The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-26
COURT OF INQUIRY.
Hearing in the Case of Cen
s.. era1 Plume Postponed =
For a Week.
RECORDER VAN cLEEF ABSENT.
The Complainants to Furnish the
Accused With a Statement of
Their Complaint.

Only three members of the Court of In
quiry, which was ordered by Governor
Werts to determine whether Major General
Plume exceeded his authority in d~isbanding
the Second and Fifth Regiments when the
First Brigade of the National Guard was or
ganized, put in appearance at the Fourth
Regiment headquarters on Newark avenue,
last evening, at the time appointed for the
taking of testimony in the case. The mem-
bers of the court who were present were
Bird W. Spencer, Inspector General Of Rifle
Practice. General Heppenheimer and Gen
eral Meanay. Colonel John Van Cleef Of
Trenton, the recorder of the court, notified
General Spencer by telegram that he would
be unable to be present. Colonel John G.
Van Cleef sent no excuse for his n~on-appear-
ance.
Major General Plume arrived at h~eadquar-
tiers long before five o'clock-the hour set
for the opening Of the court. He was &C
~companied by his counsel. City Attorney
Coult OF Newark. The Major General, While
waiting for the court to convene, walked up
and down the floor of the board room, and
seemed to be very much worried. The fero-
cious manner which has given him a reputa
ton throughout the Statefor uncongeuialtty
for once did not manifest itself. The Gen
eral no doubt realized that it would be good
policy to treat his opponents with the ut
most respect.
THE AccUsERs.
Major Generals PIuners accusers were al
SO on hand early, and had with them over a
dozen type written documents which they
were ready to submit to the Court as evil
dence that the reorganization of the brigade
was not a fair proceeding. In the party
were Colonel Stevens and Colonel Erlen-
koetter of Hoboken, Brevet General Bernard,
formerly Colonel of the disbanded Fifth Reg
iment, ex-Colonel Snyder of the r~eorganized
Third Battalion, Adjutant OToole and Cap
tain Sagendorf of the disbanded Second Reg
iment Of Hoboken.
The court organized with General Spencer
as presiding officer. Colonel Stevens was
about to present to the court a typewritten
0 of the charges made against General
| Plume, when General Spencer notified him
| that the court would be unable to act upon
| the charges on account of the absence OF the
| Recorder, Colonel John Van Cleef.
1.-THE court, however, will receive your
charges unofficially. We would be pleased
to learn what we are to act upon. We have
received no definite instructions as to what
we are to do and we would like to inform
ourselves"
ssDidn't the Governor inform you as to
| what lines you are to followg' asked Brevet
| General Bernard.
General Spencer replied in the negative.
"Well I lave a letter here, " said General
| Bernard, from Adjutant General Stryker,
which says that the court would be in
! formed of its duties by the Governor"
.sWe cannot act upon the matter today, y
| replied General Spencer, IAN l suggest tnat
| the accusers have the charges printed, and
all the officers should agree on definite
| statements so that the matter will be in
proper shape. A copy of the charges can be
forwarded to General Plume, SO that he will
be prepared to answer them at our next
meeting
ENERA PLUME's REQUEST.
General Plume replied that it would facii-
tate matters if he received a copy of the
document. He objected to the word
Charges and suggested that the word
Statements be substituted. As an an act
Of courtesy the accusers and the court de
| cided to call the Charges Statements"
Counsellor Coult asked the accusers to de-
fine their issues plainly so that he could pre-
pare for the defence. General Spencer then
Instructed the accusers to AVE their Estate
ments'' typewriter, and ordered them to
forward to him two copies, one of which he
will in turn forward to General Plume.
The Court fixed Thursday evening, May 3,
| at h~alf-past seven o'clock, as the time for the
next session. Testimony will then be taken.
The meeting will be held at the Fourth
Regiment headquarters.
Before the court adjourned Counsellor
| Coult requested the Court to prohibit all
persons other than those directly interested
from attending the trial.
The board took no action on the request. A
public trial would be more pleasing to the
accusers. The Court will decide when it
meets whether or not TO admit outsiders.