St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-24
Nancy TRIAL IS BEGUN.
COURT MAR7ikL LISTENS TO THE
PLEAS or DEFENDANT.
FORMER AcQUlrTAL SET UP.
Frank p. Blair, Attorney for Lieut..
Nancy, Argues at Length the
Legal Question-Judge Advo-
cate Barr Will Answer Him
Today-lmposingA Array of Mill
tary Chieftains.

cate Barr Will Answer Him
Today-lmposing Array of Mill
tary Chieftains.
Historic old Fort Smelling yesterday
began to be the scene of one of the most
noted dramas in military life that have
taken place since its first inception In
the early days of frontier life. For
there, within the confines of four walls.
a court of army officers are to sit in SOL
emn judgment over the fate of brother
of the service.
The average civilian, who knows but
little OF the discipline of army life. can
not realize the momentous Importance
that attaches to the outcome of the pro-
ceedingS to at least one Of the many
perSOnages interested in them. Lieut..
James A. Nancy, Of the Fifteenth in
fantry, United States army, is called
upon to defend life, honor and position
before this tribunal, gathered at COM
mand of the secretary of war.
Although the hour for the convening
of the court martial was set for IL
O'Clock, many of the members arrived
early and were gathered in little groups
in the halls of the headquarters build
ing. Some there were among them who
had met on the battletieldS of the war
and remained in active service ever
since, but through the vicissltudes Of
army regulations had not met for long
time. They greeted each other in
manner as only brothers in arms can,
and exchanged "reminiscences of past
days, when some Of them had been sta
toned at this post and before the pres
ent comfortable quarters had been erect
ed. Lieut.. Nancy and his attorney,
Frank P. Blair, entered the building to-
gether and were greeted in pleasant
manner by the officers already on the
spot. They withdrew to the quarter
masters office. where they engaged in
earnest conversation pending the open
ing of the court.
Nancy looked thoughtful and earnest.
fully realizing the Importance of the
occasion, but showed no signs of nerv-
BUSINESS. The officers attached to the
| post dropped in during the balf-hour's
wait, and cordially greeted the defend
ant IN the trial. All seemed to take the
keenest interest in the affair, and made
no efforts to disguise their friends ship
| for their unfortunate comrade.
Room IL of the headquarters building
had been prepared for the session of the
court-martial. and the room directly op-
| posite was reserved for the witnesses.
At IL o'clock the members of the court.
| headed by Col. Mason, entered the
room. aud took seats around a long
table in the center of the room. With
but one exception the personnel of the
court was exactly as announced in YES
| terday's GLOBE. Capt. Samuel l..
Woodward, of the Tenth. cavalry, sta.
toned at Fort Leavenworth, was sub
stituted for Capt. James NJ. Sanno, who
was relieved from duty by order of the
secretary of war.
their seats, one could not help noticing
the exceptional character of its MEN,
bers. All were ABOVE the rank of the
accused, and their hair was tinged with
| gray. Some even were white haired
men, who had become so in their years
of service. Accoutred in full-dress
uniform, with countenances that be-
spoke their realization of the serious
ness of the hour, the solemnity of the
scene was not lost sight Of by all pres
ent.
The little room was crowded to suffo-
cation, as i. was the intention to allow
the greatest publicity consistent with
the nature of the proceedings. Lieut..
| Nancy, with his counsel, occupied side
table, which was laden with law books.
At the head of the center table sat Col
| Mason. president of the court. Di-
rectly opposite was Lieut.. Col. Thomas
| +. Barr. deputy judge advocate. The
other members were seated in rotation,
according to their rank. Beside Col,
Barr sat Court Stenographer Hillman,
who had been retained by the govern
ment to take the proceedings. Repre-
sentatives of the press had been pro-
vided with table directly behind the
| judge advocate. After brief confer
ence behind closed doors, the spectat-
ors and reporters were again admitted,
and the court was ready to proceed.
| THE SESSION OPENS.
1t was precisely 11:15 when Col.
Mason arose and raped for order. Not
|
chirping OF songbird amid the foliage
Of the bright green trees just without
the windows. as Col. Mason said:
"rhis court martial will now come to
order"
| Lieut.. Col. Barr asked the members
| to arise and administered the oath as
prescribed by the army regulations, adj
dressing each member by his rank and
| name. The oath was taken, and Col.
Mason i.4 turn placed the obligation
upon the prosecuting officer. This
done the defense was accorded the
privilege of exercising its challenges
upon the members of the court. but all
were pronounced as acceptable, and Mr..
Blair was formally introduced as the
counsel for the defendant.
Col. Barr arose and read the charges
and specifications as follows:
Charge Conduct to the prejudice of
good order and military discipline.
| Specification-In that First Lieuten-
| ant James A. Nancy, Fifteenth infan-
| try, United States army, did wrongfulIv
| engage in an alteration and scuffle with
his superior officer, Capt. Alfred He'd
berg, of the same regiment: and did use
Insulting language towards him, the
said Hedberg. and did violently assault
| and kick him. and draw AID point a
pistol upon and at him, and did further
] actually shoot him, the said Hedberg.
causing his death. This at Fort Sheri-
dan. ILL.,, Oct. 80. 1898. G. Ii. BURTON,
| Lieutenant Colonel, Inspector General,
| u. S. A.
These charges and specifications were
followed by the following:
| Additional:
Charge and specification preferred
| Fifteenth infantry.
| Charge-Conduct to the prejudice of
| good order and military discipline.
| Specifcation-In that First Lieut..
James A. Nancy, Fifteenth Infantry,
having on the Cd day of October. 1898,
i asauanad in x,,ith Cant