Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-03-28
The Evidence In the Steele Court
Martial all in and the
Case Closed.
1t Will be Some Time Before the
Result Will be Given to
the Public.
Gov. Miller Addresses the Chamber
of Commerce on the
Wheat Question.
The Steele Court Martial.

CHICAGO, March M.-The court mar
tial for the trial of Lieut.. Steele charged
with harsh treatment CT Private Wild,
reassembled this morning after having
been adjourned for two days on account
of the death of General Cook. Lieut..
Steele took the stand in his own behalf
and told the story of his rencountre with
Wild substantially as it has heretofore
been published. He admitted striking
Wild and swearing at him. He was
angry with Wild-more so than he lad
ever been with a private soldier. Wild's
manner was highly insubordinate and
insolent. Cross examination failed to
shake Lieut.. Steele's testimony. Capt.
Phelps, Lieut.. Steele's superior officer,
was then called and testified as to Steele's
bearing toward the men under him.
Capt. Phelps testified that Wild was
insolent and insubordinate, and gave
more trouble than any other man in the
troop. Witness said he had never known,
in twenty years experience, better Off
cer of his age than Lieut.. Steele. Capt.
h. F. Weeks, (retired) formerly of the
Eighth cavalry, testified to the good
character and reputation of Lieut.. Steele
as soldier and as a man. Letters
highly Jcommending Lieut.. Steele we're
read from Major R. F. Bernard Of the
Sixth cavalry, and Col; Elmore Otis Of
the same regiment. Col. Edwin F.
Townsend of the Twelfth infantry, COM
mandant at Fort Yates, testified that the
report of the Steele-Wild fracac had been
made to him both by Lieut.. Steele and
Private Wild. Steele admitted having
struck Wild in moment Of passion and
that he regretted it. II told him you
have yourself committed very grave
breach of discipline and violation of the
regulations in striking a soldier. No
officer who cannot control his own tenn
per can expect to control other men.
Private Wild then came in and asked me
if Lieut.. Steele had any right to call
him a miserable deserter and strike
him. I said he had not. Wild
told me substantially the same story that
Steele told me. I told Wild that the Or
der he had refused to obey was perfect
ly proper one, and that he was guilty of
a grave breach of discipline. The next
day Lieutenant Steele came to me and
asked me II Wild might not be tired by
garrison court martial, as the punish
ment he could receive there was much
less than he might get from a general
court martial. I consider Lieutenant
Steele one of the very best young officers
Of the army. I once had to send troop
of cavalry to suppress an incipient out
break among the Indians. 1 selected
Lieutenant Steele and the Indians were
back on their reservations inside of TWEEN.
ty-four hours" This ended the testi.
mony in the case, and arguments were
made pro and con by Lieutenant Grow.
der, Steele's counsel and Judge Advocate
Murray. This closed the case and the
court retired to consider their finding
and sentence. What this will be will not
be made known to the public for some
time. In consequence of the death o1
Gen. Crook, the courts action will have
to be passed upon by Gen. Sehofeld.