St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-29
AN ANOMALOUS VERDICT.
Sons of Veterans Find Gen. Payne
Not Guilty, but Reprimand

Sons of Veterans Find Gen. Payne
Not Guilty, but Reprimand
Him.
Yesterday was devoted entirely to
business by the Sons of Veterans, and
from early morning until late at night
they were in session. The most i'm
portant matter of the day was the report
of the committee on the Payne court
martial case. which OccasiOned long
and heated discussion. The committee
had unanimously agreed that Gen.
Payne had not been guilty or inten-
tional wrong doing, and while it uncOn-
dItiOnally eXOnerated MIN, recon mend
ed that he be Teprimanded. This rec
Ommendation. as members of the COM
mIttee explained, was Inserted IN the
interests Of harmony alone and simply
to conciliate the faction which has made
such bitter fight against Col. Payne.
As soon as the report had been present
ed the discussion began, Judge AdvO-
cate Weeks appearing in behalf of the
cOmmandery-in-chie and Judge Rea
as the advocate of Gen. Payne.
Judge Rea at once raised the question
If Gen. Payne had been found not
guilty, as the report stated, why should
manner he pleaded the cause of the past
commandments. endeavOring to con-
vince the cOmmandeTy-in-chi that
reprimard would be gross injustice.
From 1890 a. m. to $50 p. m. the ques-
ton was discussed, and finally the COM
mandery-in-chief adopted resolutions
providing as follows:
THAT the findings of the court-martial be
affirmed in so far as they find him guilty of
an unwarranted and unauthorized invest
ment of the funds Of The cOmmandery-in-
chief.
THAT the other findings of the court be set
aside except the findings of not guilty and
that the sentence OF said court be also set
aside.
''That the sentence of this eommandery-in-
chief is that for said Unauthorized use of said
funds the said Payne be censured in open
meeting Of the COMMUNICATIVE chief.
Resolved, That the said Walter 5. Payne
be, as part Of this sentence, deprived OF his
past rank as commander in-chiet.
Gen. Payne is allowed, however, to
retain his other past ranks, OF which he
has several.
The reports of committees were also
presented, among others that of the
committee on ritual, which was al
lowed to remain unchanged.
During the morning session a commit
tee consisting of Chief Mastering Off
Ger POllett, Chaplain-in-Chief Garst and
Messrs. O'Brien, Stevens and Jones
was appointed to visit Plummer Post
hall and install the officers of the
Ladies' Aid society.
The report of the judges of the exhi-
bition drill was read. The st. Paul
camp was declared the winner by
score of 93.6 against 1926 for Tacoma.
This announcement caused great dis
satisfaction among the Tacoma boys, as
they felt that they had won the prize.
Yesterday the Sons of their fathers
closed up their encampment business
preparatory to going home. The i'm
portant committee reports had all been
received and disposed of. There was
little to do but to install the officers
elect. The complete roster Of officers
elected is as follows:
COmmandel-in-chie Barton S. Weeks,
of New York; senior vice commander,
Il. S. Fuller, of wisconsin; junior vice
commander, Charles A. Bookwalter, of
Indiana; chairman of division council,
E. D. Morris, of Red Wing, Mimi.
members of division council, Isaac Cut
ter. OF Illinois, and w. A. Stevens, of
Massachusetts.
Last night the officers were formally
installed. That done the business ses-
sion Of the eneampmsnt was over. In