New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-23
CAPTAIN MACKAY'S CRUELTY
FURTHER DETAILS MAKE THE CASE MORE
SERIOUS
THE MEMS OFFENCES MERELY SLIGHT INFRAC
TONS OF Observation-Disclosures
AND UNNECESSARY PUNISHMENT
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE IRIBUNE.l

AND UNNECESSARY PUNISHMENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKiBUNEl
Washington, July 22.-Further facts were brought
light to-day relating to the case OF Captain Mackay,
Of the Army. who, stated In these dispatches last
night. 4 undergoing trial AT Fort Reno Oklahoma
on charges OF having Inflicted cruel punishment on
enlisted men under his command These new facts
make the Ease mere serious. 1t now appears that
two were maltreated by Captain Mackay. One
was a recruit, eighteen years Old the other soldier
aged twentysix who had served years In the
ranks. The offences which the committed. and
which brought down upon them the wrath Of their
commander We're not serious, and consisted only Of
minor infractons OF discipline, principally neglect TO
perform certain fatigue duty. Upon observing the
mems neglect Captain Mackay ordered them bound ana
hung up by the wrists, not by the thumbs, Gas at
first reported Ahdavts relating the circumstances
OF the case show that the recruit left hanging
about thirty minutes while the older soldier sus
pended for nearly six hours. There Is conflict in
the testimony as to whether the mems feet were
clear from the ground at the time Of their suspen
sion, but there little doubt that such the
case. for short periods at least. When taken down
from their elevated positions, cramped and SORE the
men were thrown into adjacent water hole. partly
TO revive them and also, apparently, a further
punishment. The have since stated, in answer
official inquiries, that they suffered no great bodily
injury. They admit. however. that some pain was
felt, and that their mental suffering extreme.
u
soldier, seems to have been completely shattered
1t was by a mere accident that the War Department
became aware OF Captain Mackay's cruelty to his
subodinaes. Shortly after the Captains return from
his pursuit Of CARA and his band, during which
petition the men were maltreated a Pttsburg news
paper contained a letter from a In New Mexico,
urging young men of that city not TO enlist in the
Army. The letter stated that men in the military
service treated brutes and cited the expert
ence of the two men under Captain Mackay as proof
OF the charge. A personal friend OF President Cleve
land read the letter and forwarded 1t TO Washington
asking II in these days OF enlightenment soldiers were
subjected to ndgnites and barbarous treatment The
President transmitted the newspaper clipping and his
friends letter to Secretary Lamont. An official in
vestigation Immediately ordered. and soon after
ward, the evidence obtained being so clearly against
Captain Machay General Schofeld ordered his trial by
court martial without delay. The men upon whom
the punishment was inflicted made report or COM
plant of their treatment.
1t is said u the War Department, that Captain
Mackay, when questioned by the Department about his
conduct, admitted that he had rcsorted to unusual
to enforce discipline, and expressed his re-
greet at having done His offence was OF such
serious character however that 1t could not be con
doned In talking with Tribune representative TO-
day about the case high Army official said
a. regard the matter one OF great seriousness
both from a material and q moral point of view.
From all l can learn Captain Mackay Is clearly guilty
OF having inflicted upon two soldiers cruel punish
ment equally unwarrantable and unnecessary. In
doing so he defied law and Army regulations. lie
also forgot his obligations an officer in the Army
] know that voice the sentiment OF the military
service when l say that officer who goes TO the
extreme that Captain Mackay did is fit to command
men. 1 went through the War OF the Rebellion and
saw considerable active service. never saw cruelty
imposed a Punishment nor did see an occasion
when its infictton advisable or necessary. Inc
day for treating soldiers as brutes Is gone In TINS
intelligent, self-respectng beings, who deserve and
expect fair square treatment fIOm their superiOrs
captain Mackay's unOihcer-ke conduct is repre-
he1sible from every point OF view. II the charges
against him sustained he Will doubtless be dis
miss ID the SERVICE"