St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-03

Mrs. Heuberg TESTIFIED Ihac
Chaplin Told Her He Had Read
the Letter.
The last witness in the Nancy cour
martial vas placed on the stand yester-
day morning in the person of Mrs. He'd
berg, and so far as the court is con-
cerned the whole story of the tragedy
has been laid before it. Arguments by
counsel were we'll under way when the
court adjourned for the day and will be
concluded at Mondays session. Then
the doors will be closed to press and
public.
There was no appearance of the little
brush which occurred between counsel
at Fridays session. The knowledge that
Mrs. Hedberg would testify during the
day called out large attendance of
spectators. and many ladies were noticed
among them. All listened with marked
attention. not only to the testimony of
the witness. but also followed closely
the able argument of Mr.. Blair. as he
summed up the case for his client. The
members of the court martial displayed
the greatest of earnestness in following
the learned counsel, who consumed
nearly the entire day without finishing.
There was nothing of a sensational
character in the testimony of Mrs. He'd
berg. She simply related the circum-
stance of having received the letter
written by the accused to her husband.
She had known of the difficulty on the
I'd of October and did not wish to de-
liver the letter for the sake of both gen.
tlemen. Witness had only seen Lieut..
Nancy for about five minutes after that.
and she had no recollection of having
discussed the matter of its withdrawal
at that time Capt. Hedberg had suS-
tanned fracture of the left wrist short
time previous. and while on duty, which
was very light. was nursing it and APP
plying liniment daily.
In reply to question by the court,
Mrs. Hedberg said that an hour after
the letter had been delivered at her
house Capt. Chaplin had informed her
that its contents were grossly disre-
spectful and insulting. He said it was
a threatening and ugly letter. which
frightened her. Capt. Chaplin did not
repeat its contents. but gave her to
understand that he knew them. Wit
ness had no recollection of the
accused expressing to her a de-
sire to have the letter withdrawn, al
though it might have been mentioned.
This evidence contradicted the state
ment of Capt. Chaplin that he did not
know the contents of the letter. At
torney Blair intimated to the court that.
in view of this unexpected testimony.
which seemed contradictory, he would
desire to call Capt. Chaplin again. But
it would take several hours for him to
reach his witness. He was willing to
proceed with his argument, if the court
was willing to reopen the case for the
additional testimony. The court did
not seem to take kindly to this proDo-
sition. and Mr.. Blair said he would
proceed with his argument.
BLAIR SPEAKS.
Mr.. Blair said: II desire to congratu-
late the court on the approach Of the
close of this trial, which was one of the
most important in the history of the
military service. If it has seemed
long one to this court. it was certainly
long for the defendant. who has been
under constant strain since the 10th
day of April. No man can face
more serious proposition than one
which involves his life. Through such
an ordeal the accused has passed. and
jury of his peers had pronounced him
not guilty.
"The>trial in Chicago was one of the
most bitter ever known. The proSecu-
ton infused degree of animosity into
the case never equaled, and the cause
of which l was never able to fathom.
1t may have been the attitude of the
press, not only of Chicago, but the
Associated as we'll, which made warfare
upon this defendant and accused him of
being a red-handed murderer and cold
blooded assassin. You gentlemen Of
the court, however, know the result.
The evidence introduced at Chicago
was substantially the same as that given
here. l refer to the newspaper attacks
because it was said in various papers
that justice was not yet satisfied
although the defendant was acquitted,
and for that reason this court martial
was convened to see that he would
receive his just deserts. They also said
that what saved him In Chicago would
not avail him before this court. One
paper even printed an alleged interview
with the secretary of war. in which that
gentleman was represented as saying
that the verdict Of the jury at Chicago
was travesty on Justice. and that he
had ordered this court martial in order
to see this man punished"
Counsel then entered into an able and
lengthy discussion of the law Of self
defense, and cited many important
cases and decisions. The Terry Field
case and number of decisions from
the Texas court of appeals were read
to the court and listened to with great
attention.
1t was for the members OF the cour
martial to say whether an officer of the
army would for the paltrY su IN of $40
suborn testimony. Counsel maintained
that in this case it was the duty of the
defendant not only to resist the de-
ceased. but even TO advance in the per-
Torrance of his duty, And If in so
doing he had met his death. he would
have died in performing his sworn
duty, while wearing the country's uni
form, than which there is no nobler
death.
Speaking of the challenge directed
against Capt. Hedberg while member
of court martial, counsel said that it
was natural that any officer having any
Il Ia i H.
advice as given by the accused. and be
considered it good advice. Incidents
like that would be quickly taken note
of by. the outside world. 1t was natural
for man like Capt. Hedberg to brood
over the matter. and convince himself
that he was the victim of persecution.
And, having done SO, seek to quarrel
with the man who advised him. When
that advice was repeated, it formed the
frat mint un0n which tha difforancea