The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-24
THE OFFICERS UNDER FIRE.
The Court Of lIqGiTy Begins Its Sss-
sions al The Armory.
FRICTION AMONG The LEGAL TALENT.
Captains George W Anderson. G. Gray
Bossisur and Cytu. Bos,isu1 Testify.
Definitions OF Different Kinds of
Curtis Martial


ncers OF she First Regiment convened
il yesterday, all the members being present
There was some little delay. for various
reasons and half an hour or 80 elapsed
before the court actually opened. Noiohei
Henry G. Jones was on hand. win MS
counsel, Lieutenant Charles Gerhardt and
Sir. C.. Y. Meredith, and captain George
Wayne Anderson was again present In
his dual capacity as pcutioner and
counsel for the petitioners. Among the
other witnesses present at the opening Of
me court were Ldcutenant-Colonel a.
L. Phillips, Adlutant Shepherd, Captain
4. G. Bossieux and others.
Captain George \. Mushbach, Of Com
pauy r. Third Regiment. who, as ranking
officer. is president of the court. finally
opened the court ana Colonel Il. l.. BOY
Kin recorder OF the court called the
roll whcrcupon Mr. .. Raymond Brown
was sworn AS stcuographcr oi the court.
Captain George " aync Anderson. when
questioned by Colonel BoyEiu. stated that
he was witness and also counsel OF the
petitioners. ana Colonel Jones introduced
MS counsel. Mcssrs. Meredith and Ger
hirIt me recorder next read tUc Gov
cTnOr's order published I'm yesterdays
Times. Which convened the court There
Nas no challenge intcrPOsed as TO the
complexion OF tho court. ana the wit
nCsscs were certified that they might at
tend the sessions OF the court. The pc
tUtoucrs soon attcrWard entered the room;
besides. there appeared Colonel Charles
=. Bigger cOmmandant of the Soldiers
Home. and Lieutenant Morgan X. Mills,
OF Company II.
-
sworn by Colonel BOykin. and the latter
in turn had the oath Of recorder admins
tered by the president OF the court.
SkS coMt ~ cI1IzsN,' ,ioims.
The recorder stated that a note had
been presented to MIN, explaining that
Captain cyrus BossieuX had been sick Tor
several days, and therefore requested to
be allowed TO appear in court in citizens
drCss. TIE request was Erdutc1.
The court inquired If there was any OBJ
lection 10 The conducting of the proceed
ings with open doors, and both sides To-
plying IN the negative, outsiders were adj
mitted so far as the room would hold
them
Colonel Boykin explained that there
were three applications 10 be considered
by the court. one was submitted TO the
commander i'm chief by Captain Anderson.
the other was signed by Captains Cyrus
and &. Cray BOssicuX, and Lioutenants
Davis. Stringer and Jeter. The third ap-
pncation was signed by Lieutenant Iayn-
ter. The recorder stated that the other
applications, which practically covered the
same ground. were generally the same,
and might either be tried together OF sepa-
ratcly.
Lieutenant Gcrhardt stated that Colonel
Jones ara his counsel would have no OBJ
lection to have the three applications con-
sidered together in a general way, mas
much they covered practically the same
ground. provided that the witnesses would
only be admitted TO the courtroom after
they had testified.
Captain Anderson at once took issue
with counsel OF the other side by asking
In what capacity Colonel Jones appeared
with counsel. lie explained that there
were only two reasons why Gas could
be done; If Colonel Jones desired 10 APP
pear as accuser. or " no thought that his
conduct and character would be material
~ affected by the proceedings. In either
case. however, counsel would only be
present by the courtesy OF the law. Colo
mel Jones had no part I'M the court OF in
quiry he did not Join in the request for
the appointment of the court. and he
was only present at the su1eTaBce of the
court No one was TO bc tried ON a
criminal charge; IL was only desired to
bring out the facts i'm the matter. It
appeared, however as II counsel OF colo
mel Jones had usurped the powers OF the
judge advocate. Counsel had "a right 10
protect Colonel Jones. but they were not
present TO advise the court. Colonel
Jones was not under investigation. all
though II was true that the question To
be raised by the proceedings of the court
would have some effect collateraly upon
Colonel Jones conduct
MIGHT REGARD HIMSELF As ACCUSED
Mir. Meredith explained that possibly his
client might regard himself as the ac-
custd. according TO the charges preferred
I'm the petition against him. While the
petitioners ia their petition asked that
their conduct be- examined. the language
tended to bring about an Investigation |
OF Colonel Jones conduct.
Tie recorder said there had been grave
doubt IN his mind whether the three APP
phcaUons could be considered together. UNI /
less an parties concerned agreed to the |
\ proposition. He did not take the same
view as Mir. Mere IN regard 10 the |
position Of me petitioners. who as the |
latter gentleman claimed Were practical !
~ accUscrs. lie thought. on the con
trdry that the gentlemen asking for the |
investigation were the defendants.
After some further discussion among
counsel. Captain MushhIch suE-etcd that
inasmuch as it had been agreed to treat
all three cases AS one, an papers on the |
subject. which formed the record should |
be read before the court could pass am
opinion.
The recorder then read the papers he !
ginning with tho application OF Lieutenant !
X X. paynter. who acted as judge adj /
Vocate on the general court-maruai or |
dcrd by Colonel Jones, OF which the !
other petitioners were members. The
document sets forth the facts OF the case
which have been repeatedly mentioned In /
the columns of The Times. Tho next APP
plicaticn was signed by all members OF
the court in queton. except Captain An
derson. Its veTbiage was identical with |
that Of Lieutenant Paynter.
CArTAN AND HONS ArPI1cArioN.
Captain Anderson's application. which /
went into the details OF the whole affair /
was read last. 1t contained the follow
ing.
His EXCellency, Charles 7. OFerran. |
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
SRI respectfully request that cour,
of inquiry he appointed TO enquire into /
my conduct az member OF COurt-mar- /
tial convened az Richmond. Va. and sit |
ting on the 27th day OF November 1884, |
by order OF Colonel II. c. Jones OF the
First Regiment. Infantry. Virginia Vol |
unteers. and composed OF the following !
officers: Captains Cyrus BossieuX. G. !
Gray BOssieux. Charlie Gasser George
Wayne Anderson and Licutenants j. }