Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28
Court-Martial Probable in the Sec
ond Separate Company.
GEN. ORDWAY AND COMPETITIVE DRILLS
First Regiment Rifle Reports for
1894 and 1895.
CONTEST OF THE FIFTH

the District of Columbia National Guard
have matters been so lively during the
past few weeks, SO far as Official difficulties
between individuals are concerned. Inter
est was recently aroused when First Lieut.
Frank E. Gibson, inspector of rifle prac-
tice Of the third battalion. preferred charges
against First Lieut.. George E. Tralles.
company A. third battalion, on the ground
that the latter accused the former of dis
honesty in the keeping of the records of
rifle practice of the battalion. But an in
cident Of the past few days far outlapS the
foregoing case, it being the filing of charges
against First Lieut.. Frank p. Libbey of
the second separate company by his COM
pany commander. Capt. Samuel II. Wiggin.
The details of this case present some IN
usual and aggravated features. {.
Although Capt. Wiggin declines to speak
about the matter. having preferred the
charges. the story has leaked cut. 1t seems
that Saturday evening. March IA. Private
company was tried before d company
court on the charge of willfully absenting
himself from about eighteen consecutive
drills. and at an assembly of the company
Saturday. March 81. the d:shonorable dis
charge OF Private Ftkin was announced in
company orders. Lieut.. L!bbey had ap-
peared as counsel for Private Pitkin, and
he requested that the case be reoppned in
order that additional facts might be pre-
sented to the court. In compliance there
with. the court assembled Tuesday even
ing last, all the members being present, as
follows: Capt Wigsin, president; Sergt.
master Sergt. w. f. Sorrells Judge advo-
cate; First Sergt. H. K Gibson and Serg.
r. B. Durfee.
After Private Pitkin had made a state
mont to the court, Lieut.. Libhey as coun-
sci, was granted an audience The court
ana Lieut.. 1ibbey were in uniform at the
time. After going over the case generally,
1t is understood. Lieut.. Libbey proceeded
M IN,
course followed by Capt. Wiggin in dealing
with the P.tkin case. The sneaker was
promptly called to order by Capt Wigg:n,
who explained that he did not propose to
De criticised by his first lieutenant or any
one else, but Lieut.. Libbey is credited with
the statement that he meant just what he
SAID. and then proceeded 10 dissect his
superior officer more vigorously than be-
fore
Ordered Under Arrest
Thereupon Capt. Wiggin promptly order
ed Lieut.. Libbey under arrest and directed
that he leave the room. Again Lieut.. Lib
bey declined to comply with orders, and
Serst. Mattingly was directed to escort
the offender outside. The sergeant request
ed Lieut.. Libbey to leave. but was answer
ed in the negative, and with a significant
clenching of the right fist of the officer.
Seeing that forcible ejectment would prob
anly be necessary sergt. Mattingly re-
quested assistance, and Ouartermaster
Sergt. sorrells, who, by the way, is await
ing commission as second lieutenant of The
company. was detailed to aid Sergt. Mat
tingly: Sergt Sorrells said something to
the effect that if the lieutenant was q pen
tleinan he would quietly leave the room and
not cause trouble, and right there matters
grew decidedly more interesting, for Lieut.
Llbbey raised heavy oak chair in &
threatening position and backed into a
corner Of the room.
AS the two sergeants were about to ad-
vance, capt Wlggfn took occasion to re-
mark that the lieutenant, by his action,
was rather injuring the case of Private
Pitkin than otherwise, and, so the story
goes. Lieut. Libbey then said something
about he guessed he was in the wrong, and
left the room.
Later in the evening Lieut.. Libbev was
summoned by Capt. Wfggin and given an
opportunity to apologize, when he express
ed regret at what had happened. However.
after thinking the matter over, Capt Wig
gin saw no other course open but to pre-
Ter charges. and the papers. containing sew
eral counts, were promptly forwarded to
the adjutant general. 1t is stated by those
present at the time that the case is excen-
tlonally clear, and that every member of
me company court Will testify in support of
Capt. Wiggin.
The findings in the case of Private Pit
kin were reversed, and discharge in the
interest of the service recommended It is
stated that this evening a company order
will be issued formally placing Lieut.. Lib
hey under arrest.
GibsOn-Tralles Court of Inuuiry.
The Gibson-Tralles case, which has been
pending for several weeks, will soon begin
to glide toward a climax. Major Win
throp Alexander, the inspector general
who constitutes the court of inquiry to in.
vestigate the charges, will sit for that pur-
pose Tuesday evening, April T. and some
thing is expected to drop soon thereafter
Capt. William E. Horton, aid-de-camp. will
act as recorder Of the court
Gen. Ordvvny and Competitive Drills.
Discussion in the guard as TO what Gen.
Ordway would probably do with the appli-
catiCn of the Morton Cadets for permission
to participate in the competitive drill al
Savannah, next May, did not cease entirely
when it became known that the command
ing general had approved the application
cation had been approved was little more
than half the truth, for the permit had a
strong string tied to it. Coupled with the
approval was the announcement that COM
panies of the District National Guard would
only be allowed to enter competitions re.
stricted to legally enlisted members OF
state militia.
OF course, it has been quite generally un.
derstood throughout the local brigade thai
Gen. Ordway was not an enthusiastic be.
lever in competitive drills; he has many
times put himself upon record as being op
posed to them. because he felt satisfied
ehSAo SAhsiAdlSu 1IoAA tuSu HldLy Ue-
|teriorating influences. Making plain his
present position in the matter, Gen. Ord
way said to a Star reporter that in view OF
the fact that officers and enlisted men OF
the District National Guard were not paid
for any of the services rendered there was
necessity for the existence of Incentives
Some companies, he said, were decided,
social in their tendencies. and lightened the
burden Of military duty by Indulgence IL
hops and receptions; other companies rar
to athletics, while others had various pref
erences, and among them was the prefer
ence for competitive drills. Indulgence III
these idiosyncracies-most of them non
military-were, after all, generally bene
| fetal in their effects, and so long as the,
did not interfere with any of the truly mil
itary work, he would not put a stop to an,
OF them Attendance upon a competitive
| drill could not, however be used as an ex
cuse for failure to do any of those things
which may properly be required of Ma
ttonal Guard organization.
Independent" Companies Barred.
Gen. Ordway's qualified permission t.
Capt. Shilling has made the local stua
ton more than ordinarily interesting, an6
just what was expected to happen is nov
known, as definite Information as to The
character Of the companies that may com
pete has been received from the drill au
thorities at Savannah. At meeting Of thu