Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-29
OFFICER ARRESTED.
MAJOR GEO. A. ARMIES CHARGED
WITH AUTHORIZATION.
Tie Wrote N Letter to General scho-
field, which the Latter Considered
In.up,tnp-Tbc Letter and the Gem
erals Comments.
washington Post, 2sth)

WAS arrested az MS bpiic i"S' N'N''H
shou; 4 o'clock on a warrant issued by
authority Of the Acting Secretary OF war
ana Is now a prisoner at the washington
barracks.
Naior Armes. who lives at Armesleish
Park. on the Chase-Chevy road. was ST.
,,rc in his parlor about S o'clock last
evening. having just finished dinner wheh
Lieutenant Coming and Second-Leuten-
ant Gordon Heiner made their appear
ance. accompanied by a file OF soiolc's'
Lieutenant Coming read the order loi
Major Armes's arrest. which was sished
by Assistant Adiutant-G General Vincent
Nbv order OF the Acting Secretary OF
War" The Acting Secretary OF War yes
lerday was General John VI. schoneld'
acknowledgement OF the United states
army. owing to the absence from the
city of both the Secretary and ASSISTANT
secretary Of War.
Major Armes gave no indications OF
surprise. but cooolly asked permission 10Y
a few minutes in which to prepare Tor
his departure. and was soon on his way
70 the barracks in a closed ambulance
which the arrestiag party had brought
for the purpose.
The arrest of Major Armes was the re-
suit Of a letter which he addressed 10
General Schoneld. Major Armes calied
at the War Department yesterday AFTER
noon and sought an interview with Gene
raj Schoneld and upon being denied sent
him the following episue:
THE LETTER.
September q. 1895.
General John NJ. Schoheld, United States
Army:
sir.-Before YOU are retired from ac-
tive duty, l thought / would call your
attention to the injustice, wrongs, and
prosecutions you have inflicted upon me
during the years 1890. and up 10 the
present time.
As. TO my knowledge. I have given you
no cause. | would like to have an eXpla-
nation as TO your grounds for making my
life a hell and trying 10 ruin me in the
way you have.
The endorsement upon the charges l
preferred against Lieutenant-Colonel n.
ID. Nelson, in 1870. denouncing me as
worthless character etc" etc, was Inc
first attack upon me. IN addition 10
ignoring and falling to investigate the
serious charges which I then submitted.
because ! submitted II my duty TO do 50
the next wrong was 10 select a few
Characters from the army, call II court
and approve Of their sentence Of dlsmis-
sal, you, as judge having selected
the Jury. You sustained Colonel Nelson
In not bringing Captain Graham to trial
and after / was dismissed for bringing
these charges. Colonel Nelson found that
Graham would have to be tried, because
of the great pressure of all the officers
7
son, to save himself, recommended era
hams trial, upon the charges that l hac
submitted long before | was so unJusty
dismissed. and he was not only CASH
Tered but sentenced TO the penitenuary
for a term of years. Since my retirement
you caused another court 20 be selected,
and tried TO ruin and disgrace me- You
also issued an order. and | was published
as a person whose sanity was questioned;
but after the mischief was done YOU
stopped the investigation without any re-
nuest upon my part that you should DO
so. Lately. | am informed, you have Sc
rured the marks to afiidavits Of n few
negroes, who cannot read and write, a.
leging a lot of falsehoods and stuff, that
mas a tendency TO injure me with those
who would be Influenced by what you
say or do on account of your position.
| am a gentleman. and have always
conducted myself as such. i have done
my duty as a military man, as the true
records will prove. and any charges that
hre on file tending 10 reflect discredit upon
me are instlgate, by personal enmity. or
unfounded malice, and are unworthy Of
belief Common justice on the part of
superior Office. the manly instincts OF
Rentleman, when shown that he rs mis-
taken. should cause you TO apologize and
show disposition to amend the wrongs,
as far as possible. which you have for so
many years heaped upon me.
Respectfully. GEORGE a. ARMIES.
WHAT SCHOFIELD SAYS.
General Schifeld conversed freely about
the affair last night. He does not re-
cognlze the officers brevet rank, and calls
him captain.
Il ordered Captain Armes's arrest yes
serday." he said. because ! deemed il
necessary in the interests Of proper disci-
pine. Captain Armes considers himself
entitled TO the rank Of brevet-lieutenant-
colonel because Of his participation in an
Indian fight some years ago. Congress
passed a law recently authorizing the be-
stowai of the rank OF brevet on certain
officers upon the accommodation of their
department. commanders and the COM
handing general of the army.
when Captain Armes's case came be-
fore me | gave IL very careful consldera-
ton but could find nothing In his record
10 Justify me In recommending the be-
stowal Of this honor upon him. AT the
solicitation Of Captain Armes and some
of his friends. l subsequently recOnsid-
cred the matter at some length. / gave
more attention to the case than / ever
did for another officer. but after search
ing ali over the country, l could find no
10. l. Inc a fa
recommendation. so l recommended 10
the Secretary of War that the brevet
rank OF Northumberland should not be
conferred on Captain Armes.
Captain Armes has probably heard OF
this action on my part. To-day ne pre-
sented himself at my office In the War
Department, and sent in his card. | sent
him word that did not care to see him.
and falling in an attempt TO force his
way past my messenger, he left me a
letter, which was threatening and abusive
IN It's tones.
WAS ACTING SECRETARY.
II felt that II was a case requiring the
enforcement Of discipline. | was acting
Secretary of War to-day, therefore the
duties Of Secretary devolyed on Inc. The
commanding officer of the army has no
authority over retired officers, and If the
Secretary had been here, should have
sent the letter 10 him for him TO take
what action he thought proper AS the
case stood, however. there was nothing
for me 20 do but take immediate action,
SO 1 ordered Captain Armes's arrest and
confinement in the guard-house. When
Secretary Lamont returns l shall report
my action TO him. and shall have nothing
further 20 do with the case. There Is
nothing personal In the matter what