The record-union., 1894-09-03
PAYMAsTER wHAM.
He viii be Tried by Court Martial at
Vancouver. Washington.

He viii be Tried by Court Martial at
Vancouver. Washington.
PORTLAND (Or.), Sept. 2.-Major J. W.
Wham, Paymaster. U. S. r., who is to
be tried by a military court martial at
Vancouver Barracks on September l1tb,
said to-day in reference to his trial: "I
have much to tell the court OF official per-
secution, commencing Immediately after
Il did excellently well,' as expressed by
the Secretary of War. in defending my
treasure-box against the assault of at least
twice the number of my escort, until
every soldier but one who remained with
me was wounded, and my old comrades
OF General Grants old regiment had
the temerity and audacity to state my
record, as made in thirteen battles and
nearly five years service during the re-
beIl1on, and to ask my appointment as
aymaster-General. 4 soldier with a
lighting record is MADE to feel very lone
some in the Pay Department, which is
composed, particularly near the head of
the list OF men who, in the language of
my old comrades, did their fighting in
safe and comfortable offices, far removed
from the sound of battle.'
"Of course, L feel deeply humiliated by
this injustice, but | could not help it any
more than could help the order for my
trial on false charges soon after the rob-
berry in Arizona, and of which L was ac-
quilted without the Introduction of a
particle Of testimony in my defeuse. In
my judgment the result of the forthcom-
ing trial will be.eXactly similar. The sec
ond sick leave OF absence ever obtained
by me in period Of nearly thirty years.
service, was revoked after having been
granted by board of officers convened
to determine whether it should be granted
or not, and l was ordered back to my sta
ton, there to be held for three months
subject to a secret espionage to determine
my sanity. But DR.. Byrne, the medical
director, having, [ presume. grown
thoroughly indignant at the humiliating
duty thus unlawfully imposed upon him,
tried to terminate the unlawful, cruel and
unjust action of Assistant Secretary of
War Grant, by at once reporting ON my
return to my station that there was moth
ing whatever the matter with Major
Wham's intellect
Just think OF it. 4 United States SOL
dier, with commendable record both on
the battlefield and on disbursing duty, is
without the shadow of legal right or
common justice, deprived of his sick
leave OF absence and liberty by Assistant
Secretary OF War Grant, to be held for
three months subject to a secret espion-
age without his knowledge, TO determine
the question as to his insanity, when
every cent of the millions intruSted to his
care for disbursement had been Satisfac-
torily accounted for. If necessary to de-
termine this question, why was it not
done in the usual legal way, and the poor
old afflicted soldier left to wonder from
day to day as to his anomalous and un-
lawful status? Was there fear that the
demented soldier might parry the blow
thus shametully aimed from an official
covert?
AS to the charge that I am in debt,
will say yes; and / am just about as
much responsible for it as l would be for
the accidental killing of my mother, it
having occurred through the, unprece-
dented Arizona floods of lS9l.n
Major Wham was appointed Paymaster
by President Grant, in whose regiment
he served. The charges against Major
Wham are many, and cover long series
OF years. 1t is understood that the prin-
cipal charge against him is his failure to
meet legal judgment against him for sew
eral thousand dollars in scheme for the
irrigation OF Arizona lands many years
ago.