The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-27

me II Captain Shackcltord should want
me 1 asked the latter five or six times
for my discharge, and I always told him
that l did the best / could in attending
drills / understood him to say on one
occasion that he would forward my ap-
pIication for a discharge as soon as the
company was IN better condition.
No OFFICIAL KNOWLEDGE
my brother. Lieutenant Hartman. did
not seem to know officially II / had been
reduced to ranks so I telephoned 10 Cap
tain shackelf0rd 90 know what uniform I
should wear on the night Of inspection.
lie replied by asking me what kind 0f a
uniform does a private generally woar2"
II considered myself under arrest on
that evening. but 1 did not think that I
would have 10 stay In one place all the
time. enlisted In tho company on jan
uary g. 1899. and had great love for
the company into which / brought about
fifteen men,"
Questioned by the Judge Advocate the
accused saidi
II took tho oath or enlistment for five
years. / was placed under arrest by
Captain Sllackelford. but left the COM
panys room after being placed under ar
rest. Afterwards / went into the hall up
stairs / do not remember the times when
/ was absent from drill"
When questioned by the court the ac-
oused said
81 do not remember whether Lieutenant
SkipHith knew that i was under arrest,
when L told him that I wanted to go up
stairs In the drill hall.
II was not present when the order re-
ducing me TO ranks was read. but
know that It was my duty 10 be there.
unless business interfered. I heard for
tho first time last night officially that 1
had been reduced % ranks. although
/ have heard OF it previously"
Questioned by the Judge Advocate. the
accused stated that tho college closed for
the summer on April 20. 1897. and that he
did not know that cOrpOrais did not have
TO give up their warrants after they had
been reduced 70 ranks.
LIEUTENANT HARTMAN.
Lieutenant d. NJ Hartman was the
next witness called by the defense:
II am twenty-one years Old" he said.
reside I'm Richmond and am n student
at Richmond college. i am Second Lieu
tenant OF Company G., and have been at
tending drills pretty regularly. I have
never heard Captain ShaNkelford read
the order reducing Corporal Hartman to
ranks"
ON REORGANIZATION by the Judge Ad-
'ocatc. witness said:
"I did not know officially Of the reduc-
ton TO rank Of Corporal Hartman until
last night. / heard of 70 about two weeks
before the annual inspection. i have ~
ried messages between Captain Shackel-
ford and Corporal Hartman. 1 never
heard the accused say, I be Id IL /
wear a privates uniform or words 10
that effect ] have requested Captain
Shackolford on behalf of my brother, that
ne be allowed 10 wear q cOrp0rals uni
form on the night Of insucctor, but the
request was refused.
could not tell how many drills he attend
ed during the months of July and August
without referring 10 the record book
After this book had been sent for wit
ness stated upon a question from the
Judge Advocate that during the past six
months he was present at seventeen drills
and paradod and absent at twelve. but
part of the time he had a leave OF abb
sonce and no WAS at present ON "A leave
OF absence. When Dc heard it said that
his brother had been reduced 10 ranks he
made no enquiry. He had heard rumors
that Colonel Jones had issued such an
order The order should have been read
before the Company or 10 the person ar
fected by it. ON the evening of the i'm
spectiOn ne thought he told his brother
he acted unwiscly not TO put on pri-
Yates uniform, but he did not advise him.
He did not order mis- brother TO do So.
because Captain Shackelford had given
him orders in regard to that matter.
PREFER NOT TO JUDGE.
'Did you not consider it the duty Of the
accused 10 obey that order?' queried the
Judge Advocate
81 prefer not 10 $50 I'm judgment on that
matter" replied witness. Of think this Us
a. question between Captain Shackclford
and the accused
The Judge Advocate did not press the
matter, but continued his cross-eXamina-
ton. Witness said his last leave of abb
sence was n verbal one. which he OBJ
tanned from Captain ShackeliOrd for
sixty days. between September 9th and
October lst.. lie did not know that the
commander Of company could only
grant "a leave of absence for two weeks
When questioned by the court witness
admitted that be- told Captain Shackel-
ford I'm the presence OF Lieutenant Skip
with he thought Corporal Hartman
should bee reduced to ranks.
Mr.. FOlkes here called for Lieutenant
Shpwith whom he desired to ask whether
he had heard Captain Shackelford read
out the order reducing Corporal Hartman
10 ranks. The Judge Advocate waived
the question and admitted 90 shorten
the proceedings. that Lieutenant Shpwith
did not hear the order read
The case here rested and Mr.. Folkes
said he did not care 10 argue the case
he knew the members OF the court very
well and felt satisfied that they would
consider the case very well before agree
ing ON findings
The Court was then closed and IL took
about an hour for the court 10 agree on
findings which will be submitted 10 the
Commander-in-Chief
A LETTER rs EVIDENCE.
Among the letters submitted and placed
i'm evidence which formed part of the
foundation for the charges preferred. was
tba follou-ins written by Private Hartman
10 Captaiu Shackelf0rd. the commanding
officer of his company, under date of July
con reaching the armory last night /
learned that you had forwarded TO head
quarters a recommendation 10 the colonei
10 the effect that ! Doe reduced TO ranks.
am exceedingly sorry that / attended
the drill at all and especially am j sorry
because L forced myself on you as a cor
Il assure if I had had the slightest
intimation Of your action ] would not
have done so. ! pray that you will not
think that / attended because / was at
AN frightened at your action and IL is my
presence To- influence you In the slightest
degree 10 undo what you have done.
opf,, v,feb 10 make one request Of YOU.
and that is that you will allow my appll-