The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-04
,DISTURBER
His Base Charges Against the
Adiutant General.
INVESTIGATED, PROVED FALSE

Forces and that an Attempt Had Been
Made "Surrepttiously" to Obtain
Two Guns--Winsiow's Charges, and
the Truth of the Matter.
From the time that Lieutenant Fran
els Winslow first set foot on North
Carolina soil he has been a disturbing
element The people didn't fall in love
with him at first sight, and he has not
improved on acquaintance
His connection with the survey of
the natural oyster beds of North Caro-
lima as a government officer, his sub
sequent sudden retirement ION account
of failing eyesight,' his deals in con
nection with the oyster beds, the sub
seQuent bitter war against the oyster
men whose living was taken away
from them by the oyster syndicate,
and many other incidents of that
trouble have not been forgotten by the
people.
Then came the organization Of the
naval militia or Naval Reserves in
North Carolina. Lieutenant Winslow
was elected commander of the Re-
serves by the company officers. The
course of the Naval Reserves IN TINS
State has been distinguished by court
martials and disbandments. The
divisions at NewbeTn and Charlotte are
disbanded- because of what?
Wherever he has been through the
State he has left his trail OF discord
The latest outbreak of this Pandemo-
Mum in Pants is his fight on the State
authorities
Ever since the refusal of the GOV
ernor and Adjutant General to forever
blacken the characters of the young
men in the Charlotte and Newbern
Reserves by imposing upon them eX-
treme punishment for the crime OF
resenting the oyer-bearing conduct OF
an officer. Lieutenant Winslow seems
to have turned on the executive, and
the Adiutant General all the Walls OF
his venom.
Not many weeks ago he made the
vilest insinuations against the AdJu-
tant General. charging that he had
taken arms that rightfully belonged
to the Naval militia, and subVerted
them to the use of the State Guard,
and that there were howitzers and small
arms belonging to the militia that the
Governor and Adjutant General had
not accounted for.
Governor Carr investigated these vile
charges, and found them absolutely
false.
And then, "for the good of the ser
vice" revoked Winslow's commission
as Commander.
The order was issued January nth,
and read thus:
1T appearing in the judgment OF the
Commander-in-Ch to be necessary
for the harmony and best interests OF
the service, the commission of com
mander Francis Winslow Naval Batal-
lion. North Carolina State Guard, is
hereby revoked"
But Winslow has no idea of giving
up his grip on the naval militia.
Winslow has begun an action in the
good county of New Hanover totest the
right of Govern Carr to revoke his
commission. Judge Starbuck has grant
ed an order staying the execution OF
the order of Governor Carr in revoking
the commission. Winslow is the plain
tiff and Lieutenant George l.. Morton
is the defendant. Mr.. Morton has been
summoned TO appear at Clinton Feb-
ruary 18th to show cause why the re-
straining order should not be made
permanent.
The Wilmington Messenger devotes
two whole pages of a special supple
ment TO the woes of Winslow. In this
supplement is published all the CORE
spondence between Governor Carr and
Commander Winslow, as well as the
court records in the case. And the
Lieutenant interviews himself in little
lines sandwiched between the docu-
ments.
In his appeal 10 the Naval Battalion,
Winslow writes: You will perceive
that the Governor demands the imme-
date tender of my resignation. =
Ny commission can only be lawfully
vacated by my resignation, death, dis
missal, or disarmament of the battal-
ion. As 10 dismissal, it can only be
upon the sentence OF a court-martiaI,
or conviction in a court OF justice OF
an Infamous offense, neither of which
is likely to occur. Death is by the
hand Of God and DISARMAMENT by the
hand OF the GOVERNOR but / hope
neither Of these is likely to occur. Re
manning is resignation, which is IN my
own discretion
Then followed resolutions OF endorse
ment of Winslow from the Whining
ton, Elizabeth City and kinston Naval
Reserves.
These resolves are followed by the
formal complaint made to the court.
In the complaint the principal clause
is the seventh: This plaintiff is adj
vised and therefore alleges, that 10
person or officer, either civil or mill
tary, of the State of North Carolina in
times of peace has the power, right or
authority to dismiss him or any other
commissioned officer of the State
Guard of North Carolina from the
service unless he be convicted in a
court of justice of an infamous Of
Tense or upon the sentence of court
martial against hiH."
And yet the Code of North Carolina
says (section 3,26s):
:'The Commander-in-Chief shall have
full power and authority to revoke any
commission, or 10 disband any com
pany or companies, wherever in his