Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-28
LIEUT.. GIBSON EXONERATED
A Court Of Inquiry Knocks Out Com
pletely the Charge Of Dishonesty.
Lieut.. TrnIIes Admits That His Accu.
satfon Was Entirely Without
Foundation in Fact,

After having caused considerable disturb
ance in the National Guard during the past
four months, the Gibson-Tralles case has
been settled, and Lieut.. Gibson has been
eXonerated. The case had it's origin in an
accusation of dishonesty in the keeping OF
rifie-practice records, the accusation emen-
ating from Lieut.. George T.. Tralles, COM
pany A. third battalion; It was aimed at
Lieut.. Frank +. Gibson, who is inspector
of rifle practice for that battalion. Lieut..
Gibson Insisted that the charge of dishonest
practices, in the matter of recording scores
be adjudicated by court, and that request
was complied with, when, in special orders
issued March IS, a court Of inquiry was in
stituted. The court was composed of Maj.
Winthrop Alexander, inspector general,
and Capt. William r. Horton, ald-de-camp,
the latter acting as recorder. Plenty OF
testimony was taken, and now there APP
pears a general order which completely
eXonerates Lieut.. Gibson; result which
was anticipated in an exclusive publica-
ton in The Star last Saturday.
From the findings and opinion OF the
court contained in General Orders No. 8.
II Is evident that the case reaches a COM
paratively peaceful conclusion through the
maSnanimous action of Lieut.. Gibson, who
withdrew the charges he had preferred
against Lieut. Tralles, as soon as he was
assured by the court that Lieut.. Tralles
would state in writing that his accusation
against Lieut.. Gibson was entirely I'M
founded. Standing face to face with a
court-martal, which would say those who
are acquainted with the testimony have
proved at least all that Lieut.. TralIes con-
fesSed, the defendant decided to admit that
his serious assertions to Lieut. Gibson's
score-keeping Were wholly untrue; where
upon Lieut. Gibson resolved not to press
the matter further, and very generously
withdrew the charges, which, had they not
been withdrawn. could only have resulted
in a formal verdict against Lieut.. Tralles
The orders in which the findings and
opinion are published do not give any Of
the testimony. the official statement being
simply as follows:
The court of inquiry having summarized
the evidence brought before it, finds that
Lieut. Tralles did make certain statements
rejecting On Lieut.. Gibsons methods of
keeping records of rifle practice but that
they were made without foundation, and
later Lieut. Tralles diScaimed in writing
any intention to accuse Lieut. Gibson of
dishonesty, and the latter requested a with
drawal of the charges preferred
1t is UnOffiCially stated, however that
testified strongly as to his honesty and
capability, conspicuous among them being
Maj. F. T. Wilson, who commands the
third battalion, and of whose staff Lieut.
Gibson is a member.
The opportunity to make such a dis
clsimer as has been made by the defendant
was afforded Lieut.. Tralies prior to the
time when charges were preferred against
him, but the opportunity was neglected.
1t is understood that the parties most
deeply interested are now happy: Lieut.
Gibson because he has been completely ex-
onerated; Lieut. Tralles because he Is not
going 10 be court-martialed