the Government for his office purposes,
charging as rent very much more than
equally good quarters could have been hired
for elsewhere; that in order to conceal the ma
ture OF this transaction, he had the vouchers
showing the payment Of the rent made out
in the name OF one Of his clerks; that he
put his wife on the pay rolls as clerk at
500 month and his servant as janitor at
$40 per month, while 1t does not appear that
they were really employed at all; and
finally that he used articles to conceal the
character Of this engagement OF members
Of his household. On looking UP his
record with a view to the trial, sup
posed irregularities Of a serious charac-
ter were discovered during his stay
In st. Louis several years ago, which
the Judge Advocate Is very likely to refer
to during the trial. Capt. MMTIMoRE had
more recently been ordered to duty In New
York city under Col. R. N. BATCHR1DKR,
Depot Quartermaster. OF course he Is en-
titled to suspension Of public judgment
until his trial is completed. 1t is enough
now to state the general character OF the
which the military authorities
have brought against him.
When the case OF Capt. MILTrMoRR is dis
posed Of, the same court will proceed to try
Major A. S. KENDALL, Major A. s. TowAR,
and Major j. w. WHAM. The two latter are
The officers principally concerned in the
charges which have been brought. Major
TowAR was born in Canada and appointed
from Michigan from civil life to his pres
ent grade by President GRANT without hay
ng served during the war. Major WHAM
had served through the war as private, q
and a Lieutenant of Illinois in
Iantry, and then had obtained an appoint
ment asSecond Lieutenant. This he filled for
more than three years and half, and then
was honorably discharged; and half dozen
years later at the close Of GRANTS Admin
he was made Major and Paymas-
ter. The charges against Major TowAR and
Major WHAM are that they agreed with
their landlords to rent small part OF their
private quarters for sum almost large
enough to pay for all the quarters hired, 30
hat they got them nearly rent free, yet
irew their full allowance for quarters. The
charge against Major KIMBALL. the Chief
luartermaster Of the Department of Arr
iona, Is neglect of duty In not preventing
his transaction OF the two Paymasters.
Here. also, a suspension Of public judgment
md OF invidious comment Is due until the |
ruth Is established.
1t may be particularly unfortunate for
,Iajor WHAM should the present case go
gainst him, since he Is the officer who lost
bout 900 of Government money through
obbery by hiRhwaymen at Cedar Springs n
ear ago. He and his sureties are RESPONSE |
lie for that sum, and bill is now pending |
o relieve him and them, on the ground that |
lajor WHAM and his escort fought bravely |
o prevent the robbery after they were am
'ushed. Indeed, the President has given |
Medals and certificates OF merit 10 the es-
ort; but the primary question is whether |
Iue vigilance was observed by the Paymas-
err and Congress may be slower to relieve !
lin should the present charges OF miscon-
luct be sustained.