Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-21

| CHAPTER VH.-CoNTINUED.
The proceedings of a court-martial
are always tedious, and the details in
the case of Private Brown will not be
here given. Every whit of available evil
dence was produced both by the prosecu-
ton and defense, the lieutenant's words
to Brown were testified to by the stable
attaches who heard them. and the &C
cused was permitted to make a state
ment of the affair. His manly bearing
and straightforward testimony coupled
with his eloquent speech and gentle
manly attitude throughout the trial,
made great impression on the judges,
and won for him many an approving
| glance from the dignifed officers who
composed the court. Capt. Colby was
summoned to testify to the previous
character of the accused, and he grew
almost eloquent in his commentator
| of Browns soldierly conduct since he
| joined the troop.
| The findings of the court-martial
were duly made out, and sent to the
| commander of the post for his ap-
| proval. Brown was found guilty of
striking an officer, there was reference
to aggravating circumstances, and his
| punishment was fixed at thirty days
confinement in the post guard house.
| That love of justice, which was a
marked characteristic of Col. Sanford s
| nature, asserted itself while he had
the findings of the court under con-
| sideration. 1t Is true that some out
side influences had been at work, but it
must not be assumed that they could
sway the stern old man in the enforce
ment of his strict ideas of military dis
cipline. Capt. Colby had taken the
| liberty to tell of the faithful service of
the private soldier, and several officers
| of the post had freely aired their
views of Browns action in the colonel's
| presence, and Alice, after speaking of
| Wanderers attitude toward herself
and of the views she had heard him
express regarding the men of the
ranks, So warmly approved the pun
ishment that the lieutenant had re-
ceived that the commander gave the
matter a great deal of thought. He
| had not by any means forgotten Van
dever's treatment of old Sergt. Bar
rett, and when at last the findings of
the court-martial were published, they
| bore this Endorsement over the sigma
ture of the post commander:
1.-The findings and sentence of the
special court-martia1 in the case of
Private Richard Brown, troop, Sixth
cavalry, charged with committing an
assault on the person of Second
Lieutenant Alfred Talbot Eandever,
B troop, Sixth cavalry. are approved.
In consideration of the aggravating
provocation which led to the assault
and of the blameless previous record as
soldier of said Private Richard
Brown, twenty-nine days of the SEN
tence are hereby revoked, and after
one days confinement in the post
guardhouse said Private Richard
Brown will be released and will report
20 the commander of his troop for duty"
CHAPTER VIII
When Brown was released from con-
fncment he went at once to his quar-
tiers, and was accorded a warm welcome
by his comrades. He took bath and
changed his clothing, for the guard
houses of frontier military posts are
not noted for cleanliness, and then
went to report for duty to his troop
commander. Capt and Mrs Colby
were sitting on the porch of their
quarters when he came up, and re-
spectfully saluting the captain and re-
moving his cap he said:
II am instructed, sir, to report to you
for duty"
Il am glad Of it, Brown" the captain
replied. 81 am gratifed that the re-
suit of your rash act has not proved SO
serious as had feared. / know that
,x-;I1 L. Ixyio
from me, for assure you feel more
than ordinary interest in your well
fare"
shall retire, captain?- asked Mrs.
Colby.
No, my dear, wish you to remain.
I am not going to reprove Private
Brown very severely, nor in the least
humiliate him. just wish to say this,
Brown. You are not an ordinary sol
der. Your demeanor, your language,
your every act indicates that through
some chain of circumstances. which 1
shall not inquire into, you are placed
in position far beneath the station in
life in which you are fitted by educa-
tion and training to hold an honored
place. You no doubt at times deeply
feel the chains of servitude which
bind you, and unpleasant experiences
which an ordinary soldier would &C
cept as a matter of course, awake in
your sensitive nature spirit of resent
ment. I think understand and be-
ieve can fully appreciate your feel
ings in the recent trouble you had
with a superior officer. Your sense of
manhood revolted at the unwarranted
abuse heaped upon you, and in your
rage you lost sight of your army rank
and assaulted him. That was very un-
wise. The men at the stables were
witnesses to your alteration with
Lieut.. Vandever, and would have testi-
fed to that officers action toward you
in an official inquiry, and had you quiz
city submitted to his treatment and
reported the matter to myself as your
troop commander. a thorough investi-
CATION would have followed, and full
Justice would have been done you.
haze but this advice to offer you,
Brown. While you remain in the ranks
you must never lose sight of your po-
sition, and must submit to annoyances
which you would resent in civil life.
Always keep in mind the fact that the
humblest private in the ranks has
rights which his officers are bound to
respect, and that redress for his wrongs
is provided for by the rules and regu-
lations governing military discipline.
mn Al e., -