Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-01
COLONEL AINSWORTH
Gossip as to Further Military Pro
oeedings Against Him.
II Is THOUGHT THERE WILL Be NONE
A Court Of Inquiry Was Ordered
Just After the Disaster.
B Ut TT WAS DISSOLVED

Now that the civil authorities have prac-
tcally closed their proceedings In the case
OF Col. F. c. Ainsworth, chief Of the record
and pension Office for alleged criminal re-
sponsibility for the Fords Theater disaster,
the question has arisen as to what the mill
tary authorities propose to do about it. As
an officer Of the army Col. Ainsworth Is
amsnable for violation of military laws or
regulations. regardless of the action
Of the civil authorities. II he has
violated any OF the regulations of the
army he can be tried by court martial
and II convicted punished to the
extent. OF military law. Or IL the alleged
offeIse Ia not one presenting a prima facie
case for court martial. 1t could be investi-
gated by a military court Of inquiry to de-
terraine that point
The General Belief
In the absence of Secretary Lamont there
s no person at the War Department who Is
able to say whether further action Is prop
3r or necessary In the case OF Col. Aims
sorth- The consensus Of opinion among
The officers who discussed the question
tprivately) with Star reporter today, how
over, II that the department will
take no further action In the matter.
The general ground for this belief In
The repeated failure of the civil authorities,
after prolonged and thorough investigation.
70 make case against Col Ainsworth that
would stand the test Of judicial considera-
ton The officers holding this opinion say
that fnasmuch as the civil authorities have
tbsolved Col Ainsworth from all legal
oame and responsibility for the disaster
there Is no occasion for a military investi-
cation Of the same affair. especially as the
Crime with which he was charged was
wholly within the Jurisdiction Of the civil
courtA
The Department Records.
This view Of the case is strengthened by
the records Of the War Department in this
particular case. They show that a military
Investigation of the affair was ordered and
that 1t was suspended almost before 1t was
started, in order that there should be no
Interference with the civil Investigation
ton was entirely discontinued a few days
later. and II was determined that no fur
ther action would be taken by the War De-
partment unless II became necessary a.
result Of the civil investigation.
The ofncial records show as follows:
The Court of Inquiry.
On the 10th Of June. 1898. the Secretary Of
War issued a special order az follows:
81 IN the request of Col 3. z. Aims
worSL, chief Of the record and pension Office
\ court Of inquiry Is hereby appointed. to
meet In this city at IL o'clock a. m. on the
18th day Of June, or as socn thereafter as
practicable. to investigate the management
OF his office, In so far as 1t may have had
any connection with OF bearing upon the
disaster OF June the 9th, at old Ford's
Theater building. on 10th street. this city.
The court will also fully investigate all the
facts In the case. and will express an
opinion as to who Is responsible.
The detail for the court is Brigadier Gen.
Thos- L. Casey, chief of engineers; Briga-
dier Gen. Richard ". Batchelder, quarter
master general; Major c. E. L. B. Davis,
corps of engineers; Major George B. Davis.
Judge advocate, recorder"
The Court Dissolved.
On the I'D Of June of the same year the
Secretary of War issued the following or
der:
In the matter of the military court of
inquiry. appointed June 10, 1893, to investi-
gate the conduct Of office of Col F. c.
Ainsworth. chief of the record and pension
office Of the War Department, so far as it
may have had any connection with or bear
Ing upon the disaster of June o. at the
Ford's Theater building. and to express
m opinion as to who is responsible.
Since the foregoing court was ordered,
the civil authorities Of the District of CO.
lumbia, by a coroner and a legally chosen
jury, have investigated the disaster at
Fords Thcater building for the purpose Of
ascertaining the cause Of the same and of
liking the responsibility therefor. and the
procedures under the civil law are still in
progress. That there may be no inter-
ference by the military with the operations
OF the civil law In the case and believing
mat the ends Of justice and the interests
OF the military service will be best SUBJ
the determination Of the civil authorities,
Nee from any influence or complicatt ton that
might ensue from a military inquiry the
order OF June 10. 1898, Is hereby revoked